Truckers to Gov. McKee:  Decrease in Fuel Tax is Political ‘Window Dressing’, as Tolls Loom

The Rhode Island Trucking Association, Inc. (RITA) is decrying Governor Dan McKee’s call for a two-cent reduction in fuel tax in light of Mckee’s plans to reinstate truck-only tolls in 2027.

“The Governor is leaning on affordability as a theme for his reelection, but truck-tolls and affordability are incompatible.  A token, two-cent reduction in fuel tax is ‘penny-foolish’ and  inconsequential when compared to the pain all Rhode Islanders will feel if uncapped, truck-tolls are reinstated”, said RITA President Chris Maxwell.

In 2024, the First Circuit Court of Appeals partially overturned Judge William Smith’s 2022 decision and allowed tractor-trailer tolls to resume, but without protective caps that were a cornerstone of the 2016 legislation set forth by then Governor Gina Raimondo who sought to protect the state’s small businesses who operate trucks from amassing repeated and unsustainable tolls.

“Trucks move 88% of everything we consume and 98% of everything our manufacturers produce.  The uncapped tolling program will place a 94% burden on our supply chain, our businesses and, most importantly, the consumer.”

“The McKee Tolls will not be kind to Rhode Island.  The math is simple: the Governor is giving back $9 million one-time with one hand while planning to take $40 million annually  with the other,” Maxwell added.