Stop paying a toll to pay your tolls. We rebuilt this PortCo’s payment process—flipping a 15% markup into a 2% savings, and turning hidden fees into found money for their fleet P&L.
The Challenge
Trigger
Hidden fees and markups in toll payment processing were quietly draining the fleet P&L.
Status Quo
Operators were stuck using a third-party structure that added a 15% “convenience” premium to tolls—and offered little transparency and no active management in return.
Perceived Need vs. Actual Need
Rather than accepting an “unavoidable” cost, leadership needed to view tolls and fees as negotiable—with impact on the P&L.
and Environment
Pressure
Declining margins got the attention of the PE sponsor.
The JAI Approach
Embedded
Acting as a member of the fleet team, JAI deconstructed the entire toll billing and settlement process from end to end.
Tactical and Strategic
We rebuilt the payment process and commercial terms to eliminate premium layers and capture significant discounts.
Curious
We identified where the markup was applied and weighed alternatives (direct programs, renegotiation, or new processors).
The Turning Point
When leadership realized that toll processing fees were not a “cost of doing business” but a negotiable financial structure, they immediately backed a complete redesign.
Results
Value Creation
Turned a 15% markup on toll payments into a 2% net savings.
P&L Impact
Turned hidden friction cost into found money.
Behavior Shift
PortCo leaders began scrutinizing “pass-through” categories as intently as traditional spend.
