Rhode Island’s 10-year infrastructure maintenance plan calls for an increase of $1 billion of investment in the state’s roads and bridges– which is an initiative everyone in transportation can get behind – but it’s the way that Governor Gina Raimondo plans on raising that money that has truckers worried. Rhode Island looking to become the first state to introduce truck-only tolling.
In June, Rhode Island announced that they would be paying for their RhodeWorks plan to improve and maintain their roads by implementing a truck-only toll which would cost truck drivers around $100 million a year. The opposition was so vocal and swift that the plan was pulled mere days later. Now it looks like Rhode Island is again trying to stick truckers with the tab.
With the truck-only tolls back on the table and support growing within the state government, carriers and trucking associations in Rhode Island are making their disapproval heard. The Rhode Island Trucking Association has threatened legal action if the government decides to move forward with their plan, and has even offered up an alternative.
Unveiled by Rhode Island Trucking Association president Christopher Maxwell, the replacement plan would not include any tolling, but would instead raise the diesel tax, increase truck registration fees, and rescind currently proposed tax credits. Its opponents note however that it only raises about half the amount of money necessary to implement the repairs the RhodeWorks plan hopes to put in place.
It’s not just local trucking interests that are against the truck-only tolls. Since no state currently uses them, allowing them to be implemented in Rhode Island could set a dangerous precedent for trucking nationwide.
“There are no other states in the country tolling trucks only,” said Maxwell. “It’s a bench mark issue.”
Supporters of the tolls point to the good that funding a program like RhodeWorks could do, claiming that it would create 6,487 jobs and add $521 million in additional income to construction workers over the next 10 years. It’s statistics like this that make the plan popular with local politicians like House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello who claims he’s now “leaning” towards supporting an “improved” version of the bill.
“When you look at that and you consider that more than half of the tolling revenue is going to come from out-of-state truckers, 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, rather than the entire burden being borne by Rhode island residents,” Mattiello said according to the Providence Journal. “In light of that analysis, I think it is something that we strongly have to consider moving forward on.”
Source: providencejournal, turnto10, golocalprov, wpri
Mud Bug says
If this moron thinks the truckers will just eat these tolls without a corresponding increase in freight costs to/from this state, then he’s a moron.
This will ABSOLUTELY result in higher costs for the citizens of Rhode Island.
Jerry says
Out of state truckers reported today that they will be introducing a new Rhode Island surcharge for delivery of freight to Rhode Island. This new charge, applicable to this state only….
Shauna says
I would be in favor of this, we already get charged way too much to barely make it and they want to charge truckers only smh. We do not drive trucks for luxury but we drive to make money and deliver Frieght so if they are wanting this Toll for truckers only then I say let them pay more for that Frieght to be delivered.
peter guggenheim says
Will not be the first state with truck only tolls. New York already has it on 287 west.
Trashman says
That’s disgusting. Shame on Rhode Island.
Alt314 says
People need to understand that ALL costs of transporting good into RI will be passed on to consumers. So while it seems ” out of state” trucks will help fund roads, the reality is that money will come out of residents pockets. Why don’t people get that we don’t drive these things around for fun? Trucks are a response to consumer needs and consumers pay all costs of freight.
Bill Flatt says
When are you guys going to get it? You pull cheap freight then complain the rates are to low. You complain about no truck parking. You complain about the hours of service. STOP pulling cheap freight! STOP going to towns that are blatantly anti – truck! When a state wants to TAX ONLY trucks through a toll, don’t use the toll roads or better yet go around!! Don’t spend ANY money in the state.
I have more respect for the Swiss truckers. At least they shut down the boarder crossings when the rules got to onerous!
Joe Rose says
I couldn’t agree more!
Douglas Kirk says
Easily fixed, my friends. It’s called boycott. Probably wouldn’t even have to be put into action, just the threat of it is usually enough to make politicians turn and run. I used to run from UT to Providence a lot, but those clowns will never see me again if this goes through. Total BS
James says
Can’t believe I haven’t heard how it’s DISCRIMINATION!!!!! They say it will create jobs etc well, what’s that have to do with the fact that you’re only making a truck pay? Won’t be long then more states will do it.
