To Run the Indiana/Ohio Toll Roads or Not
 

I work for a company that only allows running the Indiana Indiana Toll and Ohio Turnpike as required to meet a tight delivery schedule. Since I work for a flatbed company that pays hub mileage, bonus pay for LTL/OD loads, and I am getting good consistent miles(eg. 13,500 miles in May), I don't really have much to complain about(As a truckdriver I am entitled to complain :-) )

So generally I run, like today, from Lake Station, IN to Youngstown, OH by following route I94E=>IN49S=>US30E=>I69N=>I469S=>US30E=>I71N=>I76E =>I80E. This is a total of 384 miles(and BTW in Indiana there is 6 stoplights on IN49 and 28 lights on US30). By way of the toll roads it 355 miles and up to $59.25 for a fully load 5 axles truck. It took about 7.5 hours driving the slow route whereas the toll roads would take 5.5 to 6 hours.

So from a financial and business position which way is really more cost effective? Which way would burn less fuel(65mph toll roads/fewer miles vs. 0-55/65mph variable speeds/more miles)? What are the road taxes paid going the 2 different ways? Do trucks pay road taxes and toll on the turnpike?

I am sure there many other factors(eg. safety, maintenance costs, etc.), but they are hard to measure by cost.

take the toll road, all those stoplights on US 30 gets frigging annoying, you can average a steady speed on the toll road, where as on US30 you really cant.

Don't know if you are using EZ-Pass or not but you may want to figure that in your calculations.

The tolls are less with Ez-Pass and if traffic is light you don't even have to stop.

I agree with ordinary guy, Take the toll road(s).

The highway patrol in both states will pretty much leave you alone on the toll roads.
As long as you ain't speeding, driving junk, or doing something silly.
If you take the back roads, you take a bigger chance that they pull you over and give you a Level 2 right on the side of the road.
And don't bother with your trucker atlas telling you how to dodge the chickencoops cause the bears got mobile scales in their trunks now.
So you say "well my rig's in tip-top shape and my fuel tanks are shined up and all the lines in my comic book add up."
Don't matter, if they're looking for something, they're gonna find it.
Trust me on this one.
Plus you get free showers on the Ohio turnpike and they got laundry and nice places to eat and big parking lots.
Ohio turnpike has some of the best travel plazas in the nation for truckers.
That's just this driver's opinion.

Very well put Billy and I agree wholeheartedly!

:thumbsup:

Are you paying my tolls when the company doesn't pick them up? If I pay the tolls when the company doesn't I give almost half my mileage pay away(355 miles equals 16-17cpm in tolls).

Thanks, but the question is it really cheaper to run US30 vs toll roads when you figure in the tolls vs the possible extra fuel burned. Plus, company pays me hub mileage, that would figure into the equation. Are the road taxes reduced on the toll roads because it price into the toll charge?

Thanks anyhow.

I don't have any need to dodge chickencoops. I run good equipment and legal loads. Also, I keep my logbook up when crossing US30. Yes, they can always find something.

Again, the question is the financial cost of running the toll roads vs US30. Good company, but the current policy for the toll roads is bad(from the perceptive of the company driver). BTW, when I have an oversize load then I can't run the toll road.

Thanks again.

He is trying to say that you will burn more fuel stopping and starting rather than keeping a consistent speed. Sounds like you already know what you want to do, but want someone to agree with you.

ding,ding,ding we have a winner! plus, 28 stoplights kinda gets annoying afterwhile, i would pay for the tolls just so i dont have to stop so damn often...you wanted advice, so i gave it to you. good luck with whatever you want to do heh have fun going thru Valpo, Plymouth, and all those other little towns

Toll tickets can be written off for an OO, right?

You just don't get it.
They want you on those toll roads come hell or high water.
They don't want them big trucks rumblin' through all them small towns on 30 and 20 with the jakes roarin.
The Ohio Toll Commision capped toll prices since the late 90's when Taft was in office because they wanted them trucks off the backroads.
So alot of trucks went back to the pike due to the low rates plus they kicked the speed limits up to 65 and they built those nice new plazas.
But now they got a democrat in office and the budget's all gone to hell in a handbasket so the toll rates go up this year.
Do you think they want all them trucks back on the country roads pissing everyone off in the towns who vote?
You better think again.
So you stand a much higher chance of getting pulled over for some BS inspection.
They know that when enough drivers get hassled, the word gets around that it's not a good idea to jump off the pike.
It's all about the money and the votes.
So ask yourself what is the financial cost of the wasted time, tickets, and other BS?
This comes straight from a buddy of mine who's a state trooper, so take it for what it's worth.

Now do you understand?

Yes. Tolls are a business expense.

I was wanted financial facts, not advice. Since the responses to my thread have been lacking in financial information, I am wasting my time.

Perhaps, I should put in on the "Owner Operator Forums" board. How do I move my thread?

My company dont pay them tolls unless haz or High Value. So I take 30 and can avg 60 most days I dont know where you get 28 Stop Lights I will have to count next time. I would say for per cheap go 30 you lose a little bit of time but save $53 on tolls.

I have NEVER been pulled over on 30 and run it a lot as in 2-3 times a week. set the cruise at 60 dont act like a ****** and no one is going to bug you.

Now if your looking at all in all IF your making good money and your company is taking care of you run the toll road its a write off for you. I dont run it cause I dont mind the lil extra time it takes but again for cost/reward I think at the end your 6 of one and half dozen of the other.

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.

Me, I likes my EZ-Pass and little plastic card......:D

In the past I've run all those back roads with a box...never had any problems, but I hated it when I got caught behind a school bus or someone dawdling down the road......

