Department of Transportation

Truck Routing

Court Decisions and Appeals
2006
The U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals issued its opinion (pdf) on February 21, 2006, declaring New Jersey's restrictions on 102-inch wide and double tractor-trailer combinations unconstitutional. The U.S. Supreme Court was requested to consider that opinion and denied that request on October 2, 2006.
2005
No action was taken.
2004
A U.S. Superior Court declared unconstitutional New Jersey's restrictions on 102-inch wide and double tractor-trailer combinations. The court also allowed a stay that permitted New Jersey's truck routing restrictions to remain in effect while the state appealed this decision to the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
2000
American Truck Association, Inc. and U.S. Xpress Inc vs. Christine Todd Whitman, James Weinstein, Colonel Carson Dunbar and John J. Farmer (Docket No. 04-2201).

The American Trucking Association and U.S. XPress, a Tennessee-based trucking company, filed suit in U.S. District Court for New Jersey, challenging the statute and regulations that restrict interstate through trucks wider than 96 inches to the national highway network.

The plaintiffs filed suit against then Governor Whitman, NJDOT Commissioner Weinstein, State Police Superintendent Dunbar and Attorney General Farmer. They alleged that the state regulations violate the commerce clause, equal protection, the privileges and immunities clause, and the Fourth Amendment prohibition of unreasonable searches and seizures, due process 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

They requested a preliminary injunction which was not granted.
1999
New Jersey began to restrict 102-inch wide standard trucks and double-trailer truck combinations that do not have an origin or destination with New Jersey from using state highways that have physical characteristics that detract from suitability to be included in the large truck network.

These vehicles were restricted to the national network; however, they were permitted to travel up to two roadway miles from the Access Network and one roadway mile from the National Network, respectively, to facilities providing food, fuel, rest and repairs.

Those roads, highways, streets, public alleys or other public thoroughfares that could not safely accommodate a truck wider than 96 inches and were so designated by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), continued to be unavailable to these vehicles.


Last updated date: August 7, 2019 10:23 AM