‘Discriminatory scheme’

The New York State Thruway Authority should abandon a toll proposal that disproportionately affects truck drivers, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association says.

OOIDA delivered that message in a letter sent on June 9 to the authority’s board of directors.

“While OOIDA supports robust and cost-effective investment in infrastructure, we strongly oppose the discriminatory scheme you have proposed because it disproportionately affects small-business trucking, especially those domiciled outside New York who haul critical freight in or out of the state,” the Association wrote in a letter signed by President Todd Spencer. “Small trucking businesses, like those we represent, account for 96% of registered motor carriers in the United States, making them a key component of the nation’s supply chain.”

According to the Auburn Citizen, the proposed increase would raise tolls for E-ZPass users by 5% in 2024 and another 5% in 2027. Under the toll plan, out-of-state E-ZPass users would pay 75% more than in-state users. The publication also noted that an audit found more than $276 million in unpaid tolls.

OOIDA told the authority that the tolls would be disproportionate to small-business truckers because they are not able to pass the cost along.

“Unfortunately, small trucking businesses predominately pay tolls out of pocket as the freight rate system seldom provides for reimbursement of toll charges by shippers,” OOIDA wrote. “Because of this, any toll increases on our members will severely impact their bottom line. Often operating on the slimmest of margins, thousands of dollars in new out-of-pocket expenses could drastically diminish an owner-operator’s and their family’s income.

“Tolls also represent another layer of taxation on an industry which already pays numerous federal and state taxes to maintain our highway infrastructure.”

Safety issue

In addition, OOIDA wrote that the increase could hinder roadway safety.

“Beyond financial impacts, tolling decreases overall highway safety by diverting traffic to secondary or local roads – often in smaller communities,” OOIDA wrote. “These roads are rarely designed to handle the volume and types of vehicles seeking to avoid tolls, which poses serious safety risks for all highway users.

“Increased congestion on ancillary roads also expedites the degradation of their condition, which forces local governments to expend greater resources on maintenance and repair. The proposal you have introduced will undoubtedly divert truck traffic from the thruway to these ancillary roads.”

Bad for business

The decision also could hurt New York businesses and consumers, OOIDA said.

“Shifting so much of the financial burden for the maintenance of the thruway to out-of-state truckers discourages them from even entering the state, which would increase costs for New York businesses and consumers who rely upon our members,” the Association wrote. “While in-state drivers may avoid the most dramatic increases you have proposed initially, they will never be fully immune to the broad impacts your policies will have on the supply chain.”

OOIDA told the board that the proposal should be abandoned and that it should pursue other ways to fund the thruway.

“The decision to increase tolls may seem straightforward from a public policy perspective, but for hundreds of thousands of truck drivers, your approach is very troubling,” OOIDA wrote. “Truckers, who have long been significant contributors to thruway funds, are willing to contribute even more to ensure our roads are safe and well maintained but not through excessive and discriminatory toll increases.” LL