062dbaf822
Reefer (separate tank) = strongest claim; PTO (same engine/tank) flagged as murkier federally and often a state refund. Added a 'how to prove non-propulsion fuel' section: ELD/telematics PTO+idle hours, PTO hour meter, inline flow meter, documented state allocation %, pump separation.
284 lines
16 KiB
Python
284 lines
16 KiB
Python
#!/usr/bin/env python3
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"""
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create_trucking_fueltax_newsletter.py — One-off trucking NEWSLETTER hooked on the
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FreightWaves story about Prime Inc. suing the IRS over reefer-diesel fuel tax.
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Angle : industry news + a "keep your fuel records" call to action, because the
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federal fuel-excise credit Prime is fighting for (diesel burned by a
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refrigeration unit isn't used to propel a highway vehicle) is one small
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carriers can claim too -- and records are what position a carrier to
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recover money if a class action follows.
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Links : (1) the FreightWaves article, (2) our free DOT compliance check tool.
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BOTH are STATIC URLs, so @TrackLink is safe here (the @TrackLink 404 bug
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was specific to PER-SUBSCRIBER hrefs like ?dot={{...}} where Listmonk
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captured the URL before the token rendered). Static links register one
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redirect for everyone -- exactly what we want for click counts.
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Fine print: Performance West is a filing service, NOT a law firm or tax advisor.
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Creates the campaign in Listmonk as a DRAFT. Sending is a separate, manual,
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STOP-and-confirm step (deliverability-sensitive: review audience + timing first).
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python3 scripts/workers/create_trucking_fueltax_newsletter.py --list <id>
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python3 scripts/workers/create_trucking_fueltax_newsletter.py --list <id> --preview-only
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"""
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import argparse
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import os
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import sys
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_REPO = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))))
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if _REPO not in sys.path:
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sys.path.insert(0, _REPO)
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from scripts._email_plaintext import html_to_text # noqa: E402
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from scripts.workers.campaign_helpers import create_campaign # noqa: E402
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# ── Links ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
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ARTICLE_URL = (
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"https://www.freightwaves.com/news/"
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"prime-is-suing-the-irs-for-11-million-over-fuel-tax-it-paid-on-reefer-diesel-"
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"the-same-credit-it-is-fighting-for-is-one-small-carriers-can-claim-too"
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)
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DOT_CHECK_URL = "https://performancewest.net/tools/dot-compliance-check"
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SITE = "https://performancewest.net"
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EMAIL = "info@performancewest.net"
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PHONE_TEL = "+18884110383"
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PHONE_DISPLAY = "(888) 411-0383"
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# Listmonk click tracking: a link is only registered (and clicks recorded) when
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# its href ends with the literal "@TrackLink" marker. We also append UTM params so
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# Umami attributes the visit too. SAFE here because both target URLs are static.
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UTM_BASE = "utm_source=listmonk&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=trucking-fueltax-newsletter"
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def _track(url: str, content: str) -> str:
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sep = "&" if "?" in url else "?"
