PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Two trucking associations and Roadway Express Inc. are suing the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission over toll increases on seven bridges linking Pennsylvania and Delaware.

The suit filed in U.S. District Court this week in Philadelphia by the American Trucking Associations (ATA), the New Jersey Motor Truck Association (NJMTA) and Roadway, alleges that the toll bridge commission has failed to justify the reasonableness of the level of bridge toll increases.

“The commission just doesn’t get it,” says William Canary, president and chief executive officer of the American Trucking Associations (ATA). “A 180 per cent increase the first year and a 300 per cent increase thereafter will significantly raise freight transportation costs that will worsen the challenging economic conditions already faced by the region…We tried to work with the commission but they ignored our concerns and left us no choice but to go to court.”

All three groups spent almost a year trying to explain to the commission that the high toll increases will devastate not only the trucking industry, but also local business, jobs and the local economy. They also claimed that the higher tolls would cause significant traffic diversions onto alternate routes that could create congestion and infrastructure problems.

Despite launching the lawsuit, Canary says the trucking groups will continue to work with the toll bridge commission on setting reasonable tolls.