Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Rhode Island Scales Back Tolling Plans

UPDATED -- Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo announced last minute changes to a truck tolling proposal that upset several local and national trucking groups, but the state trucking association says the plan still unfairly targets truckers.

by Staff
June 2, 2015
Rhode Island Scales Back Tolling Plans

 

2 min to read


UPDATED -- Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo announced last minute changes to a truck tolling proposal that upset several local and national trucking groups, but the state trucking association says the plan still unfairly targets truckers.

Ad Loading...

The new revised version of the RhodeWorks plan scales back the definition of a large commercial truck removing Class 6 and 7 vehicles and restricting the tolls to Class 8-13 vehicles. 

Ad Loading...

New language was also added that allows the Rhode Island Department of Transportation to establish a program that would limit the assessment of tolls on a single vehicle within one day. Individual large commercial vehicles would only be subject to tolls once per location, per day in each direction.

The revised proposal still singles out commercial vehicles for tolling with language that indicates passenger vehicles and smaller commercial vehicles are still exempt. This was a primary source of contention for American Trucking Associations President and CEO Bill Graves, who called the plan “highway robbery.”

The Rhode Island Trucking Association said they’re not satisfied with the proposal, even with the proposed changes, according to a report on WPRI.

“I don’t want to it to be out there we’re somehow satisfied because they’ve dropped classes 6 and 7 out of the proposal,” said RITA spokesperson Bill Fischer, according to the station. “I don’t want you think the problem is solved or that we’re satisfied in any way shape or form.”

The proposed RhodeWorks plan would assess a user fee for large commercial vehicles traveling along several bridges on routes 95, 195, 295, 146, 6 and 10.  The fee would be collected electronically without physical toll booths and is expected to generate about $100 million annually. The plan was proposed as a way to pay for the state’s ailing bridge system.

Ad Loading...

Updated 8:30 EDT 6/3/2015 to add RITA response

More Fleet Management

ATA President Chris Spear.
Fleet Managementby Jack RobertsMarch 17, 2026

ATA’s Spear Warns Fuel Prices, Trade Policy, and Global Conflict Could Stall Trucking Recovery

Speaking at the TMC Annual Meeting in Nashville, ATA President Chris Spear said trucking faces mounting pressure from rising fuel prices, geopolitical instability, and uncertainty around trade policy.

Read More →
Illustration of author headshot with black-and-white old-fashioned rig in the background

New Entrants, Chameleon Carriers, and Safety: Is It Too Easy to Start a Trucking Company?

More than 100,000 new trucking companies enter the industry each year, but regulators manage to audit only a fraction of them. That churn creates opportunities for inexperienced startups — and for “chameleon carriers” that shut down after safety violations and reappear under new identities. Read more from Deborah Lockridge in this commentary.

Read More →
Panel discussion
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeMarch 12, 2026

Fleet Managers Invited to Apply for Exclusive HDT Exchange Event

HDTX is an intimate event that connects heavy-duty trucking fleet managers with industry suppliers through small-group discussions, educational sessions, and structured one-on-one meetings.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
DAT iPhone Widget.
Fleet Managementby News/Media ReleaseMarch 12, 2026

DAT Launches iPhone Widget to Help Owner-Operators Find Loads Faster

New DAT One feature shows top-paying loads directly on an iPhone’s home screen, helping carriers react faster to spot-market opportunities.

Read More →
Optimal Dynamics Scale screen shot
Fleet Managementby News/Media ReleaseMarch 12, 2026

Optimal Dynamics Launches AI System to Help Carriers Choose Better Freight

Optimal Dynamics says its new Scale platform uses AI agents and optimization to help carriers find and secure freight that improves network balance and profitability.

Read More →
DAT March 2026 trucking conditions.
Fleet Managementby Jack RobertsMarch 12, 2026

DAT: Flatbed Demand Climbs as Van and Reefer Rates Soften

DAT Freight & Analytics data shows tightening flatbed capacity, easing produce markets, and softening van and reefer rates.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
YouTube thumbnail with Mike Roeth of NACFE saying "NACFE's Messy Middle: Which Fuel Wins?"
Fuel Smartsby Deborah LockridgeMarch 11, 2026

Run on Less “Messy Middle” Data Shows Multiple Paths Forward for Truck Powertrains [Watch]

NACFE's Run on Less - Messy Middle project demonstrates the power of data in helping to guide the future of alternative fuels and powertrains for heavy-duty trucks.

Read More →
Illustration of crowded New York street overlaid with dollar signs
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeMarch 11, 2026

Federal Court Lets NYC Congestion Pricing Continue

A federal court ruling allows New York City’s congestion pricing program to continue, leaving truck tolls in place for fleets delivering into Manhattan.

Read More →
Fontaine Modification Access365
Fleet Managementby News/Media ReleaseMarch 10, 2026

Fontaine Modification Launches Real-Time Truck Modification Tracking Portal

Fontaine Modification has introduced a new customer portal designed to give fleets real-time visibility into the truck modification process, addressing one of the most common questions fleet managers face: “Where’s my truck?”

Read More →
Ad Loading...
FTR Tucking Conditions March 2026.
Fleet Managementby Jack RobertsMarch 10, 2026

FTR: Trucking Conditions Index Climbs to Highest Level Since 2022

Strong freight rates, rising volumes and tighter capacity push trucking conditions higher, though diesel prices could temper gains in the near term, FTR cautions.

Read More →