Quote:
Originally Posted by Orangetxguy
Why spend your money, to make life easy for SPD? If they chose to not pay tolls, then driving around those tolls should be on their dime, not yours.
Burn enough fuel avoiding tolls, and SPD will soon chose to pay the tolls.
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I don't intent on using my money and run the toll roads. I do want to know the cost being running US30 vs. the Toll Road. Still looking for information about if the road/fuel taxes are offset by the toll charge.
I have been thinking what I get paid by going either way. Since I make hub mileage it works out as follows:
384 miles Lake Station, IN to I76/I80 Jct, Ohio by way of IN49/US30/I71/I76 X 36cpm = $138.24
355 miles Lake Station, IN to I76/I80 Jct, Ohio by way of Toll Road X 36cpm = $127.80
Why don't I just be happy with running the extra miles and get more money since I get hub mileage? Because I believe in being cost effective(eg. keep idle time and OOR miles down, take care of the truck/tarps/load, etc.).
Someone here suggested that I pay the toll out of my pocket(and take the tax deduction). If so and I was Class 8 then it would be $59.25(Sorry, I don't have EZ-Pass). So I would make make $68.55(127.80 - 59.25) which is a difference of $69.69.
What does that work out per hour? For argument sake, the Toll Road take 5.75 hours(62mph; you got to slowdown for the toll plazas) and US30 is 7 hours(I just did it the other day).
$138.24 / 7 hours = $19.75 per hour(US30)
$127.80 / 5.75 hours = $22.23 per hour (Toll Road driver DOES NOT paid toll charges)
$68.55 / 5.75 hours = $11.92 per hour (Toll Road driver DOES paid toll charges)
What does it cost my company in fuel, wages, and toll charges between the two? Let's figure the fuel mileage is same(I don't think it is but I don't have data to state it isn't) at 6mpg and fuel is $2.50 per gal.
US30 - (384 miles / 6mpg) X $2.50 = $160.00
$138.24(wages) + $160.00(fuel) = $298.24
Toll Road - (355 miles / 6mpg) X $2.50 = $147.92
$127.80(wages) + $147.92(fuel) + $59.25(toll) = $334.97
Difference - $334.97 - $298.24 = $36.73
If fuel prices go up(and all indications they are) and fuel mileage is less on the back roads, then the difference is less. What happens if fuel goes to $5.00 per gal and fuel mileage drops by a half mpg on the back roads:
US30 - (384 miles / 5.5mpg) X $5.00 = $349.09
$138.24(wages) + $349.09(fuel) = $487.33
Toll Road - (355 miles / 6mpg) X $5.00 = $295.83
$127.80(wages) + $295.83(fuel) + $59.25(toll) = $482.88
Difference - $482.88 - $487.33 = -$4.45
Those are objective facts. Whether LEO enforces(or harasses) the law on the back roads, increased accident rates, or the local people don't like the big trucks(What about the owners and employees in the truckstops?) are subjective.
Does anyone know if road/fuel taxes for Indiana/Ohio are different for the miles run on toll roads?