New Jersey Truck Driver Resources:
Do You Need a Truck Accident Lawyer?
New Jersey has always been a transportation leader. Besides being at the crossroads of the domestic freight movement, New Jersey is the East Coast’s leading gateway for global commerce.
Large trucks play a major role in the New Jersey economy. The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) strives to balance the needs of communities and motorists with those of the trucking and the freight industry. NJDOT has a role in safety initiatives and regulations applicable to the trucking industry.
A highly regulated industry, federal, state and local truck rules govern operations. For those who currently own or operate trucks, or those who are about to begin a career as a driver or trucking business owner in New Jersey, familiarity with truck operations requirements is a must.
Commercial Driver License Requirement-If you want to be a truck driver or a bus driver, you will need to get a Commercial Driver License (CDL). But first, you must get a basic New Jersey driver license. There are different commercial driver license classes depending on the commercial vehicle that you will be driving. Each CDL class has its own regulations. Tractor trailer drivers need a class A commercial driver license.
Oversize and Overweight Vehicles-Here are width, height, length, and weight restrictions: The maximum dimensions are 102 inches wide, 13 feet 6 inches high, and of 53 foot-long trailers. Maximum single axle weight is 22,400 pounds and tandem axle is 34,000 pounds, with a gross vehicle weight of 80,000 pounds. The entire statute regarding truck dimensions is N.J.S.A. 39:3-84 Dimensional Restrictions.
Safety Initiatives-New Jersey participates with the federal government in the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) grant program to reduce commercial motor vehicle accidents, fatalities and injuries through consistent, uniform and effective safety programs for trucks and buses. Safety programs help identify and correct safety defects, driver deficiencies and unsafe motor practices before they become contributing factors in accidents. These programs include the vehicle and driver safety inspections that are conducted by the New Jersey State Police.
New Jersey Crash Statistics-Crash Statistics contain information that can be used to identify safety problems in specific geographical areas or to compare state statistics nationwide.
Have you been seriously injured in a large truck crash? Contact Anapol Schwartz, New Jersey Truck Accident Lawyer and get the help you deserve.
2006 Preliminary Large Truck Crash Facts
5,594 Large Trucks Involved in Non-Fatal Crashes
2,496 Large Trucks Involved in Injury Crashes
3,657 Injuries in Crashes Involving Large Trucks
3,098 Large Trucks Involved in Towaway Crashes
170 Large Trucks Involved in Hazmat (HM) Placard Crashes
2005 Large Truck Crash Facts
7,286 Large Trucks Involved in Non-Fatal Crashes
3,111 Large Trucks Involved in Injury Crashes
4,615 Injuries in Crashes Involving Large Trucks
4,175 Large Trucks Involved in Towaway Crashes
98 Fatalities in Crashes Involving Large Trucks
3 Large Trucks Involved in Hazmat (HM) Placard Crashes
Hazardous Materials-The New Jersey State Police is consistent with the regulations issued by the U. S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), is responsible for the adoption of the hazardous material regulations and ensures that the rules conform to the requirements established by the USDOT under Title 49 CFR, 100 – 185.
The regulations establish and define the criteria that apply to the safe interstate and intrastate transport of hazardous materials. They provide a comprehensive set of rules for their shipping, packaging, marking, labeling, placarding, handling and 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 network in New Jersey includes the interstates, the Atlantic City Expressway, the New Jersey Turnpike and parts of other roads, such as Routes 42, 81, 130, 322, and 440.
In 1999 New Jersey began to restrict 102-inch wide standard trucks and double-trailer truck combinations that do not have an origin or destination within New Jersey from using state highways that have physical characteristics that detract from suitability to be included in the truck network. These vehicles were restricted to the national network.
However, 102-inch wide standard and double-trailer truck combinations were permitted to travel up to two miles from the national network to facilities providing food, fuel, rest, and repairs. But they could not do so on those roads, highways, streets, public alleys or other public thoroughfares that cannot safely accommodate a truck wider than 96 inches and are so designated by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT).
In 2000 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. In 2006, the large truck routing regulations were ruled as unconstitutional and repealed.
Have you been seriously injured in a large truck crash? Contact Anapol Schwartz - New Jersey Truck Accident Lawyers and get the help you deserve.
Mr. Ronca is a truck accident attorney with over 20 years of legal
experience. He has twice been named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer.