TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT: Oregon selects vendors for road usage charge program

As Oregon prepares to launch the nation’s first large-scale road usage charge (RUC) program, the state DOT announced Verizon, Azuga and Sanef as its primary vendors on the project. All three companies must still receive official ODOT certification before the project gets underway.

Sanef, a French company, was selected as the ODOT account manager for the RUC program, handling mileage reporting as well as all account management equipment and operations. The company served the same role in the RUC pilot conducted in 2014. Verizon and Azuga, on the other hand, will serve as commercial account managers on the program. Azuga, a telematics company, will compete with telecommunications giant Verizon to provide mileage tracking devices and other services.

Under the terms of the program, participants will be charged 1.5 cents per mile traveled. Mileage will be recorded through one of three devices:

• Verizon and Azuga will offer GPS-equipped telematics devices, which will track in-state miles and exclude miles driven out-of-state;
• ODOT and Sanef will provide devices without GPS trackers, meaning both in-state and out-of-state miles will be charged. Users can opt to pay a higher flat rate instead; and
• Verizon will offer a second option through its existing In-Drive service. In partnership with State Farm, drivers using this device will receive insurance discounts plus other extra features.

Vendor trials are scheduled to begin in April, with the full RUC program kicking off July 1.