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return f"{url}{sep}{UTM_BASE}&utm_content={content}@TrackLink"
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# ── Trucking-branded HTML helpers (navy #1a2744 / orange #f97316), matching the
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# proven trucking campaign chrome (campaign 179). ───────────────────────────
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FONT = "Inter,system-ui,Arial,sans-serif"
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def header(eyebrow, headline):
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return (
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'<tr><td style="background:#1a2744;padding:24px 28px;">'
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f'<img src="{SITE}/images/logo.png" alt="Performance West" style="height:44px;margin-bottom:12px;display:block" />'
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f'<p style="margin:0 0 6px;font-size:11px;color:#f97316;letter-spacing:2px;text-transform:uppercase;font-weight:700;font-family:{FONT};">{eyebrow}</p>'
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f'<h1 style="color:#fff;margin:0;font-size:22px;font-weight:700;line-height:1.3;font-family:{FONT};">{headline}</h1>'
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'</td></tr>'
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)
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def P(t):
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return f'<p style="font-size:14px;line-height:1.7;margin:0 0 16px;color:#1f2937;font-family:{FONT};">{t}</p>'
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def H2(t):
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return f'<h2 style="font-size:16px;font-weight:700;color:#1e3a5f;margin:26px 0 12px;font-family:{FONT};">{t}</h2>'
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def UL(*items):
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lis = "".join(
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f'<li style="margin-bottom:9px;line-height:1.6;">{i}</li>' for i in items
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)
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return (
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f'<ul style="margin:0 0 18px;padding-left:20px;font-size:14px;color:#1f2937;font-family:{FONT};">{lis}</ul>'
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)
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def quote(t):
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return (
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'<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin:0 0 20px;"><tr>'
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'<td style="border-left:4px solid #f97316;background:#fff7ed;border-radius:0 8px 8px 0;padding:14px 18px;'
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f'font-size:14px;line-height:1.7;color:#7c2d12;font-family:{FONT};">{t}</td></tr></table>'
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)
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def cta(text, url, color="#f97316"):
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return (
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'<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin:4px 0 24px;"><tr>'
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'<td style="text-align:center;padding:6px 0;">'
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f'<a href="{url}" style="display:inline-block;padding:15px 42px;background:{color};color:#fff;'
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f'font-weight:700;border-radius:8px;text-decoration:none;font-size:15px;font-family:{FONT};'
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f'box-shadow:0 4px 12px rgba(249,115,22,0.35);">{text}</a>'
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'</td></tr></table>'
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)
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def disclaimer():
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return (
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'<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin:8px 0 24px;"><tr>'
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'<td style="background:#f8fafc;border:1px solid #e5e7eb;border-radius:8px;padding:14px 18px;">'
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f'<p style="margin:0;font-size:11px;line-height:1.6;color:#6b7280;font-family:{FONT};">'
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'<strong style="color:#475569;">Please note:</strong> Performance West is a DOT compliance and '
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'filing service — we are <strong>not a law firm and not a tax advisor</strong>, and nothing in '
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'this email is legal or tax advice. This is industry news. Whether your reefer or PTO fuel qualifies for '
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'a federal fuel-tax credit, and whether to join any lawsuit or class action, depends on your specific '
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'situation — please talk to a qualified tax professional or attorney before filing a claim or '
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'taking action.</p></td></tr></table>'
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)
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def dot_check_block():
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return (
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'<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin:20px 0 8px;"><tr>'
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'<td style="background:#eff6ff;border:1px solid #bfdbfe;border-radius:10px;padding:20px 22px;">'
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f'<p style="margin:0 0 6px;font-size:15px;font-weight:700;color:#1e3a5f;font-family:{FONT};">'
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'While you’re thinking about records — is your DOT compliance current?</p>'
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f'<p style="margin:0 0 14px;font-size:13px;line-height:1.6;color:#334155;font-family:{FONT};">'
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'Run our <strong>free DOT compliance check</strong>: enter your USDOT number and we’ll show you '
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'what’s due — MCS-150 biennial update, UCR, BOC-3 and more. No charge, no obligation.</p>'
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+ cta("Run my free DOT check →", _track(DOT_CHECK_URL, "dotcheck"), color="#1e40af")
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+ '</td></tr></table>'
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)
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def footer():
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return (
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'<tr><td style="padding:18px 28px;background:#f8fafc;border-top:1px solid #e5e7eb;text-align:center;">'
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f'<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin:0 0 12px;"><tr>'
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'<td style="background:#fff;border:1px solid #e5e7eb;border-radius:8px;padding:12px;text-align:center;">'
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f'<p style="margin:0;font-size:13px;color:#1e3a5f;font-weight:600;font-family:{FONT};">'
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f'Questions? Reply to this email, write <a href="mailto:{EMAIL}" style="color:#1e40af;text-decoration:none;">{EMAIL}</a> '
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f'or call <a href="tel:{PHONE_TEL}" style="color:#1e40af;text-decoration:none;">{PHONE_DISPLAY}</a>.</p>'
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'</td></tr></table>'
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f'<p style="margin:0;font-size:11px;color:#9ca3af;font-family:{FONT};">Performance West Inc. · '
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'525 Randall Ave Ste 100-1195, Cheyenne, WY 82001 · '
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f'<a href="{SITE}" style="color:#6b7280;">performancewest.net</a></p>'
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'<p style="margin:6px 0 0;font-size:11px;color:#9ca3af;font-family:Inter,sans-serif;">'
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'<a href="{{ UnsubscribeURL }}" style="color:#6b7280;">Unsubscribe</a></p>'
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'</td></tr>'
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)
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def build_body():
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inner = (
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P("There’s a fuel-tax story moving through trucking right now that could mean money back in your "
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"pocket — not just for reefer haulers, but for anyone whose diesel runs equipment that "
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"doesn’t move the truck. We wanted to put it in front of you.")
