No trucks over XX tons, do you pay attention?

[jimmarako]

Something to keep us busy while sitting around. Do you ever listen to the "no truck" signs posted around?

I live in a rural area (for NJ) that has a lot of narrow roads, no shoulders, poorly maintained,..... For 15+ years I've been driving down the same county road to work. There is one section that has a short steep hill, nothing crazy. A while ago signs popped up: "No trucks over 4 tons, 13% grade". The hill is short (~0.2 miles) and of course ends at a T intersection.

I have a 2500 with a GVW of 9500 pounds so I would be technically not allowed on this road. However I'm registered at 7600 pounds so I should be OK. ;-)

Over the 20 years I've lived here I've seen plenty of UPS trucks, 2500, 3500, garbage trucks, school buses, landscapers, ....... countless vehicles over 4 tons. The sign has been up for a year or so now. I keep using the road. I still see all of the above.

There is another county road leading to the local regional airport. Several miles of this road are also freshly marked "no trucks over 4 tons". In this case there some older worn out signs. The road goes past several working farms and horse farms. I'm sure the guy in the diesel dually pulling the 4 horse goose-neck is just a smidge over 4 tons.

My guess is someone in the county got a new toy and is having fun printing out signs. Several small towns here do not have police departments, and I'm sure the state police could really care less.

So with no enforcement whats the point? The only signs like this I pay attention to are on a few of the smaller bridges crossing the Delaware river. They are listed at 3 ton max. And since my truck would be a tight fit as is I'll avoid those. And if it says "No trailers" i think they really mean it.

Jim M.

[nomad297]

Your 2500 is not a truck. It is a passenger vehicle. You are fine.

Bruce

[nomad297]

If the signs said no vehicles over X tons, that would be another thing.

Bruce

[jimmarako]

Originally Posted by nomad297

Your 2500 is not a truck. It is a passenger vehicle. You are fine.

Bruce

Splitting hairs I think. In NJ my truck can be registered normal (which it is) or commercial which I think would then make it a "truck". In NY state its a truck. Not sure about PA.

If this were the case, what would be a truck that light? UPS/FedEx guys have to be more like 6+ tons. Delivery vans would then be cars,...

Jim M.

[nomad297]

The use of the word “truck” without stating what kind of truck on a road sign is very ambiguous and I’m sure, not too enforceable. Signs stating just GVW or GVWR are much more enforceable.

Bruce

[TitanMike]

When I am towing my TT my Gross Combined Weight is about 10 pounds under 6 tons (12,000 lbs). I pay CLOSE attention when I see a sign on a bridge saying "no vehicles/combinations over 12,000 lbs.

Ran into one last year about 100 yards from a NF campground entrance due to bridge repairs. Last thing I want is to have to figure out how to get all or part of my rig out of the creek.

[Serenity-RV]

I ran across one on the road to an RV park in DE. Turns out it was put there when a bridge was repaired and never removed. The community liked it as it kept some trucks from using the road.

[Clyde M]

I suspect the sign refers to actual weight not potential weight. It doesn’t say “no trucks rated for over 4 tons does it?

[nomad297]

I have noticed over the last year in a lot of places in Maryland, particularly on Route 95 that they have changed their signs for (mostly) various lane restrictions and some other purposes from “All Vehicles Over 5 Tons GVW” to “All Vehicles Over 5 Tons GVW/GVWR”. Most of the signs just have just been pasted-over with a sticker to add the “GVWR”, but some are brand new. So, anybody driving a DRW pickup can be easily spotted and pulled over because they all exceed this GVWR. My 3500 SRW is rated at 11,400 GVWR, so I can probably risk driving in the restricted lanes without a hassle.

Bruce

[CampCoffee]

First, the sign does, indeed, refer to Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), not Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). If your actual Gross Weight equaled or exceeded the posted limit you would be in violation; regardless of whether someone told you your 2500 was a passenger vehicle, not a truck.

The question isn't limited to enforcement. If a vehicle exceeding the posted weight limit is involved in a collision, regardless of fault, the overweight vehicle could be held liable; civilly and otherwise. Current thinking, and precedent exists, is the non-compliant vehicle should not have occupied the space, at that time, and if the vehicle had complied, no collision could have occurred.

[jimmarako]

Originally Posted by Clyde M

I suspect the sign refers to actual weight not potential weight. It doesn’t say “no trucks rated for over 4 tons does it?

My understanding was that they care about the GVWR of the truck. I did incorrectly state GVW in an earlier post. I doubt many cop carrie portable scales with them so how would a they know if you loaded to 3.9 tons or 4.1?

[djemgoss]

Every spring in Wisconsin they put up weight limit signs on some of the roads, to prevent big trucks from breaking up the roads from the frost heaving.
That could be why your seeing the signs recently.

[DRiveWell]

My guess is that it probably would depend on your attitude; dismissive, combative, etc. The portable scales are always just a call away.

[Telstar]

Same thing in California, some cities have signs “No trucks over xx pounds”. According to the California Highway Patrol, any sign with the word “Truck” pertains to commercial vehicles only. RV’s are considered non-commercial even though California requires commercial plates on all pickups.
Same goes for weigh stations, RV’s should not go through them.

[TitanMike]

Now that I think about it, I live in a neighborhood that has a "No Trucks" sign on all approaches. I still see all kinds of trucks from UPS/Fedex, Appliance/Furniture delivery trucks, and even huge semi's hauling furniture.

From what I gather it's all about making sure the residential streets, which are not built to the same standards as "arterials" don't end up looking like a county back road in E. Kentucky/W. Va. with pavement broken up and held together with poured strips of tar.

[dodgemark]

I believe sign excludes local vehicles, like school buses and ups trucks and such. Sign is for trucks that do not run local. Like a big truck using back roads to get to such and such destinations

[oldsmasma]

Yes. But I’m the sort of person who follows rules.

[Mikolow]

I usually don't pay much attention unless it is a bridge. Then I lower the windows to listen for creaking timbers.

[CedarCreekWoody]

I'm of the opinion that a sign stating "no trucks over 4 tons" is referring to the carrying capacity of the truck. A 2500 is considered a 3/4 ton (although rated a bit higher.) I'm hoping that one of our LEOs on the forum can clarify this for us.
I do pay close attention to signs stating "no trucks over XX weight" as I still drive fire trucks and this can be a huge concern for us.

[EdnKat]

Possibly a revenue generating ploy. Depending on the officer, or ones attitude. Mostly restricting commercial vehicles.