On any given route throughout the country, truckers may run into tolls along the way. Understanding the different options for toll payments can help truckers and trucking companies maximize the efficiency of their routes and budgets. Learn more about how tolls work and the best solutions for toll payment below.
How Do Tolls Work?
In simple terms, a toll is a fee drivers pay to access certain roads. Often, toll roads provide drivers with the quickest routes possible, allowing them to get to their destinations sooner. The fees collected to access toll roads help pay for their construction and maintenance.
The fees for types of vehicles differ, and truck tolls are often more expensive than tolls for passenger vehicles. More specifically, how much trucks pay for tolls is based on their size. For example, in Pennsylvania, understanding how much tolls are for semi-trucks comes down to how many axles they have, as well as their weight class, height and cargo size.
Types of Tolls
Tolls are mostly found on highways and before or after tunnels and bridges. Tolls are generally categorized into four types:
- Open toll: Road users pay a specified amount for the distance driven on a highway at designated stops.
- Open road toll: Tolls are collected using transponders electronically, without stopping at booths. This cashless form of paying for tolls is supported by toll management solutions like Bestpass.
- Closed toll: Users pay for the distance traveled between two toll booths when they receive a ticket at the beginning of one and make payment when they reach the other, usually at both ends of a tunnel or bridge.
- Annual toll: Payment is made annually for users to access all toll roads, inclusive of distance traveled.
Toll Payment Methods
Approximately 36 states have toll roads in the United States, so your drivers will likely need to take toll roads at some point. How do you pay for tolls? The most common methods to pay for tolls include the following:po
Cash
Most often, drivers will pay by cash or credit card to access toll roads. A driver drives up to the toll booth and pays the required fee to access the road, and a gate opens to allow access to the road.
In some states, it’s becoming more common to charge drivers for toll access by mail — a driver slows down as they pass through the toll booth, and a picture of their license plate is taken. Then, the state will mail them an invoice with the amount they need to pay, and the driver can pay via mail or online.
Toll Management Platforms
Toll management portals, like Fleetworthy, offer a complete payment management system for trucking fleets, eliminating the need to carry cash or use the traditional mail option. Using transponders to record the tolls passed, our solution also provides discounts and reduces violations to alleviate the costs associated with tolling. You can monitor and track your fleet’s activity through the Fleetworthy portal for up-to-date reports, allowing you to focus your time and money on other operational expenses instead.
What Are the Most Efficient Ways to Pay Tolls?
Unlike non-commercial drivers who might only occasionally access toll roads, truck drivers and fleet operators need a simple, streamlined way to pay toll fees and track and manage the tolls they pay.
As a result, paying for tolls with cash or through certain transponder options may not be the best fit for fleets. Instead, fleet operators should consider toll payment software that offers a comprehensive look at toll fees and makes toll payment easy.