As the U.S. presidential race heads into its final few weeks, the bus industrys bigger and richer brother, the trucking industry, finds that both Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain offer pluses and minuses for truckers.

For example, Obama appears to strongly favor more highway and other infrastructure spending, while McCain seems to lean trucking managements way on labor and safety issues.

"Our business is so complicated now that it doesnt matter who controls Congress or the White House," American Trucking Associations President Bill Graves told a leading industry publication.

"Youre always going to have challenges with some of these complex issues." With that said, Graves tilts toward McCain.

"Theres something to like and something to dislike in the positions of both candidates," Graves said, adding "it would be fair to say that we believe that a McCain presidency would overall be more positive for trucking than an Obama presidency."

Graves told Transport Topics that both McCain and Obama hold various positions that may not be in line with some of ATAs policy goals.

"There is genuine concern about what an Obama presidency would look like, relative to its impact on our industry," he said. "What would the perspective of [the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration] be relative to our industry under that administration? What would the outcome of issues like card-check and some of the more pro-labor kinds of things? Will we revisit ergonomics under an Obama administration with a Democratically controlled Congress?"

During the Clinton administration, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued rules aimed at limiting repetitive stress injuries in the workplace. The trucking (and bus) industry opposed the rules, and Congress overturned them early in the Bush administration.

While Obama may present challenges for trucking on labor and regulatory issues, McCain may make things more difficult on the issues of highway funding and infrastructure, Graves said.

"You get the sense that Sen. McCain might be inclined more toward the current administrations thinking on privatization, more inclined to get more private-sector involvement as a way of sort of changing the whole dynamic of infrastructure finance, but also as a way of avoiding talking about raising taxes as a way of supporting infrastructure," he said. "That would be a concern for us."

Earlier this year, a bipartisan commission recommended a 25-cent to 40-cent fuel-tax increase to repair and improve the nations roads and bridges.

During the primary campaign, McCain proposed suspending the federal gasoline tax, a position Obama rejected, indicating he would back more highway funding as part of an economic stimulus plan.

In August, Obama said hed spend $25 billion to "invest in our national infrastructure, replenish the Highway Trust Fund, rebuild our crumbling roads and bridges and repair our crumbling schools."

And during the first debate between McCain and Obama, Obama again voiced support for a beefed up highway and infrastructure program.

If McCain were president, his stance against "earmarks" would be particularly important to trucking, said one trucking executive. Earmarks are congressionally directed spending on specific projects.

Many people, like the trucking executive, see earmarks as wasteful spending.

McCains stances on clean air and safety also fit well with truckings outlook, say industry executives.

One area of concern for some in the trucking industry is Sen. McCains support for the cross-border trucking pilot program.

Dick Henderson, director of government affairs for the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, said that regardless of who wins in November, he didnt think "either candidate is going to advocate an increase in the gas tax" as they work with Congress to reauthorize the federal highway program.

Transport unions back Obama

The executive committee of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, says it plans to "educate transportation union members on Sen. McCain's poor transportation record and Sen. Obama's vision for a safe and expanded transportation system in America."

"The worst transportation presidency in modern history is coming to a close," said TTD President Edward Wytkind. "John McCain promises us four more years of the same: neglect, under-investment and a lack of leadership. Barack Obama wants to expand and rebuild our transportation system and will support and empower the men and women who operate, build and maintain it," he said.

Alaska suspends fuel tax

Legislation signed into law by Gov. Sarah Palin suspended Alaskas fuel tax - levied at 8 cents a gallon on both gasoline and diesel - for a year.

The legislation, which the governor originally proposed, provides for a grant of $1,200 to every Alaska resident to help them cope with the increased costs of energy.

With its taxes on oil and gas extraction, Alaska is one of the few states where the budget is not in trouble.