Sen. Toni Boucher is MTAC’s State Senator of the Year

State Senator Toni Boucher (R – Wilton) is the Motor Transport Association of Connecticut (MTAC) State Senator of the Year, MTAC announced today. This annual award is presented to a member of the State Senate who supports public policy which allows the trucking industry to remain competitive in Connecticut.

“Senator Boucher has been a strong and consistent supporter of the trucking industry,” said MTAC President Joseph Sculley. “She understands that everything consumers of Connecticut purchase was on a truck at one point and respects the important role trucks play in Connecticut’s economy. This is exactly the type of leadership we need in the legislature’s Transportation Committee,” Sculley added. Senator Boucher is currently a Co-Chair of the Committee.

Sculley pointed out that Senator Boucher also realizes the trucking industry’s role in financing our transportation system. “She knows that out-of-state trucks do not get a free ride through Connecticut. The pay their fair share, anywhere from $26 million to $30 million per year, through the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) and International Registration Plan (IRP) programs.” he said.

Senator Boucher has also regularly referenced the fact that Connecticut-based trucking companies pay about $281 million annually in state and federal road taxes. With that in mind, Senator Boucher was a leading opponent of tolling legislation, which would have had disastrous consequences on both the trucking industry, and the local economy in general.

Sculley concluded by once again highlighting the importance of the trucking industry. “More than 85 percent of Connecticut communities depend exclusively on trucks to move their goods. Trucks transport 94 percent of total manufactured tonnage in the state. There are more than 60,000 jobs in the trucking industry in Connecticut,” he stated. “The trucking industry plays a crucial role in the Connecticut economy.”

“We thank Senator Boucher for supporting the trucking industry and look forward to working with her for years to come.”