| North Carolina Truck Network | |
|---|---|
   Highway markers from different years for former NC 70 (1921), NC 11 (1949) and current NC 24 | |
| System information | |
| Maintained by NCDOT | |
| Length | 8,145.23 mi[1] (13,108.48 km) |
| Formed | 1921 |
| State | North Carolina Highway nn (NC nn) |
| System links | |
The North Carolina Truck Network (NCTN) is a network of approved highways for commercial truck drivers in the state of North Carolina. The NCTN is part of the National Network, established by the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982, which allows large truckss on a network of designated routes throughout the United States.
State law
editTrucks in North Carolina must be within these guidelines:
- Width: 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
- Height: 13 feet 6 inches (4.11 m)
- Weight: single axle - 20,000 pounds (9,100 kg), tandem axle - 38,000 pounds (17,000 kg)
- Length: single vehicle - 40 feet (12 m), vehicle combination - 60 feet (18 m); truck tractor/48-foot semi-trailer combination with no overall length limitation is allowed on all roads and truck tractor/53-foot semi-trailer combination, with no overall length limitation is allowed on all North Carolina primary (NC, US and Interstate) routes unless restricted.
- Overhang: Rear overhang in excess of 4 feet (1.2 m) are required to display a 18 in (460 mm) square red flag for daytime travel and clearance lights during nighttime travel. Loads shall not extend more than 14 feet (4.3 m) beyond the rear of the bed or body of the vehicle. Maximum overhang is limited to 14 feet (4.3 m).
Oversize/overweight trucks are required to have a permit in North Carolina if they exceed in weight, width, length or height. There are three types of permits in the state: annual (one year), single trip (10 calendar days for one single trip) and superload (exceed in gross weight of 132,000 pounds (60,000 kg) and/or width of 15 feet (4.6 m). Escort(s) are also required for permitted loads that exceed 12 feet (3.7 m) in width, 110 feet (34 m) in length and/or 14 feet 5 inches (4.39 m) in height.[2]
Truck restrictions
editThere are five types of truck restrictions that are used in North Carolina.[3]
- Truck information station: All trucks, excluding pickup trucks and vans, are required to enter the truck information station so drivers can be advised of steep grade conditions, speed limits and lane restrictions before descending the mountain. There is currently three stations in the state; located on I-40 in McDowell County, US 64 in Macon County and NC 226 in Mitchell County.
- Temporary truck restriction: As the name implies, typically related to highway construction.
- Truck lane restriction: Found in urban and mountain areas of the state, they restrict trucks to specific lane(s) along the highway.
- No through trucks: Trucks are not allowed to traverse through a specific stretch of highway, but allow if for point of departure/destination. Some locations also have exceptions allowing through traffic depending on truck width, height, width or length.
- Trucks prohibited route: Trucks are not allowed, though some exceptions exist depending on truck width, height, width or length.
List of truck routes
editA truck route is a bypass specifically designated for trucks. They are generally established when an ordinance prohibits trucks along a primary route, typically found in urban and mountain areas of the state. Listed here are identified U.S. and State highways.
| Number | Length (mi) | Length (km) | Southern or western terminus | Northern or eastern terminus | Formed | Removed | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  NC 7 Truck
|
1.7 | 2.7 | Belmont | — | — | |||
 NC 16 Truck
|
1.9 | 3.1 | Taylorsville | — | — | |||
 US 17 Truck
|
1.5 | 2.4 | Elizabeth City | — | — | Uniquely bannered as a Business Truck route. | ||
 NC 18 Truck
|
3.9 | 6.3 | Shelby | — | — | |||
 NC 27 Truck
|
6.2 | 10.0 | Lincolnton | — | — | |||
 US 64 Truck
|
80.8 | 130.0 | Franklin | Hendersonville | — | — | Longest truck route in state. | |
 NC 73 Truck
|
12.5 | 20.1 | Concord | — | — | |||
 NC 86 Truck
|
8.3 | 13.4 | Hillsborough | — | — | |||
 NC 87 Truck
|
6.3 | 10.1 | Elizabethtown | — | — | |||
 NC 194 Truck
|
14.1 | 22.7 | Banner Elk | Valle Crucis | — | — | ||
  US 221 Truck
|
7.9 | 12.7 | Rutherfordton | — | — | |||
| US 221 Truck
|
16.9 | 27.2 | Linville | Boone | — | — | ||
 NC 242 Truck
|
1.0 | 1.6 | Roseboro | — | — | |||
 NC 308 Truck
|
2.6 | 4.2 | Windsor | — | — | |||
 US 321 Truck
|
4.0 | 6.4 | Boone | — | — | |||
 US 421 Truck
|
1.0 | 1.6 | Wilmington | 2009 | current | |||
| US 421 Truck
|
4.8 | 7.7 | Boone | — | — | |||
 NC 581 Truck
|
0.4 | 0.64 | Bailey | — | — | Avoids a bridge overpass with 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) clearance. | ||
 NC 751 Truck
|
3.0[4] | 4.8 | Durham | — | — | |||
References
edit- ^ 2012 NCDOT Maintained Mileage By System (PDF) (Map). North Carolina Department of Transportation. July 31, 2013. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
- ^ "NCDOT Oversize/Overweight Permit Handbook" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. 2010. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
- ^ "North Carolina Truck Network and Restrictions" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. July 1, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
- ^ "NC 751 Truck - Durham, North Carolina" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved May 13, 2014.