Department of Transportation

Truck Routing

Standards and procedures for truck operations in New Jersey are defined by administrative code (N.J.A.C. 16:32). The code spells out permitted routes, width restrictions, length requirements, access to terminals and other facilities.

The New Jersey large truck routing regulations were established in compliance with the Federal Highway Administration's regulations for truck size and weight and the reasonable access provisions for commercial motor vehicles authorized by the amended federal Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982.

The hierachy of roadways outlined in the new rules includes the National Network (comprised primarily of Interstate highways, the Atlantic City Expressway, and the New Jersey Turnpike and parts of other roads such as Routes 42, 81, 130, 322 and 440), the New Jersey Access Network (comprised of State highways and some county roadways) and local unrestricted roadways.

The final rules require large trucks to utilize the National Network unless seeking food, fuel, rest, repairs or to reach a terminal by the direct route, which entails the shortest travel distance. Upon completing each trip, the large truck should return to the National Network in a manner consistent with reaching its next terminal. Trips off the National Network or the New Jersey Access Network onto all other local unrestricted roadways should only be for the purpose of accessing a terminal on those roadways by the shortest distance.

In contrast to the 1999 truck regulations, which were ruled unconstitutional, current New Jersey Department of Transportation rules apply the routing requirements equally to both interstate and intrastate 102-inch wide standard trucks and double-trailer truck combinations.

The N.J.A.C was developed through consultation with a truck task force, chaired by the Commissioner of Transportation, consisting of affected constituency groups, including the League of Municipalities, the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, the New Jersey State Police and the New Jersey Motor Truck Association.

The truck routing rules replace emergency rules that were adopted on June 22, 2006. The emergency rules were proposed in February 2006 in response to the decision of the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold a lower court's finding that New Jersey's truck routing rules violated the provisions of the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Under the direction of Governor Jon S. Corzine, this decision was raised to the U.S. Supreme Court, which declined to hear the appeal on October 2, 2006.

N.J.A.C was readopted with amendments and appeared in the New Jersey Register at 55 N.J.R.72(a),effective January 3,2023

New Jersey Large Truck Map

Last updated date: February 6, 2024 10:11 AM