Rhode Island is officially the first and only state to have a truck-only toll on its highways.
It all happened so fast. On Wednesday night, the Rhode Island House of Representatives passed the bill, followed by the state Senate on Thursday, and then it was signed into law by Gov. Gina Raimondo just moments after the Senate vote.
The truck-only tolls have been a heated issue since they were first proposed as part of Gov. Raimondo’s RhodeWorks plan early last summer. Supporters of the bill see it as a way to get their roads and bridges fixed without taxing locals, while opponents claim that is an illegal bar on interstate trade, prohibited by federal law.
Rhode Island will charge up to $20 in tolls for a one-way trip across the state using I-95, but those tolls will only be levied against truckers.
On Thursday morning, even before the Senate vote, the American Trucking Association vowed that if the bill was signed into law, they would “see them in court.”
But there is concern that since legal matters tend to take a long time to settle, in the meantime other states may try to implement similar solutions to their budgetary woes.
Opponents of the truck-only tolls claim that this is a blatant cash grab, and the supporters don’t seem to be doing much to diminish that fear. House Speaker Mattiello who supports the law said that “it seems to me that we are going to get a lot of economic benefit and most of it will be paid by out of state trucking companies.”
This law will undoubtedly be challenged in court, but until it is overruled, Rhode Island stands posed to put up toll locations all across its highways that read “Truck-Only Tolls.”
Source: kentucky, fleetowner, ripr, wpri, thetruckersreport, thetruckersreport
Gray says
Trucking companies should stop hauling loads to or even through RH, period. If so, they will change their minds quickly. America can’t survive without trucks, RH better wake up. Even if the law stands, the cost will be passed on to consumers by higher freight charges. These folks are lost!
Kolbie says
Well said my friend. This is just another form of discrimination against us hardworking truckers. if we weren’t here America wouldn’t have their big screen TVs, cars, home supplies and goods, etc..and the list goes on and on. When this crap occurs, we all need to revolt and ban the states who levy illegal discriminatory crap like this against truckers. Let’s see how long these states and the people in them can survive without their goods. Ask the people how they like these peas and carrots! I bet they wouldn’t for one minute. If one group has to pay a toll, then everyone should, not just one group.
Matt says
I don’t understand how this is only ate doing this? NY has had a truck only toll on I287 east in Spring Valley for years. Besides, given the sleezy wording in the bill, it’s going to be turned into an all inclusive toll within a couple of years. The ATA should save its resources for more important fights like ample safe free parking and driver health initiatives that require truck stop chains to offer more plentiful options for eating and exercising at their locations.
m says
check again, it may be just the sign that states trucks only. Haven’t been down there in a while so I really can’t say for sure.
Gary F says
You’re correct.
Bob Chute says
Is it time to shut down yet ? EVERY OTHER state will follow suit …. WE NEED TO PUT AN END TO THIS GARBAGE ….
David says
Discrimination once again. Time for all good truckers to refuse loads going into or out of RI.
m says
there are ways to get into RI without paying that toll you just have to be cagy about it.
Big huge Mike says
There will be officers waiting on back roads for you I live in ri you can’t go down a back road to avoid tolls you will be fined so if you want to make a point don’t go into ri at all there will be 15 tolls set up you won’t be able to go into ri without paying some kind of toll and if you don’t believe me do some research the people have been fighting this but lost but they will get there’s
Big huge Mike says
Also the toll will be set at 20 dollars but in the bill there is no limit set so be ready for that 20 to be alot more in no time
Thom says
RI police have already been instructed to pull over and ticket trucks driving on US and State highways to avoid paying tolls in the state.
EZmule says
To me this seems like a simple fix. All Carriers just need to do is, double the cost of the toll, then roll the cost to the consignee. No different than freight going to NYC. Except the double effect. As far as TS providing gyms & healthy food. The TA is so called working on that. There used to be mobile gyms @ several TS. It just didn’t make $. It isn’t government’s place.
