The first two truck-only toll locations have just received a green light from the federal government and are expected to be collecting tolls in less than 60 days.
Part of Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo’s RhodeWorks infrastructure project, the controversial truck-only tolls are deeply unpopular with the trucking industry. Since they were first proposed in 2015, both state and national trucking groups have rallied against them. Opponents claim that the tolls are unconstitutional, will hurt local businesses, increase traffic, decrease safety, damage local roads, drive up prices for consumers, and more.
Recently, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation published a mandatory report on the environmental impact the two new tolling locations would have. The American Trucking Association claimed that the report was flawed, and asked the Federal Highway Administration to reject the report and order a more detailed analysis.
Last week however, the FHWA published its own “Finding of No Significant Impact,” giving the first two tolling locations the last green light they need to start installation.
Construction is set to begin in January and be completed by early February. After testing, the Rhode Island DOT claims that the gantries will start collecting tolls by the end of February.
Only the first two toll locations along I-95 at Mechanic Street in Richmond and the Tefft Hill Trail Bridge in Exeter are starting construction.
By the time all fourteen planned locations are collecting tolls, truckers will pay an estimated annual total of $45 million in tolls to Rhode Island.
But for the trucking industry, the battle isn’t over. Once tolls start being collected, opponents say a lawsuit will soon follow.
“Despite the DOT Director’s statement that ‘FHA has cleared the way’ for truck tolling, he failed to state the reality,” said Rhode Island Trucking Association President Christopher Maxell in a press release. “Which is the [state] is facing a lengthy and very expensive legal battle that will be funded by taxpayer dollars.”
Source: providencejournal, usnews, truckinginfo, truckersreport
Its about time states take advantage of trucking. Truck drivers make way too much money for so little work anyways. I hate that i will never go to Rhode Island in a truck, it sounds like a lot of smart people live there. GOOOOOOO morons!!!
As a Rhode Islander I can tell you that a lot of smart people do live here. Unfortunately, not many work in state government.
That’s true in most states, Mark
You obviously are not a truck driver. What a very narrow minded comment. “Big truck, big money”? Try the company executives, not drivers. Average company driver makes $40,000 a year. That is a whole lot less than most professions. And the most regulated industry in the world, right behind airline pilots. Do your research before making biased comments.
John, I see you don’t have a feel for sarcasm.
Yeaaaah he miss it! His gas is on but somebody blew his pilot light out!
Wow…a little slow on the up take this morning, eh?
john, this is not a industry or a profession it is MODERN DAY SLAVE LABOR AT MINIMUM WAGE PRICE. sorry to yell just want to be sure you understand .
Even if you don’t count the time you’re asleep in the truck, but just count the driving and the time you’re not allowed to move the truck, but are not asleep, it DOES come near to minimum wage, or sometimes less, if the miles are short and dock times are long. If the public is informed of this wage disparity, they WILL back a trucker’s strike, at least one that only lasts a couple of weeks or so. Maybe there could be two a year, just to get the message across to these cheapskate, non-union, companies that the current way of doing things is not sustainable.- Charles Bevell Bloomington, IN
A couple weeks? You do realize most big cities will begin feeling disastrous food shortages after 12-24 don’t you? And that will lead to massive riots in every major city in America in 3 or 4 days. Way to advocate for martial law!
Well said. Drivers need to unite by slowing down but, I’m sorry to say they’re too scared and unfortunately cannot see the big picture. Together we can shut this country down. Divided, well you see what’s happening. $10.00 -$15.00 hr for the most powerful industry in the world.
If you feel that way why is it you are still involved ? Most people, upon determining they have made a bad choice in their employment, move on !
sorry, do the math. 168 hours a week at 40 cpm X 2500 miles
equals about 3.57 an hour. Take home.
take out 300 in taxes and 100 per week for expenses
and you have 600.00 left. Then divide 600 by 168(always on duty hours for OTR or local, as the clock always ticks, especially ELD clock to the microsecond) and you get the princely sum of 3.57 an hour.
If you work local and have a second job, you must legally report the
“off duty” hours,as a driver you are never “off” the clock.
