Toll Collectors

A decline in employment is expected for toll collectors in the coming years, according to an article by the Pew Charitable Trusts. Electronic toll collection (ETC) has adversely affected the employment of toll collectors. The electronic technology includes systems that identify and classify vehicles as well as capture video images of license plates that do not have a valid tag. Computerized toll-collecting benefits truck drivers and commuters who frequent the toll roads, but states that have implemented ETC have put a freeze on hiring additional toll collectors or replacing toll collectors who retire or move into other jobs. The Texas A&M Transportation Institute reports that "cost data averaged for five toll facilities in five states showed ETC systems provide the following cost savings: over $40,000 per lane in equipment costs . . . [and] $135,000 per lane in annual operating and maintenance costs compared to manual tollbooths."

A small number of toll collectors will be needed to collect tolls from drivers who do not participate in ETC. Toll collectors may be retrained to monitor and maintain this emerging technology.