Joe Rose says
Carriers raise the rates for any load going to or through RI, or just drive around the crap hole! It’s not hard to drive around a state smaller than Detroit! Then remove them from your single state registrations. Doing so will cut their money even more. How often do any of us actually deliver there anyway. Let Conway and yellow take their crap to them!
RenoBlues says
We should shut their freight down. Two days and they would cave.
Terry says
Yep, they would cave. Only problem is getting the requisite truckers to agree and actually do it. OMG, it would almost be like a ‘organized labor’ event and you can’t have that. Know what I mean?
Ken says
Being a RI citizen I know our roads need repair. Ultimately we will end up paying for it, but since trucks do the most damage to the roads why not tax them to off set the cost.
Chris says
Tax the cars as well they travel on them just as much as trucks.. there are more cars on the road then trucks it’s not fair to just charge the trucks
Tom p says
No plows bad road construction and inclement weather destroy your roads. Trucks roll through delivering goods. We are already responsible for weight safe transport hazmat notifications paper work n finding a way through these northern states that were built 200 years ago n are not wide enough or tall enough for us. So u need to shut ur mouth n tax shippers n receivers instead of us guys just trying to make a living.
Shauna says
You know why not to tax just trucks? We do this for a job and not luxury, do you even know how much truck drivers pay in tolls already? I know that I paid $30 just on one load because the company had me routed that way, and do you think I ever got that money refunded by the Company? If you do this it will not be long before RI as a hard time getting Frieght delivered, at least cheaper anyways.
Vinny bag o donuts!! says
Hope rhode island is ready for a failed economy and starved citizens because I would purposely not deliver any freight to there state as should all truckers! What are we out here to work for free!? Freight rates are not good enough consistently to handle all these expenses as a o.o. We got families and sacrafice everything to support them and if states think they will just stick it to us while we are necessary to the survival of people and to all economies…the joke is on them! Why are we even paying tolls period! Your towns need necessities to survive and we get it to you rain sleet or snow at your requests and businesses and were paying $80 to cross 1 damn toll! Knowing theres 3-4 more tolls still ahead NY!! The only way to survive in this industry is dont pull cheap freight dont pull no load unless they are paying 100% tolls cuz they are requesting your service to provide necessity! Cost should be on them not us! Dont deliver to anywhere who is anti truc them understand why they MUST love trucks. Nothing magically appears on shelves like most people beleive. Cut the supply off n let them feel it!! I love trucking and love helping people but it has become a people vs truckers society and it truly is ruining the cause and the attitude! We are kicked and kicked and kicked and the bleeding of truck drivers must stop now! Yeah as you can see im ticked off about alot of disadvantages being thrown upon us but remember we can choose. Whew!!
John Ciely says
The more money you give to government the more they waste.
keith says
everyone knows the trucks will simply take the go around, im sure the local towns will welcome the truck traffic
Terry Canning says
If trucks stop hauling Freight for a few days then they will wake up. If Rhode Island stores don’t have food,retailers don’t have goods the public will start going crazy and politicians will start scrambling to fix the mess they started.
Andrew says
New Jersey outbound I-70 is a truck only toll, so they’re not the first. All this is doing is reinforcing my boycott of the 13 colony States.
TomMcE says
When did I-70 get rerouted through New Jersey? With the exception of I-95, every exit from NJ is tolled for every vehicle.
Irvin says
Where in NJ did you find I 70 ? They must have moved it just lately.
JMH8 says
This is only going to make things in RI more expensive. Through truckers are *already* avoiding the state.
FACT: It’s already FASTER and SHORTER to avoid Rhode Island using I-395 in CT and I-290 in MA:
Example: New London CT to Seabrook NH:
I-95 through RI: 157 miles, 2 hrs 20 min
I-395/290/495: 144 miles, 2 hrs 11 min
Another point: The state’s only car toll (Newport Bridge) is $4 for out-of-staters, but only $0.83 for residents. Why not offer a discount to RI-based truckers?