Just ask any ambulance chasing Transportation lawyer.
He was joking john, ease up dude
John I think Shogun was using this little understood way of humor called sarcasm.
I drive a truck local and I make 20 an hour . After my health insurance and taxes are taken out of my pay I bring home less than 700 a week . I also have a mortgage and two boys. But where’s the huge money there. Plus to renew my license it’s almost a two hundred dollar fee and every two years having a 150 dollar medical exam done. People don’t know how much more we pay to keep our license . Add hazmat on it and you are talk background checks and a renew every two years for me . Owner operators who have to make a huge truck payment , insurance for the truck and cargo and fuel every week.
We do not make a lot of money u moron! We work a lot harder than you do. We are over regulated and underpaid. We work over 70 hours a week to come home with pay LESS than yours. Try educating yourself before running your mouth.
saw yourself in the mirror aging uh?
I think it was a bit of sarcasm and sounds like he is against the tolls as well.
As an owner operator I refuse to go the northeast. This will push more drivers not to go there. In turn pushing rates to the area even higher than they are. Ultimately that will get pushed along to the end consumer at some point, resulting in the cost of living for the area to go even higher than it already is.
Oh well. They got it all figured out up there so have at it.
That’s why I didn’t keep driving, not enough pay for the work required, $800 a week to stay gone, or $6,800 every two weeks to work in the patch. Yea buddy the patch is where I went right back too
Giovanni, That was sarcastic humor dummy
Pumpkin driver’s don’t make much money.
That is true, I drove for Schneider for 4 years before buying my own truck. The advantage of Schneider they generally have freight everywhere, as for the 5 brokers I have. There are times I sit for 3 days or drive 300 miles to get a load.
wow! sarcasm is not required reading for the Criminal Drivers License
(CDL) manual in any state, or on the written or driven portion of the tests. No wonder these guys don’t get it!
This guy is not smart 40,000 a year a lot of money WTF? If you think truckers make big money get out here if can handle the daily work and stress, one thing the cost of tolls is passed down to the consumer. Either way, you look at it you pay for the extra cost.
oh so basically me working day and night for nothing is what they have in mind. if every state had a toll, nothing would get transported.
How is this the first truck-only toll location? Did people forget about the truck only toll on interstate 87 north, north of NYC and south of Albany NY, that toll has been there before back in 2006, when all truck had to leave the high way to pay the toll, now they have a fast lane on the highway but people with cash have to get off to pay
Morons are people that talk about things that they know so little about to me all truckers should go on strike to see what this government do with out us
Morons are people that talk about things that they know so little about to me all truckers should go on strike to
Just don’t pickup or deliver there if your an Owner Operator. Company drivers don’t have that option, yeah you can quit and go elsewhere but you stand a good chance of having to go there by the boss. Just raise the rates of all freight in and out if there, if course in the bean counter world that becomes a crazy issue. Again, punish there asses as much as you possible can drivers!!!! As a company driver and consumer, I will be checking for anything I buy, if any part of it is made in Rhode Island it will be put back on the shelf even if I have to pay more to a competitor that makes it outside of Rhode Island
I reckon they want to reduce traffic by forcing drivers to bypass that state. All you have to do is take I 395 to I 90.
Shogun you sound stupid. Im a O/O and i will tell you this here , if i have to go into Rhode island and those tolls, the shipper or broker will pay them…outside my rate. Example. Greenboro nc to providence R.I…I charge about 2.50 to 3.25. Lets say $2100. Well now…depending on those tolls….i will add tolls on the side and give me a extra $75-100 for tolls. Anything can be worked out. Its business.
Yes, if you figure a Over the Road truckers wage by the hour, $5/hr is pushing it.
Just another attack on the rolling ATMs
Why didn’t the artical mention how much the toll will be? If you go over certain bridges in the N.Y.C. metro area you could pay over $100 dollars to cross a bridge.
