Leonard’s Express Reduces Toll Costs

Challenge

Leonard’s Express sought an effective means of consolidating toll data and payment processes for its fleet of 180 company-owned vehicles and 60 dedicated owner-operator units, which were using different transponders for automated toll systems at as many as 25 tolling authorities. The carrier also wanted to take advantage of available toll discounts from Bestpass and use accurate and up-to-date toll data to ensure adherence to cost efficient routes.

Solution

Leonard’s Express has been using Bestpass for several years, taking advantage of toll management services that includes discounts, consolidated billing, violation processing and a single transponder for use at a growing number of toll and weigh station bypass networks. The truckload carrier is using the services on all of its company tractors and makes Bestpass offerings, including toll discounts, available to its dedicated owner-operators. 

In May 2014, Leonard’s Express began using daily data updates from Bestpass to more quickly and effectively address toll violation, transponder or routing compliance issues. The Bestpass Data Interchange platform provides Leonard’s Express with seamless management through automated integration and exchange of toll and vehicle related information with its enterprise management system. Data Interchange uses a variety of flexible and secure delivery methods and formats to provide actionable data in near real-time. Included are automated and bulk toll updates directly from fleet management and billing systems, vehicle updates for trucks, tractors and trailers, including temporary and leased units, and on demand toll data downloads that normalize billing cycles from tolling authorities to a calendar month. 

Data Interchange uses a variety of flexible and secure delivery methods and formats to provide actionable data in near real-time. Included are automated and bulk toll updates directly from fleet management and billing systems, vehicle updates for trucks, tractors and trailers, including temporary and leased units, and on demand toll data downloads that normalize billing cycles from tolling authorities to a calendar month.

“We’re saving more than $120,000 annually on toll costs with the management solutions provided by Bestpass. In addition to cutting direct monthly toll expenses because we can ensure compliance with cost effective routes based on accurate, timely data, Bestpass bulk purchasing toll discounts are available to us. The company also reduces our administrative costs by providing single toll and weigh station bypass transponders and toll management services that streamline business processes by consolidating data and payments.” 

Kyle Johnson, CIO, Leonard’s Express

Results

The toll management solutions provided by Bestpass have cut direct monthly toll expenses for Leonard’s Express by about $10,000, saving more than $120,000 annually on toll costs. Included in the savings are efficiencies from selecting and ensuring compliance with the most cost effective routes based on accurate, timely toll cost and routing data, as well as the toll discounts available using the bulk purchasing power of Bestpass.

Leonard’s Express is also reducing administrative costs by deploying a single toll and weigh station bypass transponder supplied by Bestpass.

FAQs

How can a trucking fleet consolidate toll billing and data across multiple tolling authorities and transponders?

Use Bestpass by Fleetworthy to centralize toll management. It provides consolidated billing, violation processing, and a single transponder that works across many tolling authorities and weigh station bypass networks. With the Bestpass Data Interchange, fleets can integrate near real-time toll and vehicle data into their enterprise systems and normalize billing to calendar months for easy reconciliation.

What solution did Leonard’s Express use to cut over $120,000 per year in toll costs, and what were the key features?

Leonard’s Express adopted Bestpass toll management with Data Interchange. Key features included bulk purchasing toll discounts, consolidated billing, violation processing, and a single transponder for tolls and weigh station bypass. Daily data updates enabled fast resolution of violations and route compliance issues, contributing to more than $120,000 in annual savings.

What is Bestpass by Fleetworthy, and how does its Data Interchange integrate toll data with a fleet’s enterprise management system?

Bestpass by Fleetworthy is a toll management service that delivers discounts, consolidated billing, violation processing, and a single transponder across many toll and bypass networks. Its Data Interchange platform automates near real-time exchange of toll and vehicle data with a fleet’s enterprise system using flexible, secure delivery methods. It supports automated and bulk toll updates, vehicle updates for trucks, tractors, trailers, and leased units, plus on-demand downloads that align billing to calendar months.

Can a single transponder handle both tolls and weigh station bypass across multiple states for company trucks and owner-operators?

Yes. Bestpass supplies a single transponder that works across a growing number of tolling authorities and weigh station bypass networks. Leonard’s Express uses it on company tractors and makes the same solution available to dedicated owner-operators.

How do fleets use near real-time toll data to enforce route compliance and reduce violations?

Activate daily data updates through Bestpass Data Interchange and feed them into your enterprise system. Use the near real-time information to flag violations, transponder issues, and off-route activity quickly. Accurate toll cost and routing data helps plan and enforce cost-effective routes, cutting direct expenses and preventing repeat issues.

Steps to set up daily toll data feeds and automated vehicle/transponder updates for tractors, trailers, and leased units.

Work with Bestpass to enable Data Interchange and connect it to your enterprise management system. Schedule daily toll data updates and configure automated or bulk toll updates. Turn on vehicle updates for trucks, tractors, trailers, temporary units, and leased equipment, and enable on-demand downloads that align billing to calendar months. Validate the feed and monitor alerts to address violations and routing compliance fast.

Is there a way to normalize toll authority billing cycles to calendar months for easier reconciliation and reporting?

Yes. Bestpass Data Interchange offers on-demand toll data downloads that normalize various tolling authority billing cycles to a standard calendar month. This makes reconciliation, reporting, and month-to-month comparisons more straightforward.

How can carriers extend consolidated toll billing and discount programs to dedicated owner-operators?

Carriers can make Bestpass services available to dedicated owner-operators so their tolls and discounts flow through the same consolidated billing. Provide the single transponder and enroll their vehicles in Data Interchange to capture updates and violations in one system. Leonard’s Express follows this approach to streamline payments and pass along discounts.

What kind of ROI can a fleet expect from toll discounts via bulk purchasing, based on real-world examples?

Leonard’s Express reports more than $120,000 in annual toll savings, with direct monthly expenses reduced by about $10,000. These results come from a combination of bulk purchasing discounts, accurate toll data for route compliance, and administrative efficiencies like a single transponder and consolidated billing. Actual ROI varies by fleet size, routes, and toll exposure, but the case shows substantial, measurable impact.

Case study summary: How Leonard’s Express reduced administrative effort and toll expenses using Bestpass.

Leonard’s Express consolidated toll management with Bestpass, using one transponder, discounts, violation processing, and unified billing for company tractors and dedicated owner-operators. Through the Data Interchange platform, the fleet integrated near real-time toll and vehicle data, added daily updates, and normalized billing to calendar months. The result: more than $120,000 in annual toll savings, reduced admin effort, and stronger route compliance.