This is a common carbrain argument
“I already pay the gas tax”
The problem is that it’s false.
In a recent study, researchers Stefan Gössling, Jessica Kees, and Todd Litman calculated the social costs of driving. They found that the social cost is about 30-40% higher than what car owners are actually paying
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921800921003943?via=ihub
That cost is paid by non-drivers.
That’s not a good thing. Road freight being subsidized means it gets unfair advantage over more efficient transport when it makes sense. So taxes are being used to subsidize inefficient means of transport, at least some of the time.
Making freight pay their share would make them examine how to be most efficient, instead of not caring since they don’t pay.
Exactly. Freight should be more expensive.
Companies can only offer free shipping, because their cost is negligible on their end, because the shipping companies have too low prices. It causes over-consumption and more freight.