When they say “bridges” it’s not what your thinking. These bridges they speak of are shorter than my truck. They are overpasses over surfaces streets. While yes they are technically a bridge they are loopholing the federal prohibition on new tolls. If this was truly about getting money from trucks they would just add a highway use tax like KY,NY,NM . That would not cost a dime to collect. Instead they are spending hundreds of millions of dollars on 45 toll gantries so they eventually toll cars as well. But stupid Rhode Islanders don’t see that. They just see the big bag trucks destroying there delapitated roads
I do over size they hit me for 300.00
it’s not just about the trucking industry it’s about government splitting this group or that group up to create new taxes cause it’s harder to raise the current taxes. consolidate the taxes and put more power back in the ppls hands.
Dennis
I’m glad I don’t have to go up there anymore what the trucking companies should do is treat Rl like Mexico take it to their boarder and let them come get it
So will Rhode island be dropping out of ifta or will it be a tax on a tax situation big rigs already pay more highway use taxes than smaller vehicles I think that shippers should put a toll tariff on the freight going in or through R I at three times the toll to be split with the driver the company and a children’s charity. If a toll on big rigs is good toll on all vehicles would be a windfall for the state ….oh wait the public won’t allow that..just another biased fee by the government. Of a corrupt state
Companies just need to take alternate routes. Start taking local highways. If they make those illegal, just don’t go there. I refuse to cross the Hudson river. No New England States, nyc, philly, Baltimore,ir D.C. If truck don’t go there, they won’t get their products. Just a couple of weeks will make a big difference. If people die because of life saving supplies don’t get there, then so be it.
They’re also banning trucks from the US highways(they said in an earlier report).
The state of Missouri is “debating” whether or not to do this (tolls) with with Interstate 70 ( I-70) between St. Louis and K.C.
Bureaucracies are like cancer. They never do with less but are only interested in their own growth and expansion
Interstates were built for trucks….grrrr….does nobody know history.
Not the first. 287 west in N.Y. has been truck only toll for years.
Where do you get 287 in NY as being truck only toll?
Since when did US-287 even go into New York? It ends in San Antonio, TX and begins in Montana.
If you look on a map of ny you will see I-287 that connects I-95 to I-87 and goes south into N.J. To the Jersey turnpike it also connects with I-87 that goes around the lower side of NYC and takes you to I-95 and points north and yes it has been truck tolls only for over 20 years going west after the tappenzee bridge on the map it shows I-287w & I- 87 n running together
Will neaver go back there f,,them
All truckers should refuse loads to Rhode island. ,before this starts a trend that other states follow,and it won’t take 2 weeks,more like 2 days,soon has food stops coming in they will change their minds
Let Rhode Island STARVE TRUCKERS BOYCOTT LOADS TO RHODE ISLAND!!
SCREW THEM! Hoffa would have done it, but then this would require all drivers and companies to lay down their stupidity and work together to bring Rhode Island to their knees( you STARVE somebody long enough they will give in) so, scents none of you can do that well, open your wallets and die. Wyoming should be next they been looking to truck toll for years
Could care less if Rhode Island receives anything from trucks…let them become ghosts.
Drivers will do what they always do…bitch then pay the tolls.
Wow, i need to put a sarcasm disclaimer on my messages. Let me be clear. Yes I drive a truck and states that take advantage of trucks like this can screw themselves. Better?
Shogun, I thought your first post was hilarious! To many stupid serous people on here that can’t take a sarcastic joke!
Thanks Daryl. It seems like it was a race to see who could be offended on here the fastest.
MOST of us caught your sarcasm. We don’t say it enough, but truckers should be appreciated more, especially the ones starting out, driving for the less scrupulous, unnamed (We know who those are.) carriers.- Charles Bevell Bloomington, IN
Just trying to screw people taking 95 up into Boston and Maine who bypass I90 to avoid that toll. In other words, it’s strategic and predatory. They are trying to force you to pay them money, as if your job isn’t hard enough. No idling. No decent parking nearby. Everything is expensive as hell up there, not to mention constipated and annoying. Hell, this person probably voted for Hillary.
If we did something like this, we would be arrested. But the government does it, so it must be OK. We pay taxes for a reason. Why do we need another toll?
