The need to transfer goods and meet consumer demands has resulted in an increase in truck traffic on our highways. As a result, residents and communities are expressing concerns about the impact of truck traffic on their quality of life. Conflicts between community interests, economic development, and intra and interstate commerce, as well as adverse perceptions about truck-related motor vehicle conflicts, are arising with increasing frequency.

Why were they established?
About 20 years ago, it became apparent that certain highways could no longer safely handle modern truck dimensions and loads. In order to ensure that a system of highways was available that could meet and protect commerce and national security needs, the Federal Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA) of 1982 was passed. This authorized the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to designate a highway network that could accommodate modern truck traffic. This legislation also developed policies governing truck sizes and weights and prohibited states from imposing undue restrictions on truck traffic.

In New York State, interstate highways that meet the qualifications of the National Network are called Qualifying Highways.

Trucks and special dimension vehicles are also authorized to travel on certain intrastate, county, and local highway routes. These are called Access Highways.

Who is authorized to travel on this highway network?
Semi-trailers with a length of between 48-feet and 53-feet may operate only on Qualifying or Access Highways. Other commercial vehicles allowed on the highway network are triple saddle mounts, automobile carriers, boat transporters, and beverage trucks. Tandem trailers are allowed only on designated routes such as the NYS Thruway. Additional truck restrictions that apply only in NYC are due to congestion and tight geometrics.

Special dimension vehicles and 53-foot trailers cannot be denied reasonable access to truck terminals and areas providing food, fuel, repairs, and rest. For this reason, they are allowed to operate on highways within one road mile of Qualifying Highways unless there are overriding safety rationales to prohibit such travel. These trucks are not allowed, however, to travel off an Access Highway for any reason or distance.

The maximum width of a vehicle on a Qualifying or Access Highway with 10-feet or greater travel lanes is 102-inches. The maximum vehicle width for narrower travel lanes is 96-inches. Conditional permits can be issued for wider vehicles.

Which highways are designated truck routes?
New York State maintains a list of officially designated Qualifying and Access Highways on which special dimension vehicles and 53-foot trailers may travel. This list is comprehensive and includes interstates, U.S. highway routes, and NYS, county, and local highway routes. The list may be accessed at www.dot.state.ny.us/traffic/ restrictions.

How are highways designated as truck routes?
Qualifying and Access Highways designated by NYS for use by STAA vehicles and 53-foot trailers meet this criteria. They:

• Serve as a link to principal cities and developed portions of the State.
• Are routes historically used for commerce.
• Have adequate geometrics, such as sight distance, steepness and length of grades, horizontal curvature, pavement and shoulder width, bridge clearances, and intersection geometry.
• Did not have any truck restrictions on the route prior to the STAA implementation date.
• Do not have any unusual characteristics causing current or anticipated safety problems.

Can designated truck routes be changed?
Requests for additions, deletions or use restrictions to the nations Qualifying Highways must be made to the Federal Highway Administration. It is their responsibility to ensure that this network remains substantially intact. Any request to change the network is taken seriously and requires justification, the endorsement of the state governor, review by the U.S. DOT and FHWA, and publication in the Federal Register.

Requests to modify New Yorks network of Access Highways must be made to the NYS Commissioner of Transportation. The state uses stringent FHWA guidelines to evaluate proposed changes to the network.

Requests to add, delete, or restrict truck routes are evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Accident history and severity, including impact of off-tracking of truck wheels.
• An analysis showing that the addition of larger trucks has aggravated existing accident problems.
• Geometric and operational problems and the capability to rectifying deficiencies with design improvements.
Availability of and impact to alternate routes.
• Ability of alternate routes to serve same geographic area.
• Operational restrictions that could be imposed in lieu of deletions.

The federal government does not allow states to impose length limitations of less than 48-feet on any Qualifying or Access Highway. States may however, with justification, impose limitations on widths, tandem trailers, 53-foot trailer combinations, left lane use, and peak-hour-of-travel.

Trucks may also be restricted from traveling on a route if they exceed the posted weight capacity of a structure or clearance height of a bridge or underpass.