© 2025. The Trustees of Indiana University
Copyright Complaints
1229 East Seventh Street, Bloomington, Indiana 47405
News, Arts and Culture from WFIU Public Radio and WTIU Public Television
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Some web content from Indiana Public Media is unavailable during our transition to a new web publishing platform. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Truckers' bid to overturn Indiana Toll Road rate hike fails in federal court

Trucks get fuel at a gas station in southern Indiana.
Trucks get fuel at a gas station in southern Indiana.

The U.S. Supreme Court this week denied a request from a group of truckers to hear their appeal in a case over Indiana Toll Road rates.

The two-year-old lawsuit that sought to overturn a significant rate hike is now over.

The rate for "heavy" trucks – those with three or more axles – went up 35 percent in 2018 on the Indiana Toll Road, which spans the northernmost part of the state. Truck drivers sued, arguing the hike was unconstitutional because it interfered with interstate commerce.

Join the conversation and sign up for the Indiana Two-Way. Text "Indiana" to 73224. Your comments and questions in response to our weekly text help us find the answers you need on statewide issues.

But those truckers found no success in federal courts. Judges at each level sided with the state. In March, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled for Indiana, telling truckers they could always drive across the state on one of two, toll-free interstate highways that cross east to west.

The truckers asked the Supreme Court to take their appeal but the nation’s high court said no, without explanation.

Contact reporter Brandon at  bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.

Brandon J. Smith has previously worked as a reporter and anchor for KBIA Radio in Columbia, MO. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, IL as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.