Truckers irate over increased toll charge

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Trucking companies that rely on Oklahoma's turnpikes could be put out of business if they are forced to pay toll increases of up to 30 percent that are scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1, a state lawmaker said.

"Trucking companies are going out of business right now because of fuel costs," said state Rep. John Sullivan, R-Tulsa, who called on the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to reconsider. "I guarantee you this will push some of them over the edge."

Danny Christner, vice president of Sapulpa-based John Christner Trucking, said the increase, announced on Monday, will swell his company's toll costs by more than $100,000 in the next year.

"That means it is going to cost us close to a half-million dollars next year to drive on the turnpikes in this state,"

Christner said. "Now, our PikePass bill averages more than $30,000 per month, or $360,000 per year. This is in addition to the state, federal and fuel taxes we also pay."

Trucking companies operators said they can either pay the higher fees to get to market or struggle through every town and hamlet on the state highway system.

"The turnpike authority has told us that `it's my way or the highway'," said Bobby Miller, vice president of Miller Trucking.

"But if you use their highway it is going to cost you a lot. It's frustrating."

"If it's a 25- to 30-percent increase, that's a $130,000 increase," said Jim Pielsticker, president and chief executive officer of Arrow Trucking.

OTA Deputy Director Holly Lowe defended the increase.

"Toll increases are not popular," Lowe said. "We all like it when the new roads go up, but we don't like paying for them."

Trucking companies were among the groups that agreed nearly three years ago to an increase starting on Jan. 1, Lowe said.

In 1998, the OTA announced plans to increase tolls to pay for expansion of the system. The increases will help pay off the bond debt incurred by the authority to pay for the $687 million road bond package, including extensions of the Creek Turnpike in Tulsa and the Kilpatrick Turnpike in Oklahoma City.

"The goal was to increase the toll as some of the new corridors were opening," Lowe said of the 1998 plan.

The authority pays $51 million a year on its bond debt, but that amount will increase to more than $101 million a year in the next few years. The new tolls will bring an estimated $158.9 million in revenue next year, a $21 million increase. Toll revenue is expected to grow to $227.7 million by 2016, and to $266.5 million by 2031.

The increase varied by class of vehicle, from road to road and between cash and Pikepass customers.

Passenger cars face an increase between 11 percent and 17 percent. Trucking companies face increases of 25 percent to 30 percent, transportation officials said.

"Let's not forget, the large trucks do the most damage to the road," Lowe said. "Our board felt it was appropriate that they should cover most of the increased costs."