Providence, Rhode Island — On September 21, 2026, U.S. District Judge William Smith declared the RhodeWorks truck tolling program unconstitutional, halting the state’s effort to charge only large commercial tractors for bridge crossings.

The ruling ends a three‑year legal battle that began when the American Trucking Associations (ATA) and two motor carriers sued the Rhode Island Department of Transportation in 2018. The suit argued that the toll system violated the dormant Commerce Clause by imposing the bulk of the cost on out‑of‑state trucks while exempting local carriers, passenger vehicles and intrastate freight haulers. For drivers who traverse the Northeast corridor daily, the decision removes a costly, uneven charge that threatened to erode profit margins on long‑haul routes.

Judge Smith’s 91‑page opinion noted that “tolling highways is a tricky and controversial business,” and that RhodeWorks was designed to raise “tens of millions of needed dollars” from tractor‑trailers while sparing local commuters. The program had slated tolls at several major bridge sites, targeting only vehicles over 26,000 pounds. ATA President Chris Spear hailed the verdict, saying the court confirmed that the scheme was “discriminatory and illegal,” and warned other states to bring their “A‑game” before targeting the industry. ATA attorney Reginald Goeke, of Mayer Brown, emphasized that the “consumption method” of charging trucks based on presumed road wear runs afoul of the Constitution.

What This Means for Drivers

Owner‑operators and fleet managers who operate CDL‑A drivers on routes that cross Rhode Island will no longer face the steep bridge fees that were slated to hit out‑of‑state haulers first. The removal of the tolls restores a level playing field, allowing OTR truck drivers to calculate fuel and mileage costs without a hidden surcharge. Companies can now re‑allocate the projected toll revenue to maintenance budgets or driver pay, improving retention in a market where trucking companies hiring aggressively for CDL‑A talent. The decision also signals that future state toll proposals will be scrutinized for compliance with FMCSA regulations and the dormant Commerce Clause, giving drivers a legal bulwark against uneven fees.

Industry Reaction

The trucking community greeted the ruling as a victory for interstate commerce. ATA members described the decision as a “clear message that states cannot single out the industry for arbitrary taxation.” Independent owner‑operators posted on industry forums that the strike down of RhodeWorks removes a barrier that had made certain routes unprofitable. Several regional carrier CEOs noted that the judgment could embolden other states to revisit toll structures, but warned that any new plan must distribute costs fairly across all users. Meanwhile, the Rhode Island DOT issued a brief statement indicating it will explore alternative funding mechanisms that comply with constitutional standards.

Key Points

• Judge William Smith ruled RhodeWorks unconstitutional on September 21, 2026.
• The program would have charged only heavy trucks at multiple bridge sites, aiming to raise tens of millions of dollars.
• ATA President Chris Spear called the scheme “discriminatory and illegal” and praised the court’s decision.
• The ruling reinforces the dormant Commerce Clause, protecting out‑of‑state CDL‑A drivers from state‑targeted tolls.

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