When trip preplanning, how do you accurately calculate tolls?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by oldtrucker66, Jul 2, 2021.

  1. oldtrucker66

    oldtrucker66 Light Load Member

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    Do you use a GPS, app, etc? Which is the most accurate?
    Thank you
     
  2. God prefers Diesels

    God prefers Diesels Road Train Member

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    This really won't answer your question at all. I run NE, and I was scared of tolls at first. But after finally getting the bills in the mail, they ended up being far FAR less than I thought they would be. I would avoid the bridges near New York. GWB is $110. Cuomo is like $50. There's a Delaware bridge I didn't even know was tolled, and it was something like $50. But the roads aren't terrible. Even the PA Turnpike, which is the highest toll road in the world, isn't really that bad compared to the rates you get up there.

    So what I do is route plan with tolls, and without tolls. If there isn't a significant difference in miles and time, I take no tolls. If it adds 300 miles and ten hours, then I take tolls.

    What area are you trying to run?
     
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  3. Cattleman84

    Cattleman84 Road Train Member

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    Simple... Plan to avoid tolls.
     
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  4. Linte_Loco

    Linte_Loco Road Train Member

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    I always used the PA turnpike website to figure it out when I forgot what it was
     
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  5. oldtrucker66

    oldtrucker66 Light Load Member

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    ---------------------------------============

    Where? east coast
    How do you route plan with and without tolls if you don't know what the tolls are?
     
  6. God prefers Diesels

    God prefers Diesels Road Train Member

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    Once again, this will NOT fully answer your question...

    I now know that tolls don't "hurt that much". So I actually ignore their total cost. So I use a mixture of Google GPS and Hammer to figure the route. If it's similar (tolls or no tolls), then I chose no tolls. If it's drastically different, I just take the tools. They're honestly not that terrible.
     
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  7. slow.rider

    slow.rider Road Train Member

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    Get an app called TollGuru. Input origin, destination, and vehicle, and it will tell you the tolls on the fastest route, plus often also a cheaper alternative. It rarely shows the best alternate route but can be played with for research purposes. I've learnt a lot from messing with it.

    I think the Hammer app is similar but I'm just starting to mess with Hammer.
     
  8. homeskillet

    homeskillet Road Train Member

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    Almost every toll authority has a website.

    With that and your road atlas, follow along your route and calculate the tolls for each state.

    Then add each state's tolls together.


    If you're an O/O get yourself a BestPass. Works in most states, you'll have a record of where you went and how much it was.

    If you're a company driver, drive for a company with BestPass.
     
  9. oldtrucker66

    oldtrucker66 Light Load Member

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  10. truckdriver31

    truckdriver31 Road Train Member

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    it all starts with a road map.