OHIO — The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission is pursuing collections against 315 trucking companies from 26 states that collectively owe nearly $5.2 million in unpaid tolls, officials announced April 20, 2026, as the agency ramps up enforcement efforts in partnership with the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Each of the 315 companies owes at least $5,000 in unpaid Ohio Turnpike tolls accumulated since April 2024. Of the 315 companies, 42 have commercial vehicles registered in Ohio. The largest single balance belongs to Pennsylvania-based NYC Trucking, Inc., which owes $155,826.50.
“The Ohio Turnpike is one of the nation’s major freight corridors and the vast majority of commercial trucking companies do the right thing and pay their tolls. But there is a growing number of companies that are breaking the law by avoiding paying their tolls,” said Executive Director Ferzan M. Ahmed. “These companies are making it more difficult to do so. They have had every opportunity to pay their tolls but have ignored three mailed invoices and have been sent to collections.”
Ahmed said companies are “either simply choosing not to pay, or using deliberate toll evasion tactics, or both.”
How the Turnpike Is Collecting
The Ohio Turnpike Commission uses several methods to recover unpaid tolls, including capturing license plate images, mailing invoices, sending accounts to collections, placing vehicle registration holds to prevent license plate renewals, and taking legal action when necessary.
OSHP Partnership
Last week, the Ohio Turnpike Commission announced a partnership with the Ohio State Highway Patrol to crack down on commercial truck drivers who cover, obscure, or remove license plates to avoid paying tolls. So far this year, nearly 100 commercial truck drivers have been charged with failure to display a license plate and/or toll evasion. Trucks have been impounded as part of ongoing toll evasion investigations.
Under Ohio Administrative Code 5537-4-02, effective September 1, 2023, it is illegal to purposefully defraud the commission, alter toll collection equipment, or knowingly avoid toll payments. Toll evaders may face criminal prosecution and civil litigation by the commission.
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