NYC DOT’s Commitment to Infrastructure Protection

“Overweight vehicles damage our transportation infrastructure, and we all pay the price through costly maintenance and repairs,” stated NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “Thanks to Gov. Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders, we will now have another highly effective way to protect more of our infrastructure and make those who damage it with overweight vehicles pick up the tab for costly maintenance and repairs.”

Weigh-in-motion systems, first implemented on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway in 2021, are now set to be deployed at 14 additional locations across New York City. These systems automatically identify vehicles exceeding legal weight limits without disrupting traffic flow.

Expanded Enforcement Locations

The newly authorized locations where weigh-in-motion technology will monitor overweight vehicles include:

NYC DOT-Owned in NYC:

• Brooklyn Queens Expressway (Interstate 278) in Kings County (Atlantic to Sands)
• Greenpoint Avenue Bridge over Newtown Creek
• Metropolitan Avenue Bridge over Newtown Creek
• Hamilton Avenue Bridge over the Gowanus Canal
• Williamsburg Bridge
• Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge (state Route 25)
• Third Avenue Bridge over the Harlem River
• Manhattan Bridge
• Long Island Expressway (Interstate 495) over Woodhaven Boulevard

Non-NYC DOT-Owned in NYC:

• RFK Bridge
• George Washington Bridge

NYS-Owned Outside NYC:

• Bear Mountain Bridge
• Newburgh Beacon Bridge
• Mid-Hudson Bridge
• NYS Thruway Interchange 34-A near Syracuse

“Weigh-in-motion technology has significantly reduced the number of overweight trucks on the BQE. Now, we can expand this effective tool across New York City,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Jeff Roth. “This will help us prioritize work and protect our infrastructure in the long term.”

Five-Year Plan for Monitoring and Fines

The state has budgeted for the use of weigh-in-motion technology to monitor overweight vehicles for the next five years. Drivers exceeding the maximum legal weight limit for their truck’s class will face a fine of $650 per violation, reinforcing accountability and deterring future infractions.

By expanding weigh-in-motion systems, New York City is taking proactive measures to protect its infrastructure and reduce costly repairs caused by overweight vehicles.

Source: Land Line

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Dedicated to Trucking Compliance

“The Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division remains committed to ensuring commercial vehicles remain compliant with applicable laws and regulations,” emphasized Sgt. Dale Turner. “Focused efforts like this raise both awareness and voluntary compliance with those laws and regulations.”

Troopers stationed at the Lowell, Bremen, and Ft. Wayne posts supported this campaign. The CVED, which primarily monitors trucks exceeding 10,000 pounds, enforces both state and federal laws specific to large commercial vehicles. Notably, the Lowell post conducted a similar enforcement operation in 2024, continuing the division’s dedication to highway safety.

Operation Focus Areas

The enforcement initiative targeted 10 key crash causation factors often associated with commercial vehicles, including but not limited to:

• 392.2FC: Following too closely

• 392.2C: Disobeying traffic control devices

• 392.2LC: Unsafe lane changes

• 392.2S: Speeding or driving too fast for conditions

• 392.2Y: Failing to yield right of way

• 392.3: Operating while ill or fatigued

• 392.16: Not wearing a seatbelt

• 392-71A: Driving with a radar detector in a commercial vehicle

• 392.80: Texting while operating a commercial vehicle

• 392.82: Using a hand-held cell phone while driving

Noteworthy Results

Over the course of the enforcement effort, officials documented 126 truck violations. Specific figures include:

• 47 speeding violations, divided into 15 citations and 32 warnings.

• 7 seatbelt violations.

• 43 Other violations.

• 29 Level 3 truck inspections focusing on driver-specific compliance checks.

• 10 Level 2 inspections included checks on drivers and vehicle mechanical conditions.

• 3 Level 1 comprehensive inspections, involving thorough driver, documentation, and vehicle checks.
• 126 total truck violations were noted during those inspections.

Indiana State Police’s Ongoing Efforts

Through focused operations like this, Indiana’s law enforcement works to improve road safety by reducing crashes involving commercial vehicles. To stay informed or learn more about the mission of the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, visit Indiana State Police CVED.

