The Eastern Transportation Coalition (TETC) has released the findings of its International Mileage-Based User Fee (MBUF) Truck Pilot. Conducted from June to November 2022, the pilot brought real-world data, practical insights, and industry voices together to explore how a MBUF might work for the diverse and dynamic trucking sector.
The pilot involved more than 250 trucks, traveled over eight million miles across the contiguous U.S. and four Canadian provinces, and built on several years of work by the Coalition under the U.S. DOT’s Surface Transportation Systems Funding Alternatives (STSFA) program.
We at NEWROAD Consulting are proud to have contributed to this important initiative by authoring the final report and supporting the Coalition’s ongoing efforts to bring transparency, fairness, and scalability into the national conversation on transportation funding.
Listening first, designing better
A central message of the pilot is simple: to shape future sustainable road funding, we must first listen to those who use the roads every day. The Coalition made a strong commitment to engage with the trucking industry – not just as a stakeholder, but as a partner.
“This pilot takes a real-world look at how RUC could work for trucks that cross borders, operate with different weight classes, and face complex administrative needs,” said Nina Elter, Founder and CEO of NEWROAD Consulting and author of the report. “It offers concrete insight into what it would take to implement a scalable, fair system that works for both agencies and motor carriers.”
What the pilot found
The report, now available online, identifies four key findings:
- RUC can be applied to all types of commercial vehicles—regardless of weight class, fuel type, or operational model.
- Weight-based RUC may offer a more transparent link between road use and payment.
- Scalability does not require full uniformity – flexibility in design can still reduce complexity and administrative costs.
- Clearinghouse models can be adapted to support RUC, but responsibilities must be clearly defined.
These insights reflect direct input from industry participants, including independent carriers, national trucking associations, and enforcement and technology partners. The feedback emphasized that any new system must be practical, transparent, and developed with industry realities in mind.
A shared commitment to practical solutions
“Results from this international pilot underscore the potential of MBUF as a catalyst for a transparent and scalable highway funding solution,” said Dr. Patricia Hendren, Executive Director of The Eastern Transportation Coalition. “Insights reveal the adaptability of the current motor carrier framework for MBUF implementation, demonstrating that a weight-based approach could establish a clear link between road usage and costs. Our work, guided by the MBUF Motor Carrier Working Group and MBUF Steering Committee, has shown there is an intersection between the trucking industry’s desire for uniformity, scalability, and streamlined administrative processes and our country’s need for sustainable highway funding.”
Looking ahead
The Eastern Transportation Coalition will continue its work under the STSFA program, examining how RUC could apply to lighter commercial vehicles, intrastate operations, and alternatively powered trucks. It will also explore questions around fee consolidation and definitions of vehicle weight.
For NEWROAD Consulting, this collaboration has been a meaningful opportunity to support a research process grounded in openness, dialogue, and practical application.
We are grateful to the Coalition for their trust and leadership – and to the trucking community for sharing their perspectives so candidly. These conversations are essential if we are to build road funding solutions that are sustainable, fair, and workable for everyone.
You can read the full report here: https://tetcoalitionmbuf.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/TETC_Phase-IV_Final-Report_91123_FINAL.pdf