Congestion pricing is underway in New York City, a plan with a fair amount of supporters and detractors. The trucking industry is among those feeling the impacts. 

Joe Fitzpatrick is concerned about how congestion pricing is going to affect his business, Lighting Express Delivery. As much as 20% of it comes from deliveries to New York City, and to keep delivering there, Fitzpatrick said he had to add a surcharge to offset the cost. 

“After looking at our couple routes the last couple of days, it's not going to be enough," Fitzpatrick said. "So we're going to have to raise that and who knows if we're going to lose customers or business or stop doing business in New York City?” 

What You Need To Know

  • The Trucking Association of New York (TANY) is concerned about how congestion pricing will affect the industry 

  • TANY says the toll "disproportionately targets trucking operators."    

  • TANY has sued the MTA in the hopes of getting the toll pricing changed 

The divisive policy has been condemned by some and praised by others. It charges anyone who enters Manhattan below 60th Street a toll of up to $32, depending on time of day, payment method and type of vehicle.

David Banks, a lecturer of geography and planning at the University of Albany, said the policy has a lot of benefits. 

“The reductions in air pollution, noise and the few people that will drive can get to where they need to go on time," Banks said. "It also frees up space for a surface-level public transit like buses that won't be delayed because they're stuck in traffic with everyone else.” 

Banks thinks it’s too early to tell if the plan is having the intended goal of easing congestion. But the toll could ultimately be beneficial to contractors or other professionals who could have to deal with less traffic getting to jobs. 

“If anything, they're going to see increases in their revenues because they have to drive and they're not going to be competing with road space so they can actually drive around faster," Banks said. 

Fitzpatrick said he hasn’t seen that yet. But as chair of the Trucking Association of New York, he's concerned about the impact that this could have on delivery and trucking small businesses like his.  

“Bigger corporations, they have the volume going into New York City," Fitzpatrick said. "They could probably absorb it, or charge very little of a surcharge. But something compared to me where, $14.60 a pop adds up real quick.” 

The trucking association is still hoping to overturn the current pricing of the toll. They filed suit against the MTA last May, saying that the plan unfairly targets trucking companies.