The toll increase was put into effect pretty recent let me see here about 2-3 months ago I think so they've just stepped up backroads enforcement. I'm not saying you will get pulled over just that you stand a bigger chance jumping off the pike is all and you should factor that into any financial decision you might make. Like I said this comes straight from a state trooper who's a buddy of mine so take it for what it's worth. There were alot of upset people living along 20 and 30 who don't like big trucks back when they lowered rates to lure trucks back onto the pike so do you think LEO's are just gonna sit back while all these big rigs return to the back roads after the toll increase? Use your head man. But you guys do what you want I could care less. It's your time and money not mine.

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?

I didn't know about the free showers, so thanks for that information. And Yes, Ohio turnpike does have great travel plazas.

I have counted 28 stoplights on US30 between IN49 Jct in Valparaiso and I69 in Fort Wayne. I may have miscounted +-2, so please doublecheck my numbers.

if you have all the numbers figured out, why are you asking for advice??????

I am not looking for advice. I am looking for information to support my argument that it is cost effective to run the Toll Road. If I have facts in hand when I talked to the company owner, then perhaps I can come to some agreement. If I go in saying "There are free showers on the Ohio Travel Plazas" or "28 stoplights are annoying", I will get booted out of the his office.

I guess the only information I need is road/fuel tax difference, if any, between the backroads and the Toll Road. Should I move this thread to the "Owner Operator Forums"?

Thanks

In NY you can turn in the toll reciepts and get an adjustment on the fuel tax from the miles running the toll road, but last I knew they were the only ones to do that, Ohio and IN don't so you basically pay a tax twice once for the toll and again on the miles traveled on their road.

Now this is the way I understand it and it may not even be this way anymore, but I don't have to pay my fuel taxes so maybe someone else could give you a definte answer.

Thanks for the reply. BTW, my company would rather we run the Southern Tier Expressway than the NY Thruway. Personally, it is not as bad as Indiana US30 except down by Elmira, NY.

Guess, I am not doing a very good job recruiting for my company! :-( :-D

I hate US30 so I avoid it like the plauge, if I chose to not pay the tolls I would run US20 to Toledo and then run US2 over to 90,480,14,then 76/80.

19 out of 20 times I pay the tolls.

Used to have to bring your own towel but now you can buy them from the plaza. Not sure how much they cost cause I'm local now but I seen the sign out front by the driver's lounge the other day. They also got rid of the video poker machines there's just televisions in there now.

Personally I will always run the toll road across indiana and ohio if im heading up to the northeast I have ran 30 to 71 to 76 before and it takes like 3 and a half hours longer

Why are you running 30? 30 drops so far down in Ohio, I dont see where you save, at Upper sandusky your only 35 miles or so from Columbus, and then to work your way back up 71 to 76.

Indiana to me just isnt worth going around. However Ohio, I run 20 if I want to go around. Ateast your not going the wrong direction. Look at what 30 does east of fort wayne, goes south, 20 put s you closer in the direction of Youngstown, the 18 to 77, to 76, etc.

Why not see if they will cover Indiana? Then at your 1st exit in OH(no toll) run 49s to Rt 6, and 6 east to rt 20. 2 lane to Rt 20, but not bad, few stop lights, and youll keep a steady 55-60.

PA turnpike I understand, its expensive real expensive, but if your gonna run all over the country to save the company $5 bucks then you are just what they want a tool to save them money by f-in yourself.

BTW I dont see how you get 68.55 for a toll. Indiana is 21 bucks for 5 axles and Ohio gate to Youngstown i-80(exit 218) is 30.50 I get 51.50 for roughly 374 miles. Indiana is by axle count, and Ohio rate is for up to 90k. If you must avoid toll, 20 is a much better choice than 30, IMO

I stated in my OP that the route I take adds 29 miles. I am aware that there are multiple ways to go if not the Toll Road, but I find this one the least painful. I do get paid hub mileage, so I good there it just that I have to work harder and longer.

The hardest part of US30 is Indiana with all its lights. Once in Ohio, US30 has no lights to I71. The way you suggest has many lights from the Indiana line to Seville, OH(US20/US250/US224).

The answer is no to cover Indiana Toll until I could present an argument that it makes financial sense. So, running US20 in Indiana is a problem especially around Shipshewana as there are many Amish carriages and 2 90 degrees bend(In the winter it gets very icy right there).

Yes, I am a Tool for making my company money; That is why they hired me. I am trying to collect information to understand how this is cost effective to NOT run the Toll Road. What facts I do have is that as the cost of fuel goes up, then NOT running the Toll Road is less of a savings(if at all).

No job is perfect, but overall my company is okay. I do get paid hub mileage, run coast to coast, paid a premium for OD/HM loads, and bonuses for LTL freight. I do know of several drivers with my company who have refused loads because it runs to the Northeast or Canada. I have been giving their loads and they have sat in the yard for several days. Plus, once I delivered to NE/Canada, I was setup with another load back to the NW. My weekly average mileage is very good(And yes I don't get home much :-( )

One thing I won't do is pay for the toll out of my pocket. Yes, I could write it off a personal business expense, but that only means Uncle Sam picks up ~25%. Plus, if I paid it then there would be no incentive for my company to change it policy or even pay the toll on a case by case situation.

My calculation includes the toll plus the 29 miles less in mileage pay. If I paid the toll out of my pocket the difference between running the Toll Road and running US30 is $68.55.

We can disagree on the non Toll route, as there multiple ways and each has it (dis)advantage.

which state is better to buy ez-pass through
 

is there a better state to run your ez-pass account through ?