When the shelves get empty they might rethink their stupidity. Yet stupid does not know when to stop. I don’t drive in the northeast they can starve for all I care. Future is bleek for Rhode Island.
One good thing about the toll road I will charge a higher price to RI and make more money and the people of RI will pay higher prices at the store lol!
If Rhode Island needs tax money so bad, they need to follow intelligent states like Colorado and Legalize Marijuana, not put up these damn Truck Tolls. Colorado makes SO MUCH money off the Marijuana! Plenty to help with infrastructure, public schools, drug education for youths, generate tons of (exciting) new jobs, less money spent on incarceration, and more.
Really all U.S States that aren’t following Colorado’s lead are run by unevolved, irrational morons.
I was in an industry for years that government kept adding incidental costs. All in the name of environmental cleanup. The logic of lawmakers was, “you make the waste, you pay to clean it up.”
I don’t necessarily disagree with that train of thought. We were squeezed just like truckers are today. So we started adding a surcharge to every invoice that read: “Mandatory EPA Environmental Fee”. Most paid it. Many questioned it, but it allowed us to recoup some of this costs.
The same thing happened in trucking back during the ’73 oil embargo. Fuel went thru the ceiling. I was no longer paying 0.12 -0.15 cents per gallon for diesel. So the industry came up with the Fuel Surcharge. Everyone pays it, and it goes to the trucker.
Every load our company ships into NYC has a $100 NYC Surcharge. Most pay it.
What I’m saying is we need to add a Rhode Island Transit Surcharge. We as an industry simply charge all loads that pass into or thru Rhode Island a surcharge.
When questioned, we simply say, “This is a new State Infrastructure Surcharge”. We are being asked to collect this for the State, much like sales tax at the retail point.
I’ll bet most will pay it.
Each time a tax is developed or increased such as a sales tax, the taxpayer readily notes it and will try and hold the governing authority responsible.
Look at the fuel tax repeal currently gaining steam in California.
Businesses don’t pay tax. They simply become middlemen that collect it for the taxing authority. You and I end up paying all those taxes (that are hidden) in the form of higher prices.
The Feds watch the Consumer Price Index closely. A very hot potato to say the least.
We simply need to put this tax out in daylight in the same way.
I work for one of the ‘Big 10’ trucking companies and have suggested this.
The business office has told me we are going to try this as soon as the new tolls go into effect.
Screw them. I will not go back again
I don’t run east of I/79, north of I/70-270 in the Northeast or California!! In the Northeast to many expensive tolls, fuel is to expensive due to taxes & there’s not enough truck parking!! As far as California goes, that state just plain sucks all around!!💯
I don’t cross the Mason-Dixon line at all. It’s a foreign country.
Aww, c’mon, Thomas, we’re good people who might like, or need, what’s on your truck. There are many friendly people up here- they’re not ALL in the South. Btw, the South is my favorite part of the country, as well, but… why not still come up here once in awhile?- Charles Bevell
Just order grits, it puts them at ease and they stop staring
It is now more than $100 to cross the GWB – I avoid it.
It is $48 to go over the NB bridge on I95 in Maryland – I try my best to avoid it.
It is $30 to enter Pennsylvania WB on either I80 & I78 – I do my best to avoid it.
I avoid the NJ Turnpike whenever possible.
I do my best not to encourage their behaviour however it is getting more and more difficult. When I see it coming I charge the broker. That cost is passed backwards.
I rarely go to Rhode Island now I will deliberately avoid it. The turnpikes are in a shocking state. The Pennsylvania Turnpike is not only incredibly expensive but a god awful drive. Totally not worth it. I avoid it. I80?? What a joke.
Another way. I’ve decided to pick my battles. Nothing I can do about this so I’ll absorb what I can’t collect elsewhere and maintain my positive attitude with the goal of having it rub off on everyone I come in contact with. No “F” them attitude here. I have a chain of local stations that give me up to .18 per gallon off on fuel. That alone will save me over $1000 in 2018. I also demand more for my backhauls. $150 more on the load I’m delivering right now. Of course not being in the “F” them group doesn’t hurt. Good luck in 2018.
