Big rigs to get holiday price break on Texas toll roads

Dec. 21, 2011
The Texas Dept. of Transportation has a holiday gift for truckers using Texas 130 and Texas 45 Southeast in the form of considerable toll discounts.

The Texas Dept. of Transportation has a holiday gift for truckers using Texas 130 and Texas 45 Southeast in the form of considerable toll discounts.

Starting today and running through Jan. 4, large trucks will be subject to the same tolls as cars, a third of what truckers normally pay. Cars, depending on whether they are equipped with an electronic toll tag or not, pay between $6.44 and $8.53 to travel the 56-mi. eastern bypass.

TxDOT is using the discounted tolls to determine what permanent price breaks might mean to traffic on the toll roads and on Interstate 35 through Austin and Round Rock. Officials will look at the truck traffic numbers during this lower-price interval, TxDOT spokeswoman Karen Amacker told the Austin Statesman, then “we’ll have a better understanding of possible paths forward.”

Amacker said that though usage of toll roads has increased in the five years they have been open, it has put little dent in I-35 congestion or the number of big rigs that pass through the heart of the city. TxDOT is considering lowering truck tolls to the automobile rate, or eliminating tolls on big rigs entirely.

In March of this year the Texas Transportation Commission reduced tolls on trucks from four times a car toll to three times a car toll.

Figures released Friday by TxDOT showed only a slight uptick in October truck traffic on Texas 130 and Texas 45 Southeast this year when compared with last year.

TxDOT will post electronic message boards about the price break this week on the approaches to Texas 130 north of Georgetown and to Texas 45 Southeast near Buda, officials said, and publicize it directly to the trucking industry.

Sponsored Recommendations

Heavy-Duty Maintenance Checklist

A maintenance checklist can help ensure you hit everything necessary during an inspection. Check out our free downloadable checklist to help streamline your repairs.

Five Ways a Little Data Can Save Your Company Millions

While most trucking and logistics companies rely on cellular to keep their work fleet connected, satellite has the ability to connect anywhere and through small data transmission...

Fleet Case Study: 15% YOY Growth for ITDS

Learn how this small trucking company scaled significantly and maintained outstanding customer service without adding additional people. Sylectus TMS can automate operations and...

Unlocking Fleet Safety & Efficiency: The Managed Service Advantage

Want to boost your fleet's safety and efficiency? Tune in now to discover the power of Managed Services in optimizing your safety program, streamlining operations, and making ...

Voice your opinion!

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