The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-02-04


handled by the Public Utilities Commission of the State
Oregon There three departments within the Motor
Carrier Division of the Public Utilities Commission One
administrations Two is issuing Public Utilities Commission Ii
plates Three the collection of the Weight Distance
Tax.
According responsible officials the mileage very
easy to administer In substantiaon of this statement it
pointed that interstate trucking operators must
certain records the Federal Commits
sion that these information
sary reports Oregon system
mine fuel consumption per unit much difficult At
time Oregon allowed certain credits their
Weight Distance Tax but this did satisfactorily
and abandoned
is believed desirable to have modest registration fee on
vehicles administration Oregon this
the eight weight the roc per 100 lbs
This also very desirable reciprocity viewpoint The
basis of classification Oregon the weight of the vehicle
plus the load The operator pays
rate based the total mileage travelled within the State
of Oregon all highways upon private roads The
Oregon system is ton-mile system. In commenting
the tonme SYSTEM they felt extremely difficult
to administer and deal of work for the
trucking industry.
In 1949 Oregon set basic Weight Distance sched
ues One lower tax rate schedule that applied to vehicles
using gasoline purchased within the State of Oregon Oregon
levies &c gallon tax the Montana) The second
higher rate schedule applied to all other vehicles including
those using diesel and also those purchasing gasoline outside
the State of Oregon The difference between
schedules was based upon several studies.
The Oregon officials outlined situation which was
They stated for example, that California truck could
enter Oregon with large supply gasoline that this
truck could travel norhward through Oregon Washington
to its destinations could back through Oregon its
home terminal in California without buying gasoline in
either Oregon Washington Under the illustration used
this California would pay under the Weight Distance
Tax approximately 100000 to the State of Oregon They
the opinion this operator probably paid
nothing in the of taxes to the State of Washington which
has Gross Vehicle Weight system plus the regular gasoline
tax 1t should be noted that diesel is collected Ore
when the rate schedules previously mentioned applied
major portion of the administration of the Weight Distance
Oregon placed under the Public Utilities Commission
This office corresponds certain extent to Montana
Board of Railroad and Public Service Commissioners How
the Oregon system has who commissioner
md who receives salary of $11500 year.
All commercial vehicles all private vehicles 5000
pounds Gross Vehicle Weight under the Public Utilities
Commission 1t important to note that property taxes
vehicles levied Oregon either by city, county
tate The Weight Distance into the Oregon
highway fund along with other highway fees and Then
statute the cities Oregon 10 the counties 19
the ITO of said highway funds Some difficulty
apportonng moneys the counties cities
the fact that certain vehicles be licensed county
nd the major portion of their highway travel be in
ifferent county .
In 1863 there were 2s5 Public Utilities Commission OPP
raors Oregon using total of $500 vehicles Two per
of the Oregon 1870 of the Public U
les Commission units.
Oregon appeared that there excellent cooperation
agencies having anything do with administration
the Weight Distance Tax For example, the State Police
reports concerning the location and
rection any Public Utilities Commission unit
hh they encounter in their other activities the highways
id necessate additional personnel the State Police
We informed that many states considering SINH
of legislation and estimated that at time
lother onehaf of the states had delegations
mmittees Oregon similar They stated that the
the Weight Distance Tax Oregon
Tired little additional help in the Highway Department g.
additional personnel the State Police The depart
ents directed to take part the administration of the act
poyed approximately 112 people Weigh masters under the
ghway Commission perform certain duties connection with
Weight Distance tax system; and integral and .
ant part of the Whenever they weigh Public
ities Commission vehicle in the of their highway
es weigh complete observation slips similar
filled by the State Police These observation slips
simple form and report time Public Utilities Commission
mber location direction of travel of the vehicle
slips forwarded the audit division for later check
inst mile