Rayzer says
It’s pretty simple, really. What do you do when you get bad service at a business? You don’t do business with them. Period. Same here, don’t take loads to or through that state. It’s the same thing I do with California. I don’t do trucking business in California, I don’t do personal business in California – Rhode Island is now added to that list. Will that bankrupt Califonia? Nope. They won’t even know it, but if we (the one with all the leverage) would all do the same thing when there is an injustice, THEN they would notice. But in the meantime, just stick your heads back in a hole, continue telling yourselves, “That’s just the way it is,” and keep showing these people how big of a pushover you can be and wait for the next anti-trucking law to be pushed down your throat. Yay, you!
terry says
I won’t be going there. Let them get their stuff some other way
Thom says
I-395 north in CT. To US-6 to I-295 in RI takes you to I-95 in MA. No tolls!!
Todd says
Rhode Island residents, fire House Speaker Mattiello. When he makes this statement, “it seems to me that we are going to get a lot of economic benefit and most of it will be paid by out of state trucking companies.”, he is showing that he knows nothing about how things work.
Do you really think the out of state trucking companies are the ones that will pay for the toll?? The answer is, NO. Trucking companies will pass the cost of tolls plus extra on to the freight cost. Meaning, all freight going to Rhode Island now will have this charge included, which means the cost of material getting to your state will have a higher cost, and the cost will be passed onto the people buying the products. So, when your groceries start getting higher cost, your shipping thru UPS, Post office gets more expensive, anything you buy gets more expensive, just keep telling yourselves that your house speaker is right, the out of state trucking companies will pay for the toll. No business will absorb this cost, the customers, people of Rhode Island, will absorb the cost, so thank your governor and representatives for taking more money out of your pocket, this is a hidden tax you just got slapped with.
William Flatt says
Let RI Starve. But of course no bidy that drives a truck will refuse a load going to RI. You’re all wind!
Jeff says
You can take it to the bank I gauantee you I won’t be going thru that state again and will refuse loads
D Farrell says
Easy. Stop delivering or picking up loads in Rhode Island. Ohio found out what happens when the trucks stop moving goods.
It seems they don’t want trucks in the state, so therefore don’t give them any.
Troy says
I don’t even know where Rhode Island is. However if I did I wouldn’t go there. These others are right just charge 50 extra dollars to go there.. The stupid politicians say out of state truckers will pay it.. Nope the people of Rhode Island will in higher food and gas and everything else. It just fools the Idiot residents…
m says
this law has nothing to do with the citizens of RI. Its those corrupt bastards in office that are ruining it for all the people that see it as a ploy to expand those tolls to involve autos also. The people of RI don’t want these tolls but as usual the slut of a Gov.wants them so we will just have to live with them I guess.
Globetrotter says
USA is a big country. RI = NY city area. These states are like two brothers considering sucking money out of everything. Just look at NY’s highways, are they better quality with all the tolls the city has? NO! Same is going to happen to RI. I, personally, never going to deliver to RI, even though, my carrier pays for tolls. You’ve got to have some self-esteem.
Andrew says
Pennsylvania eastward and Virginia northward is on my boycott list anyway, so no dust off my shoulder. The “colonial 13 states” are terrible to truck for; infrastructures are out of date, everything is more expensive, unmarked and poorly marked no truck routes everywhere, and traffic makes pay-by-the-mile drivers suffer. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
If you need to go to Boston or Maine, grab I-84 across, or if you’re on I-95, pick up I-91 to I-84 around Hartford CT, or better yet, ride I-95 across and grab the I-395 at New London, CT. RI won’t even be touched.
Thom says
Or take 95 to 395 in CT to US-6 to 295 in RI to 95 in MA.
Cherokee says
I bypass RI anyways, actually couldn’t tell you the last time I drove their, the state is so small it’s not hard to bypass and isn’t that much further out-of-route to do so. Everyone start cutting up thru Ct to the mass pike and bypass their tail they’ll change it eventually.
lock says
A truck onlt toll should only be implented on a truck only route. If other vehicles use that route then this is clearly biased.
Joe says
Untill everyone stops doing what they are doing. Nothing will change. “Nothing” the big companies will still do business as usual, and like some one just who just made a statement on passing the coast through to the consumer. After 5 years driving otr i have never seen anyone in this industry back each other. If you dont go there some one will. Everyone is worried about R.I. what about the other states with there toll roads. The federal government likes this thats less they need to shell out to the states.
Infosaur says
I’d lobby to cut their federal highway funding. A state charging tolls on the federal network?