Photo: Sean Kilcarr/Fleet Owner
Fleetowner 24832 Truckhwy2 0
Fleetowner 24832 Truckhwy2 0
Fleetowner 24832 Truckhwy2 0
Fleetowner 24832 Truckhwy2 0
Fleetowner 24832 Truckhwy2 0

EROAD to participate in truck-focused mileage fee program

Nov. 21, 2017
Pilot test of mileage-based user fees for commercial vehicles will begin next year along U.S. East Coast.

Technology provider EROAD is joining a multi-state $1.6 million pilot test of a mileage-based user fee (MBUF) system that will kick off next year along the Eastern Seaboard of the U.S.

The I-95 Corridor Coalition truck pilot program will include 50 vehicles equipped with EROAD in-vehicle hardware for a period of six months; technology that will record mileage data and apply applicable formulas for a truck-based MBUF as prescribed by the program’s steering committee, which includes the American Trucking Associations (ATA) among others. EROAD said it will also produce “dummy invoices” to help demonstrate how payments would be made to the “appropriate agencies” within the I-95 Corridor Coalition.

The I-95 Corridor Coalition is a partnership of transportation agencies, toll authorities, public safety officials, and related organizations along the East Coast and is partially funded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Surface Transportation Funding Alternatives program, which was established to explore “alternative mechanisms” for accumulating road funding in lieu fuel taxes.

The pilot test area, encompassing Maine to Florida, is a critical freight corridor in the U.S. economy, noted Steven Newman, EROAD’s CEO, with over five billion tons of freight – representing almost 40% of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) – moving annually across the area’s 1,917 miles of roads, which represents approximately 20% of all U.S. roadways. Average daily truck traffic in the region includes over 10,000 vehicles with peak daily traffic averaging over 31,000 units, with the amount of truck traffic in the corridor expected to more than double by 2035.

Newman added that this program should help demonstrate a “highly flexible, feasible and cost-effective way” to introduce road user fee charging programs across multiple U.S. jurisdictions “without needing an intrusive and expensive roadside infrastructure, while also reducing the reporting burden on motor carriers.”

As part of this program, the I-95 Corridor Coalition is working with the Delaware Department of Transportation to explore the feasibility of replacing fuel taxes with a mileage-based user fee approach in a multi-state environment.

Patricia Hendren, executive director of the I-95 Corridor Coalition, said trucks were an important component of exploring the feasibility of a mileage-based user fee approach. “Commercial vehicles have a long list of reporting requirements, they are heavy users of the system and they are heavy payers,” she noted. “Our goal is to look at the data that commercial vehicles are currently required to submit and ask ‘within that framework, what would a mileage-based approach look like?’”

About the Author

Fleet Owner Staff

Our Editorial Team

Kevin Jones, Editorial Director, Commercial Vehicle Group

Cristina Commendatore, Executive Editor

Scott Achelpohl, Managing Editor 

Josh Fisher, Senior Editor

Catharine Conway, Digital Editor

Eric Van Egeren, Art Director

Sponsored Recommendations

Tackling the Tech Shortage: Lessons in Recruiting Talent and Reducing Turnover

Discover innovative strategies for recruiting and retaining tech talent in the trucking industry at our April 16th webinar, where experts will share insights on competitive pay...

Stop Sweating Temperature Excursions

Advanced chemical indicators give you the peace of mind that comes from reliable insights into your supply chains. Compromised shipments can be identified the moment they arrive...

Stop Sweating Temperature Excursions

Advanced chemical indicators give you the peace of mind that comes from reliable insights into your supply chains. Compromised shipments can be identified the moment they arrive...

How Electric Vehicles Help You Prolong the Life of Your Fleet

Before adopting electric vehicles for commercial/government fleets, prioritize cost inquiries. Maintenance is essential; understand the upkeep of EV fleets. Here’s what you need...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!