Major winter storm Thursday prompts truck restrictions in Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) issued Tier 2 and Tier 3 travel restrictions ahead of a winter storm.

A major winter storm is expected to hit the Northeast on Thursday, prompting PennDOT to issue travel restrictions for certain types of commercial vehicles.

Starting at midnight on Thursday, December 5, the following travel restrictions will begin:

• Tier 3 Vehicle Restrictions — (No CMVs except those with chains on board): I-79 from PA-5 to Exit 116, I-86, I-90
• Tier 2 Vehicle Restrictions — (No Empty or Loaded Double CMVs): I-80 from the Ohio Line to Exit 173

Here are PennDOT’s Tier 1 through 5 vehicle restrictions:

Tier 1

• Tractors without trailers
• Tractors towing unloaded or lightly loaded enclosed trailers, open trailers, or tank trailers
  • A lightly loaded CMV is defined as a vehicle that is less than 1/3rd of the GVWR (vehicle weight and cargo weight combined)
• Tractors towing unloaded or lightly loaded tandem trailers
• Enclosed unloaded or lightly loaded cargo delivery trucks/box trucks that meet the definition of a CMV
• Passenger vehicles (cars, SUVs, pick-up trucks, etc.) towing trailers, to include:
  • Recreational travel trailers and fifth-wheel trailers
  • Enclosed cargo trailers
  • Open cargo trailers
  • Vehicle transport trailers
• Recreational vehicles/motorhomes
• School buses, commercial buses, and motor coaches without available chains or Alternate Traction Devices (ATDs)*
• Motorcycles

Tier 2

Tier 1, plus the following:

• CMVs towing loaded tandem trailers without chains or Alternate Traction Devices (ATDs)*
• All school buses, commercial buses, and motor coaches regardless of the availability of chains or ATDs

Tier 3

Tier 1 and 2, plus the following:

• All CMVs towing loaded tandem trailers regardless of the availability of chains or Alternate Traction Devices (ATDs).
• All other loaded CMVs except for:
  • Those carrying full coverage tire chains for at least two drive wheels, or
  • Those with approved Alternate Traction Devices (ATDs)*

Tier 4

Tier 1, 2, and 3, plus the following:

• All CMVs regardless of loading or availability of tire chains or approved Alternate Traction Devices (ATDs)
• Referred to as a complete CMV restriction

Tier 5

Tier 1, 2, 3, and 4, plus the following: