In an effort to further tighten the ban on trucks using local roads, state officials are trying to close what they see as a loophole in the ban. Under New Jersey's current ruling, big rigs traveling through the state must stay on interstate highways except when making a delivery within the state. The law also says a truck base-plated in New Jersey or beginning or ending a trip in the state is exempt from the truck ban.

The proposed changes state that each part of the trip would be considered separately. For instance, if a truck is dispatched from New Jersey to Pennsylvania, where they pick up a load bound for New York, the driver could not use New Jersey local roads to travel through the state on his return trip.

The regulations and a map of the National Network highways may be accessed through NJDOT's web site at www.state.nj.us/transportation. Public comment may be submitted in the following two ways. Written comments on the proposal must be submitted by Oct. 18, 2000, which is the close of the 30-day public comment period to:

Thomas P. Thatcher, Administrative Practice Officer
NJDOT, Office of Legislative Analysis
1035 Parkway Avenue, PO Box 600
Trenton, NJ 08625

The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) has scheduled two workshops in October to allow public comment on the proposal. Truckers and other persons planning to attend either informational workshop are asked to call 609-530-5720, at least two working days in advance of the workshop, to notify the department of their planned attendance. The workshops will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2000, from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M., and on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2000, from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., in the multipurpose Room, NJDOT Main Office Building, 1035 Parkway Avenue, Trenton, New Jersey.