Source: The Trucker

The post Indiana Traffic Operation Uncovers 126 Trucking Violations appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Efforts are ongoing to repair Interstate 40 through the Pigeon River Gorge after damage caused by Hurricane Helene. Crews are making steady progress (NCDOT via X).

The closure of I-40, a major route linking North Carolina and Tennessee, has presented significant hurdles for truck drivers. Many tractor-trailers are inadvertently diverting to narrow, two-lane mountain roads, leading to delays and occasional gridlocks. Officials from both states are emphasizing the importance of sticking to approved truck routes and avoiding reliance on GPS systems designed for passenger vehicles.

“Some trucks are following GPS routes that are programmed for passenger vehicles,” shared North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) spokesperson David Uchiyama. “Those are routes that accommodate passenger vehicles. But they’re steep, winding, curvy roads, not built for trucks.”

A Critical Interstate Severed

Since September 27, when floodwaters from Hurricane Helene washed out more than a mile of the eastbound lanes near the North Carolina/Tennessee state line, I-40 has remained closed. This critical artery, which previously carried over 25,000 vehicles daily—many of them commercial trucks—has been effectively severed.

Addressing the closure, both state governments launched awareness campaigns, utilizing social media, electronic road signs, cellphone alerts, and truck cab notifications. NCDOT’s DriveNC website now displays a “truck closure” marker to identify areas where vehicles over 30 feet are prohibited due to frequent incidents of trucks getting stuck—approximately two dozen so far.

Challenges Persist

Despite these efforts, some drivers continue to face challenges. Tennessee Highway Patrol’s Lieutenant Bill Miller highlighted the issue, noting that truckers frequently drive east on I-40 until they encounter road closure barricades, forcing them to backtrack.

“Many truck drivers are ignoring the signs posted on I-40 East daily for one reason or another,” Miller explained via email. “They then get turned around and continue to rely on their GPS, and they are routed to secondary roads in Cocke County, such as Big Creek Road and Hartford Road. These roads are small and are not wide enough to accept commercial traffic.”

This isn’t a new challenge. Similar issues arise during snowstorms or accidents in the Pigeon River Gorge, which often prompt truckers to search for alternative, but ill-suited, routes. One particularly troublesome route, N.C. 209, even earned the nickname “The Rattler” due to its winding path through Pisgah National Forest. The increase in incidents since Hurricane Helene has prompted NCDOT to erect additional warning signs.

Stepped-Up Enforcement

The mountain roads themselves haven’t become less truck-friendly; it’s simply that the closure has increased the volume of drivers seeking alternative routes that have always been closed to large commercial vehicles. To address the issue, state troopers in both North Carolina and Tennessee have increased enforcement efforts. Last week alone, the North Carolina Highway Patrol issued over 100 citations to truckers using non-truck-approved routes—a statistic NCDOT shared in a Facebook post aimed at the trucking community.

“We don’t want to issue citations,” explained 1st Sgt. Chris Knox of the State Highway Patrol. “But we don’t want to see them stuck or turned around or overturned. That further complicates people navigating those roads who should be on those roads.”

Fewer Wrong Turns on Mountain Roads

While the problem hasn’t disappeared, officials report progress. The partial reopening of Interstate 26 in Erwin, Tenn., on October 30 has provided a temporary alternative, albeit with some restrictions, such as one-lane traffic in each direction while bridges over the Nolichucky River undergo reconstruction.

NCDOT expects to reopen a section of I-40 in the Pigeon River Gorge by early next year. Plans involve converting the westbound lanes into a two-way roadway, separated by a concrete barrier and with a reduced speed limit of 40 mph.

“All drivers need to keep in mind it will be slow going,” Uchiyama said.

Recommended Detours for Truckers

Until repairs are complete, NCDOT is advising truckers traveling between North Carolina and Tennessee to use one of two alternative routes:

• I-77 to I-81

• U.S. 74

By adhering to these routes, truck drivers can avoid unnecessary delays and potential hazards on unsuitable roads.

Source: Transport Topics

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