The state of New Hampshire just made a painful decision for the trucking industry. After a heated session, lawmakers overrode Governor Sununu’s veto and approved a doubling of the I‑95 toll for commercial vehicles. Effective Jan 1, 2027, the $4.95 charge will jump to $9.50 for most trucks over 26,000 lb, with a reduced $6.75 rate only for vehicles under 10,000 lb.
What happened
The bill, HB 423, passed the House 119‑23 and the Senate 31‑5. The governor argued the hike would fund road maintenance, but the opposition warned it would cripple carriers already battling high fuel, insurance and driver wages. The final language eliminates the previous “tier‑2” discount for trucks under 10,000 lb, meaning even many regional haulers will pay the higher rate. The state projects $12 million in additional revenue annually, but the cost will be shouldered by drivers and shippers.
Why it matters for dispatchers/drivers
Dispatchers will see tighter lane‑level pricing negotiations. A $4.55 increase per trip may look small, but over a typical 2,500‑mile run that adds $113 in costs per truck. Multiply that by a fleet of 20 trucks and you’re looking at $2,260 extra per trip cycle. For owner‑operators, that extra cost can tip the profit equation from a modest gain to a loss, especially when fuel is hovering around $3.85 /gal and insurance premiums are up 12% year‑over‑year.
The toll also reshapes route planning. Some carriers may divert to the slower, toll‑free US‑4 corridor to avoid the surcharge, adding 30‑45 minutes and extra mileage. That impacts delivery windows, driver hours‑of‑service (HOS), and ultimately customer satisfaction. Dispatchers need to factor the new toll into every load quote, or risk under‑bidding competitors who have already built the cost into their rates.
My take
This is a classic case of politicians trying to fix a budget shortfall by slapping the working trucker with a fee they can’t afford. It’s short‑sighted, anti‑business, and will only push more freight into neighboring states, hurting New Hampshire’s own economy. The industry needs to push back, organize, and demand a more equitable solution—like a mileage‑based fee that scales with load weight, not a flat surcharge that punishes every carrier.
— Ekjot Singh
What you should do
- Re‑run your rate‑card models now that the $9.50 toll is confirmed; add **$0.0036 per mile** for I‑95 trips.
- Train your dispatch team on alternative routing tools (e.g., PC Miler, TruckMap) to evaluate toll‑free options.
- Join OOIDA’s toll‑challenge coalition and lobby the NH legislature for a tiered, weight‑based toll structure.
For deeper training on cost‑impact analysis and route optimization, check out EK Dispatch Academy’s Advanced Dispatch Curriculum at https://ekdispatchacademy.com/curriculum.