Can trucks quickly and efficiently access your business? Depending on the size of trucks traveling to your site, designated truck routes may be the only legal access available to transfer goods to and from your business. When selecting and designing your site, plan ahead, have a good understanding of truck routes, and find out where they are.

What are truck routes and why where they established?

About 20 years ago, it became apparent that the length and weight of modern trucks were causing premature road damage and an increase in accident frequency and severity on highways that were not designed to accommodate a growing trucking industry. To fund effective reconstruction efforts and ensure the availability of a highway network that could fulfill both 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 and create a highway network that ensured the safe and effective transfer of goods and materials throughout the United States. This legislation also developed policies governing truck sizes and weights and prohibited states from imposing undue restrictions on truck traffic.

New York State highways that meet the qualifications of the National Network are called Qualifying Highways. This category includes most interstate highways and expressways.

Under New York State law, STAA authorized trucks and certain special dimension vehicles are also allowed to travel on other interstate, county, and local highway routes. These are called Access Highways. If you need large trucks to fulfill your shipping and delivery needs, make sure that your site has direct access to at least one of these routes.

What size vehicles are authorized to travel on these highway networks?

STAA and special dimension vehicles (with the exception of tandem trailers) are allowed to operate on any Qualifying or Access Highway. Tandem trailers are allowed only on designated routes such as the NYS Thruway. Special dimension vehicles (see diagram) include semi-trailers with a length of between 48- and 53-feet, twin 28-foot trailers with an overall length of 65-feet or more, triple saddle mounts, automobile carriers and boat transporters, and beverage trucks. STAA authorized vehicles include all these special dimension vehicles except for 53-foot trailers.

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.

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

Standard trucks, defined as those typically having a 48-foot trailer and an overall dimension less than 65-feet, are allowed on any highway or local road unless there are posted height or weight restrictions which limit their use.

How can I determine what 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 comprehensive list includes interstates, U.S. highway routes, and NYS, county, and local highway routes. The list may be accessed at www.dot.state.ny.ustraffic/ restrictions.

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. These restrictions are noted on the above-referenced web page. 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.

What criteria is used for designation?

Qualifying and Access Highways designated by NYS for use by STAA vehicles and 53-foot trailers meet these 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 I request a change to the designated truck route list?

Requests for additions, deletions, or restrictions to the nation’s 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 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 York’s network of Access Highways must be made to the NYS Department and 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 that is attributable to or been aggravated by large trucks.


• An accident rate for large trucks that significantly exceeds the average for a similar type of highway.


• Geometric and operational problems (including adequacy of lane widths) and the potential for rectifying deficiencies with design improvements.


• Off-tracking of trailer wheels.


• Operational restrictions that could be imposed in lieu of deletions.

Approvals to add a highway to the list in order to provide access to developable industrial and commercial properties can be obtained, providing the required criteria is met and the request is reasonable. Keep in mind however, that issues such as air pollution, noise, vibration, and quality of life may impact local planning and zoning board approvals. Merely having the requisite access to a truck route is no guarantee that your project will ultimately receive the needed approvals and permits.