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+ quote(
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"<strong>FreightWaves reports</strong> that Prime Inc. is suing the IRS for about "
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"<strong>$11 million</strong> over federal excise tax it paid on diesel burned by its "
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"<strong>refrigerated (reefer) trailer units</strong>. Prime’s argument: diesel used to run "
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"a reefer unit isn’t used to propel a truck down the highway, so it shouldn’t carry the "
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"federal on-highway fuel tax — and the same credit it’s fighting for is one that small "
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"carriers can claim too."
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)
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+ H2("Reefer fuel is the clearest case — PTO may count too")
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+ P("The federal excise tax on diesel is about <strong>24.3 cents a gallon</strong>, and it’s "
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"meant to pay for diesel that <em>propels a vehicle down the highway</em>. The thing is, a lot of "
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"the diesel you buy never turns a wheel:")
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+ UL(
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"<strong>Reefer units (the clearest case)</strong> — most refrigerated trailers run a "
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"separate engine off a separate tank, so that fuel plainly isn’t propelling your truck. That "
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"is exactly what Prime is fighting for, and it’s the strongest claim",
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"<strong>Power take-off (PTO) & auxiliary equipment (often state-level)</strong> — "
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"dump-truck hydraulics, cement mixers, bucket / boom / digger derricks, pumpers, blowers, refuse "
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"packers, sweepers and wreckers usually run off the <em>same</em> engine and tank that moves the "
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"truck. That fuel may still qualify, but it’s murkier federally and a lot of PTO recovery "
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"actually happens through <strong>state</strong> fuel-tax refund programs — worth asking your "
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"tax pro about",
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)
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+ P("Reefer fuel may be refundable on <strong>IRS Form 4136</strong> (or via Form 8849). For PTO and "
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"other auxiliary use, ask your tax professional about both the federal off-highway credit and your "
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"state’s fuel-tax refund — either way, the money only comes back if you can show how much "
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"fuel went to non-propulsion use.")
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+ P("Over a year of runs that adds up — and if a class action follows Prime’s lawsuit, the "
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"carriers who kept clean records will be the ones positioned to claim their share.")
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+ H2("The hard part: proving how much fuel was non-propulsion")
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+ P("If your reefer has its own tank, this is easy — its fuel is already separate. The tricky case "
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"is <strong>same-engine, same-tank PTO use</strong> (a dump truck or mixer burns from the same tank "
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"whether it’s driving or working). You can’t claim what you can’t substantiate, so "
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"here’s how carriers actually measure it:")
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+ UL(
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"<strong>Pull PTO / idle hours from your ELD or telematics</strong> — most modern trucks’ "
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"engine computers (ECM) already log PTO-engine and idle time separately from drive time. Multiply "
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"those hours by a fuel-burn rate (manufacturer spec or a measured gal/hr) to estimate gallons",
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"<strong>Add a PTO / equipment hour meter</strong> — an inexpensive hour meter on the "
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"PTO circuit gives you a clean, independent running total of equipment time",
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"<strong>Install an inline fuel-flow meter</strong> on the reefer or PTO feed — the most "
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"precise option (actual gallons, not an estimate) if the recovery is large enough to justify it",
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"<strong>Use a documented allocation method</strong> — when metering isn’t practical, "
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"many state programs publish PTO allowance percentages by equipment type (mixer, refuse packer, "
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"etc.); a consistent, documented basis is far better than a guess",
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"<strong>Separate the fuel at the pump where you can</strong> — a dedicated fuel card or "
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"separate fill for the reefer / equipment tank turns the whole question into a simple receipt total",
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)
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+ H2("What to do now: gather and keep your fuel records")
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+ P("You don’t need to do anything drastic today. The single most important thing is simple: "
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"<strong>don’t throw your fuel records away</strong>, and start keeping them organized.")
