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Trucking Company Supports Turnpike Lease Plan

Trucking Company Supports Turnpike Lease Plan - Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 5:30PM EST

Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 @ 05:30pm EST
Milton, Northumberland County-

The plan to lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike is a controversial one. The proposal has divided state lawmakers, with some still in favor of putting tolls on Interstate 80. But business owners in Central Pennsylvania say the decision is easy.

The Watsontown Trucking Company came from humble beginnings in the 1940's as a coal and brick hauling operation. Only within the past 15 years have they expanded into a trucking industry giant, dealing mostly in manufactured goods and food products.

As big rigs roll in and out of the lot, company President Steve Patton struggles to cope with skyrocketing fuel costs.

Just yesterday, a fuel vendor increased his bid by 11 cents in less than an hour, which means Patton's prices go up as well. "We charge our customers more, they in turn will charge their customers more. So it trickles down to the everyday shopper and the everyday homeowner in Pennsylvania and the United States," he explained.

Patton says the cost to keep these trucks fueled up has tripled since he bought the company just over a decade ago. He fears tolling Interstate 80 may be the breaking point for many local businesses. "Tolling Route 80 would be catastrophic to my company. The projected cost increase per year would be about $800,000."

Add that to rising fuel, insurance, and labor costs, and Patton says the results could be disastrous. That's why he wants to see the turnpike privatized, a move that Governor Ed Rendell claims could bring a billion dollars a year to the Commonwealth for the next decade. "It's a much better solution...I don't see any detriment to leasing the turnpike," he added.

Patton knows a battle is ahead in the legislature before any decision is made. But he thinks all Pennsylvanians should make their voices heard. He noted, "Calling that representative in Harrisburg makes a big difference."
 


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