Rhode Island truck tolls are not back yet, but the state is getting closer to restarting the truck-only tolling program that has been inactive since 2022. After years of legal challenges, court rulings, and equipment delays, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation is now moving forward with a new back-office billing system that could help bring toll transactions back online in 2027.
For trucking companies, this is not just another local tolling update. Rhode Island sits along major Northeast freight routes, and any return of commercial truck tolls could affect carriers moving between Connecticut, Massachusetts, and other parts of New England. The key point for now is simple: the tolls are not active today, but RIDOT has taken another step toward restarting truck tolling.
Rhode Island Takes Another Step Toward Restarting Truck Tolls
The newest development is the state’s selection of a contractor to build the billing system needed to restart Rhode Island truck tolls. According to Rhode Island Current, RIDOT awarded a tentative $944,000 contract to Electronic Transaction Consultants, LLC, doing business as Quarterhill, to create the new back-office system that would manage toll transactions for tractor trailers using state highways.
That billing system is a big part of the restart process because the old truck tolling system has been dormant for years. The new system may go online no later than May 2027, based on the company’s proposal. However, RIDOT has also said tolls may not actually resume until July 2027 because the contractor has a two-month certification period to confirm system accuracy.
That means carriers should treat the July 2027 timeline as possible, not final. The truck tolling system still depends on billing-system readiness, gantry upgrades, equipment testing, and final state implementation. For commercial truck tolls, the difference between “system online” and “tolls active” matters.
Why Rhode Island Created Truck-Only Tolls
Rhode Island created its truck-only tolling program under RhodeWorks, a state infrastructure plan designed to help fund bridge replacement, reconstruction, operation, and maintenance. RIDOT described the program as a way to collect revenue from large commercial trucks to support deficient bridge repairs across the state.
The program was designed as all-electronic tolling. That means no toll booths, no stopping to pay, and no passenger-vehicle tolls. RIDOT stated that only large commercial trucks would be charged under the program, while passenger vehicles would not be tolled. For Rhode Island, the argument was tied to infrastructure funding. For the trucking industry, the concern was different: whether one state could place tolling costs only on large trucks, especially on routes used heavily by interstate trucking.
How the Court Fight Changed the Program
The legal fight over RhodeWorks became one of the biggest reasons Rhode Island truck tolls stopped. The American Trucking Associations and several trucking companies challenged the program, arguing that the truck-only tolls violated the dormant Commerce Clause by discriminating against interstate commerce. A federal district court blocked the program, and Rhode Island appealed.In December 2024, the First Circuit reached a more mixed decision. The court said Rhode Island could apply tolls only to tractor-trailers, but it also found that the toll caps were unconstitutional and could be removed from the rest of the law.
Those caps are important for carriers. Under the original structure, a truck could not pay more than once in each direction at a gantry, more than $40 per day, or more than $20 for a single through trip from Connecticut to Massachusetts. If truck-only tolls return without those caps, the cost structure may look different from the earlier version of RhodeWorks. That does not mean carriers should guess at final costs now. It does mean fleet operators should pay close attention to any updated truck tolling rates RIDOT publishes before activation.
What Truckers Should Watch Before Tolls Resume
Carriers that run through Rhode Island should avoid planning around a single restart date until RIDOT confirms it. Earlier restart timelines have already shifted, and the latest update still leaves several moving pieces. Before Rhode Island truck tolls resume, fleet operators should watch for official RIDOT updates on the final activation date, gantry readiness, billing-system certification, payment rules, E-ZPass requirements, invoice procedures, and truck tolling rates.
These details will matter for dispatch planning, route costing, customer pricing, and owner-operator expense tracking. Trucking companies should also watch whether Rhode Island publishes updated toll-rate tables before the program restarts. The previous tolling system charged an average toll at 13 highway gantries, but the restarted version may not operate under the same cost structure because of the court ruling on toll caps.
For interstate trucking, the practical takeaway is this: stay ready, but do not overreact. Rhode Island is moving toward a restart, but the state still needs to complete the technical and administrative work before truck tolling resumes.
Rhode Island is closer to restarting truck-only tolls, but the program is still not active. The state has selected a company to build the new billing system, and 2027 is the current target window. Still, the restart depends on system completion, certification, equipment readiness, gantry upgrades, and final state action.For commercial carriers, this is a development worth watching closely. Rhode Island truck tolls could create new route costs for fleets operating through New England, especially if the restarted program moves forward without the old toll caps. Until RIDOT confirms the final timeline and publishes updated operating details, trucking companies should follow official RIDOT updates before building new toll costs into their planning.