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+ UL(
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"Save your <strong>fuel receipts and IFTA fuel summaries</strong> — especially anything that "
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"separates reefer or PTO fuel from the fuel that moves the truck",
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"Export and keep your <strong>ELD / telematics PTO and idle-hour reports</strong> — this is "
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"the record most carriers already have and forget to save",
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"Hold onto <strong>reefer run logs, PTO / engine hours, and equipment-meter readings</strong>",
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"Keep everything <strong>by quarter and by year</strong> — the cleaner the paper trail, the "
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"stronger any future claim",
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)
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+ P("If a class action or a clearer IRS position emerges, the carriers with documentation in hand will "
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"be the ones ready to act.")
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+ cta("Read the full story on FreightWaves →", _track(ARTICLE_URL, "article"))
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+ disclaimer()
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+ dot_check_block()
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+ P("Drive safe out there,")
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+ P("<strong>Justin Hannah</strong><br>Performance West Inc.<br>"
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f'<span style="font-size:12px;color:#64748b;font-family:{FONT};">DOT Compliance Services</span>')
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)
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return (
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'<!DOCTYPE html><html lang="en"><head><meta charset="UTF-8">'
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'<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width,initial-scale=1">'
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'<style>@media only screen and (max-width:600px){.pw-wrap{width:100%!important;border-radius:0!important;}'
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'.pw-pad{padding:24px 16px!important;}}body,table,td,p,a{-webkit-text-size-adjust:100%;-ms-text-size-adjust:100%;}'
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'table{border-collapse:collapse!important;}img{border:0;outline:none;text-decoration:none;}</style></head>'
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'<body style="margin:0;padding:0;background:#eef0f3;"><center>'
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'<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:#eef0f3;"><tr>'
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'<td style="padding:24px 10px;">'
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'<table role="presentation" class="pw-wrap" width="620" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" '
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'style="margin:0 auto;border-radius:10px;overflow:hidden;background:#fff;">'
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+ header("Industry News · Fuel Tax",
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"Prime is suing the IRS for $11M over reefer fuel tax — "
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"and the same credit may apply to your reefer or PTO fuel")
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+ '<tr><td class="pw-pad" style="padding:28px;">' + inner + '</td></tr>'
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+ footer()
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+ '</table></td></tr></table></center></body></html>'
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)
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def main():
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ap = argparse.ArgumentParser()
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ap.add_argument("--list", type=int, help="Listmonk list id to target (the newsletter audience)")
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ap.add_argument("--name", default="Trucking Newsletter \u2014 Reefer/PTO Fuel-Tax Story + Keep Your Records")
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ap.add_argument("--subject",
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default="Are you owed a refund on the fuel tax you paid for your reefer or PTO?")
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ap.add_argument("--preview-only", action="store_true",
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help="write the rendered HTML to /tmp and do NOT touch Listmonk")
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args = ap.parse_args()
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body = build_body()
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altbody = html_to_text(body)
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out = "/tmp/trucking_fueltax_newsletter.html"
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with open(out, "w") as f:
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f.write(body)
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print(f"Rendered preview -> {out}")
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print(f"Body: {len(body):,} chars HTML / {len(altbody):,} chars plaintext")
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if args.preview_only:
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return 0
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if not args.list:
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print("\nNo --list given; created preview only. Re-run with --list <id> to create the draft.",
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file=sys.stderr)
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return 0
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print(f"\n=== Creating trucking fuel-tax newsletter (DRAFT, list {args.list}) ===")
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cid = create_campaign(args.name, args.subject, [args.list], body, altbody=altbody, status="draft")
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if cid:
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print(f"\nDraft created (id {cid}). Review/preview in Listmonk, then send manually.")
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return 0 if cid else 1
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if __name__ == "__main__":
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raise SystemExit(main())
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