Sorry about any errors in my statement was in a hurry and didn’t check for errors
On I 95? As in INTERSTATE?as in already paid for and being paid for by AMERICA? How about those that make deliveries in Rhode Island…dont.. and make deliveries in other states..bet the residence will really love having to go out of state to get their supplies…or let them go down to the local rail head and get them..it is time to start fighting back over all of rules,regulations, and laws that truckers get to pay for and wont see any extra income.. or very little to pay for any of this..you just got stuck with paying for an ELD..and now this… WHEN IS IT GOING TO STOP? How about on Tuesday ..NO MORE RHODE ISLAND…
Why not just stay away from that state for a couple of months
I am just getting into trucking just got my CDL not that long and can say that I have noticed a trend with the DOT and how easy it is to blame the trucker. I read the comments more then the stories and just want to thank all of you hardasses for going to work everyday!
I’m OTR, but I rarely travel Rude Island. If I do, I won’t stop, unless I’m forced to, I wont spend. The motto fellow gearbangers is don’t stop, don’t spend.
Why don’t they just collect it from the places that the truckers deliver to instead of clogging traffic? Most trucks are still stick, not automatic, and it takes awhile to get back up to highway speed. This could cause accidents caused by car drivers who won’t let trucks back in traffic. Btw, truckers, you all need to go on strike to get treated better. Did it for awhile, and don’t know how you all can do it long-term. Making $60k is great, but, as a transit bus driver, I can do that by working 60 hours a week, and go home every night, not be away for 300 days a year. Truckers are the hidden heroes of American commerce, and I really appreciate what they all do. Imagine Kroger with no deliveries for 30 days!- Charles Bevell Bloomington, IN
Hopefully all freight rates running that stretch of 95 goes up in 1 week and also adds on 3% surcharge for grief, traffic delays and just flat out greed
15% surcharge, not 3.
What’s Rhode Island going to do if the trucking companies decide not to haul into or out?
People won’t understand until a toothbrush costs $7 because of freight charges. No matter what guys and gals…. NO MATTER WHAT… pass ALL shipping costs on to the customer. That way it’s the public paying the tolls, not us.
we need all driver that have cdl to boycott to see what would they do with out trucker
I think all states should do this then we could double our rates.
Double rates would not be enough to cover the tolls to go cross country!!
Funny…. this is a rax on the people …trucks dont pay tolls, the receiver pays the tolls then passes the fee to the end consumer …or in perspective if your reading this thats you …government so creative how they spin things i just dont get why the end consumer not stand up and say something
More toll taxing..it’s an illegal tax.
It hurts the company’s we work for they pay out more give less to us..the freaking roads are already paid for with tax money and they think they’ll charge more like it’s an Amusement park..this bull has got to cap off somewhere.
Any freight going east of the Mississippi should have a 20% rate increase attached to it.
F these greedy little states since you need us more than we need them.
East of the Mississippi? That doesn’t leave you too much commerce to deal with. Not all states East of the Mississippi are greedy , and dome states West of the Mississippi are plenty greedy themselves , using other methods to take your money. Also , remember , if the original 13 Colonies didn’t fight to create this country, you would be speaking Spanish in the West .And If you’re from Texas or several other states out West, you owe your existence to native Virginians Stephen Austin and Sam Houston along with some other heroes from Tennessee and Carolina , and other places “back East”. Where the USA began . But as for the tolls on I-95 in Rhode Island , I agree , it’s wrong . But be a little more gracious to the founders of our country and its inhabitants next time , please.
I know a lot of you are wondering W T F but I have not seen any kind of construction going on to set up these gantries . The only thing I can think of is that the wicked witch of the west wil use the gantries that are already going across the roads . This is actually an outrage and should have never been allowed to happen .
Tolling existing interstates is illegal.
First of all. These big box companies will gladly pay the toll so that they can suck up all that additional freight!! And second of all there are only a few drivers left out there still running that remember unity in this industry!! Last real strike was back in the 70’s!!!