Initiative to Legislature addresses skyrocketing fuel costs caused by state policy


OLYMPIA — Nov. 21, 2023 — With higher fuel costs adding to the price of everything in Washington state, the Washington Trucking Associations (WTA) today applauded the submission of signatures for Initiative 2117, a repeal of the Climate Commitment Act. The association joined members of Let’s Go Washington as it submitted signatures to the Secretary of State’s office for certification Tuesday.

“The state is on the cusp of collecting $2 billion in new revenue this year from Washington drivers, and we think it’s time for the state to acknowledge this was their intent all along – and fix it,” said WTA President & CEO Sheri Call. “Trucks move nearly everything we use each day – from food to household goods — which means that any increases in fuel costs are added to the price of those goods. The public knows exactly what’s at play here, but the state refuses to even acknowledge the impact of the CCA on consumers.”

While the WTA has not yet taken an official position on I-2117, Call said WTA members are eager for relief at the pump, in whatever form that takes.

“We need legislators to re-examine the impact of their policies and either fix it or repeal the law altogether,” said Call. “Trucking is an absolutely critical piece of our supply chain. It factors directly into our state’s global trade status, and when you have a 50-cent per gallon increase in the cost of gas, that’s going to have an impact on the overall cost of transportation and what consumers eventually pay. Hopefully, this initiative will force legislators to have a conversation about the cost of fuel – and if not, then the people will get their chance to decide.”

About the Washington Trucking Associations

Since 1922, the Washington Trucking Associations (WTA) has served as the unified voice for the trucking industry in Washington. Member supported, WTA is dedicated to advocating sound public policies, providing excellence in education, training, and information, as well as promoting a safe, dependable, and efficient trucking industry in Washington For more information, visit www.watrucking.org.