Class G FAQs

What are the most common types of Class G vehicles traveling on MDTA facilities?

Examples of the various types of Class G are:

• Trailers used for hauling landscaping supplies
• water sport vehicles (jet skis, boats)
• horse, lowboy, yacht trailers 
• recreational vehicles
• flatbed trailers, semi-trailers
• farm trailers, dump trailers, and utility trailers

How does the system guard against double tolling when a vehicle goes under a toll gantry without an E-ZPass transponder?  If there is no E-ZPass transponder in the vehicle, will the system use both the front plate and the rear trailer plate and potentially send out NOTDs for both?

The statute directs MDTA to toll trailers (Class G vehicles) as a last option ONLY when a motor vehicle’s front or rear plate cannot be captured or if an E-ZPass transponder is not read. Presented with evidence that there was an error in sending an NOTD, MDTA will correct the error for that customer.

The MDTA tolling system prioritizes capturing and using the vehicle’s front license plate as the primary identifier for toll assessment. In instances where the front plate image is unreadable or obstructed, the system will also be programmed to utilize the Class G trailer plate as a secondary identifier to ensure accurate and consistent toll processing. MDTA business rules only allow the use of one plate to determine ownership of a toll; therefore, this approach maintains compliance while supporting reliable toll processing.

If a vehicle follows behind another vehicle too closely through the toll plaza, how does the tolling system know where one vehicle ends and the next vehicle starts?

All eight MDTA facilities are all electronic (cashless). With all electronic tolling, drivers do not stop or slow down to pay tolls. Instead, when a transponder is not read, an image of the license plate is captured to be used for either Pay-By-Plate or Video Tolling. When tolls were collected at toll booths, there were instances when vehicles slowing down to go through the toll plaza would drive too closely to the vehicle in front of it. This sometimes resulted in the toll plaza system having difficulty discerning one vehicle from another, which also contributed to unsafe driving behavior.

Do commercial motor vehicles require a front license plate?

Every state requires a front mounted plate on truck tractors, but not on straight trucks, which are also considered commercial motor vehicles.

Is there an exception for intermodal trailing equipment as defined in 49 CFR § 390.5 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations exempting this equipment from being issued a toll based on the trailer plate number?

An exception is not an option. From an operational standpoint, the plate images captured and the OCR process cannot discern if the trailing equipment meets the definition in 49 CFR § 390.5 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.

How would a Transfer of Liability work for Class G vehicles?

MDTA’s current policy regarding transfer of liability (TOL) would not be changed; therefore, the owner of the Class G vehicle still can transfer toll liability to the registered owner of the motorized vehicle. Documents that support a TOL are:

• Rate Confirmation document that includes details such as complete Carrier Information, Broker/Shipper Information, or Pickup and Delivery Information
• Bill of Lading or Shipping Documents that include the name and address of the company responsible for transporting a load
• Notarized TOL document for personal motor vehicles
• Vehicle Lease/Rental agreement listing the responsible party

The MDTA is researching the best practices of other tolling agencies when it comes to transferring liability from the owner of the Class G vehicle to the motorized vehicle’s registered owner.