Toll Hikes and Soaring Costs: Trucking Faces a Tough Road

The American trucking industry continues to navigate a challenging and rapidly evolving landscape, where rising costs and regulatory changes are squeezing profit margins from both ends.  Two recent developments—an upcoming Pennsylvania Turnpike toll increase and record-high operating costs in 2024—are raising new concerns for motor carriers already grappling with a tough freight market.

Pennsylvania Turnpike Toll Hike: A Small Increase, Big Implications 

Effective January 4, 2026, tolls on the Pennsylvania Turnpike will rise by 4%, marking the latest in a string of annual increases.  While Turnpike officials were quick to note that this is the lowest increase since 2014, the costs still add up for long-haul carriers and regional fleets that rely on the route for efficient transit across the state.

  • Per-mile rates will increase from $0.07 to $0.073.
  • Segment fees will rise from $1.09 to $1.13.

The toll hike is part of a broader funding mandate passed in 2007, requiring the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) to support state transportation infrastructure.  Since 2008, the PTC has contributed more than $8 billion to the cause. 

In tandem with the toll hike, the Turnpike is continuing its transition to Open Road Tolling, aiming to eliminate traditional tollbooths and reduce congestion.  While this change may improve traffic flow and reduce dwell times, the added toll costs pile onto an already overloaded expense sheet for truckers.

ATRI Report: Operating Costs Set Records in 2024 

According to the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), 2024 brought record-breaking non-fuel operating costs for carriers, compounding the challenges of a freight recession that continues to pressure the industry.

Key Cost Metrics from ATRI’s 2025 Report: 

  • Total cost per mile (all-inclusive): $2.26
  • Non-fuel marginal costs: up 3.6% to $1.779 per mile
  • Truck & trailer payments: up 8.3% to $0.39/mile
  • Driver benefits: up 4.8% to $0.197/mile
  • Insurance premiums: up 3.0% to $0.102/mile
  • Tolls: Also marked as a significant upward trend

While fuel costs dropped by $0.07 per mile, that savings was eclipsed by surging costs in nearly every other area.  Of particular concern is the 52.3% increase in truck and trailer payment costs since 2019, driven largely by post-pandemic fleet investments and ongoing equipment inflation. 

Freight Recession: Capacity Shrinks, Margins Tighten

ATRI’s report paints a sobering picture of a market oversaturated with capacity and underwhelmed by freight volume.  In 2024: 

  • Operating margins fell below 2% in most sectors; -2.3% in truckload
  • Empty miles rose to 16.7%
  • Drivers per truck fell to 0.93, as fleets parked equipment
  • Fleet sizes shrank by 2.2%
  • Non-driver staff were cut by 6.8%

Despite a drop in average truck age—down to 3.4 years due to post-COVID truck deliveries—and increased annual mileage (up to 82,677 miles per truck), many companies remain in survival mode.  The average truck operated 268 days per year in 2024, up from 243 days, highlighting a push for higher asset utilization amid lower freight demand. 

What Does It Mean for Trucking in 2026?

The outlook remains uncertain.  Economic signals are mixed: while Q2 2025 GDP may rebound from Q1’s 0.2% dip, driven by early tariff-driven imports, freight rates haven’t followed suit.  Experts cite lingering overcapacity as a key barrier to rate recovery, despite ongoing fleet contractions and bankruptcies. 

The 4% toll hike in Pennsylvania—though relatively modest on paper—adds pressure to already strained carrier budgets.  When combined with record-setting cost increases in equipment, insurance, and benefits, it’s clear that trucking companies will need to adapt quickly and strategically to stay afloat.

The Road Ahead: Adaptability and Benchmarking Are Crucial

Greg Hodgen, CEO of Groendyke Transport, emphasized the importance of benchmarking in navigating this volatile market.  ATRI’s operational data, particularly when customized to fleet size and sector, offers vital insight for companies aiming to optimize operations, manage costs, and improve margins.

In this environment, efficiency, agility, and visibility will define success.  Carriers that can: 

  • Reduce unseated trucks
  • Optimize routing to avoid toll-heavy routes where feasible
  • Invest in efficient, cost-effective equipment
  • Monitor cost benchmarks against peers 

… will be best positioned to weather the storm.

The 2026 Pennsylvania Turnpike toll increase may not make headlines outside the industry, but when layered on top of record-setting operating costs and a slow freight market, it underscores a troubling trend: the cost of moving freight is rising faster than the revenue it generates. 

For trucking companies, large and small, the message is clear: tighten operations, benchmark relentlessly, and prepare for a long, uphill road.

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