If you have a fleet of vehicles moving through toll booths regularly, then it’s essential to have a good system in place for managing fleet toll payment methods. Not only do you need a way to pay for each transaction easily, but the billing and tracking data can also be critical for optimizing your routes in the future.
The good news is that modern technology makes it simpler than ever to keep up with toll payments. In this article, we are going to look at the three primary methods for electronic fleet toll collection: credit cards vs. transponders vs. toll-by-plate payments. As you learn about these different methods, then you can choose the best option that meets your unique needs.
Credit Card Payments for Toll Roads
When paying for toll road fees with a credit card, the payment process is pretty straightforward. It’s a similar process used with any other credit card transaction. You pull up to the toll booth and present your credit card – using either an automated machine or by giving payment to a person at the toll booth.
Benefits of credit card payments include:
- Convenience: Credit cards are a widely accepted payment method. The same card you use at restaurants and stores can also be used to pay for a toll road.
- Tracking: All payments move through the same credit card statements, so you can manage and track payments in one location (as long as the same credit card account is used for all toll payments).
- Rewards: Many credit card companies offer cashback benefits or points as part of their rewards program. So, making all of the toll payments through the credit card can help you accumulate these rewards over time.
At the same time, there are a few potential drawbacks to paying for toll roads with a credit card:
- Interest Costs: If the credit card has a balance that isn’t paid off at the end of the period, you will accumulate interest costs, increasing your overall expenses.
- Security: Since a credit card is a physical item that could be lost or stolen, you could have a potential security issue if someone else has your card.
- Accepted Payments: Some toll booths don’t accept credit cards as one of the fleet toll payment methods, especially for real-time transactions. So, you need to be sure that credit cards are accepted if you are planning to pay with this method.
While credit cards can be ideal for individuals who don’t travel often, they aren’t ideal for fleets.
Toll Road Transponders
When evaluating your options for the best toll payment method, it makes sense to consider using transponders for your fleet. This wireless transmitter is a device that attaches to the truck and communicates with the tolls through a radio signal. The transponder connects with toll authorities and enables payments to be collected and charged through your account.
Transponder benefits include:
- Automation: Each time a truck passes through the toll booth, the transponder handles the payment seamlessly. This automation offers time savings and meets toll road regulations.
- Congestion: When every vehicle stops at a toll booth for payment, it contributes to toll road congestion. Transponders help to reduce toll road traffic because vehicles can keep moving without stopping for a manual payment.
- Widely Accepted: Transponders are widely accepted on many toll roads, including tunnels and bridges. The technology is universal, and many toll authorities are working together to make it easier for transponders to be used in multiple systems, helping streamline the overall process.
- Digital Management: One undeniable benefit of using toll road transponders is that all of the payments and account activity can be monitored through a centralized online admin center. This digital management helps you keep up with everything that is going on in the account. Also, the data can be effective for improving route optimization going forward.
While there are many benefits of using transponders, it’s important to also consider potential drawbacks:
- Setup: Initially, you need to make sure that the account and equipment are set up correctly. Not only does the account need all of your vehicle and payment information, but the transponder must be programmed to match the specific vehicle that is using it.
- Malfunctions: If the transponder has any technical issues, then it’s possible that the malfunction could interfere with payments.
- Privacy: Since the transponder tracks movement, some people are concerned about potential privacy issues.
The ideal scenarios for using transponders include regular commuters, vehicles that use toll roads frequently, fleets, and long-distance travelers.
Toll-By-Plate Payments for Toll Roads
If you choose fleet toll payment methods utilizing toll-by-plate, then camera technology can process the payment. For example, if you have a transponder that isn’t read correctly, then you might receive a toll-by-plate charge. You’ll receive the bill in the mail in the following days, based on the vehicle’s registration address.
Benefits of toll-by-plate include:
- No Registration: While transponders require registration, toll-by-plate can be done without additional devices or pre-registration.
- Convenience: Since no transponder is required, it’s a convenient solution for people who want to pass through toll roads efficiently.
- Payment Timeline: There is a grace timeline in which the toll can be paid after the trip.
As with other fleet toll payment methods, there are also a few drawbacks to using toll-by-plate systems:
- Higher Costs: The administrative fees tend to be a little higher, which means that out-of-pocket costs for these payments are a bit more expensive.
- Missed Payments: Since the invoices are sent in the mail, there is a higher risk of the bill getting lost – which could result in missed payments and late fee accrual.
- Errors: Even though the technology has come a long way in recent years, there is a risk of errors with the billing process or plate recognition.
FAQ
How to avoid toll fees?
Toll fees can be avoided by using alternative routes without toll roads. However, the toll fees are often worth the cost because of the time and fuel that can be saved by taking a shorter route.
What are the best toll road alternatives for trucks?
Toll road alternatives for trucks include local routes, such as county roads and state highways.
Learn More About Fleet Toll Payment Methods
At Innovative Toll Solutions, we are here to help with your fleet’s toll management. Contact us for more information about how your fleet can benefit from these services.