Pennsylvania and other states impose truck ban due to winter storm

March 14, 20230

A winter blizzard is brewing in the northeast of the country, prompting many states to impose travel bans on commercial vehicles. The storm is expected in New England, northern New York, northeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Pennsylvania

Effective at 12 a.m. on March 14, PennDOT implemented the following vehicle travel restrictions:

Tier 1: Empty tractor trailers

  • I-80 from Interstate 81 to the New Jersey state line and I-81 from I-80 to the New York state line.

Tier 3: All commercial vehicles without chains or ATD onboard

  •  I-84 and I-380.

The following vehicles are restricted in all tiers: Oversized loads, tractors without trailers, empty box trucks, motorcycles, tow-behind trailers, RVs/campers, buses without ATD.

Connecticut

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont is banning all tandem tractor-trailers and empty tractor-trailers on I-84 statewide from 6 a.m. Tuesday, March 14, until further notice.

New Jersey

State commercial vehicle restrictions began at 8:00 PM Monday, March 13 and will remain in effect until further notice on the following highways in both directions:

• I-78, all the way from the Pennsylvania border to I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike).

• I-80, all the way from the Pennsylvania border to I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike).

• I-280 from I-80 to I-95 (New Jersey Turnpike).

• I-287, all the way from NJ Route 440 to the New York state line.

• New Jersey Route 440, from Outerbridge to I-287.

The restriction on the passage of commercial vehicles applies to:

  • All tractor trailers (exceptions as listed in the Administrative Order).
  • Empty straight CDL-weighted trucks.
  • Passenger vehicles pulling trailers.
  • Recreational vehicles.
  • Motorcycles.

Trucks that are already in New Jersey are encouraged to stay at truck stops. NJDOT warns that curbside parking is prohibited.

New York

• Starting at 8:00 pm on March 13, I-87 and I-90 are no longer allowed tandem or empty trailers from I-87 exit 17.

• The length of the Berkshire Spur (I-87 exit 21B to the Massachusetts border) until further notice.

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul has also imposed the following restrictions on truck traffic:

• I-84: No tandem or empty tractors with trailers.

• I-88: No tandem or empty tractors with trailers.

• I-87 (Northbound): Albany to Plattsburgh: No tandem or empty tractor trailers.

• I-90: I-87 to Berkshire Spur. No tandem or empty tractors with trailers

• I-81 Pennsylvania State Line to Syracuse: “Trucks use right lane.”

• Route 17 from Middletown to Binghamton: “Trucks use the right lane.”

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