TRUCK TRAFFIC BILL WOULD MAKE ALL NJ ROADS A SAFETY NIGHTMARE AND TRAFFIC DISASTER 

For Immediate Release:  May 22, 2023

TRENTON — Eric DeGesero, Executive Director of the Fuel Merchants Association of New Jersey, and Gail Toth, Executive Director of the New Jersey Motor Truck Association, released the following statement:

“Assembly Bill A-4470, which is posted in the General Assembly on Thursday, would create a traffic and safety nightmare on all New Jersey major roadways by greatly impeding the flow of traffic for trucks.

Under current law trucks 10,000 lbs. registered gross weight or greater cannot be in the farthest left hand lane if there are three or more lanes of traffic moving in one direction. Assembly Bill 4470 sponsored by Assemblyman Joe Egan (D-Middlesex) will reduce that to two lanes. This means all trucks 10,000 lbs. or greater must be in the right lane only. This is any vehicle the size of a Ford F-350 or greater.

If enacted, this bill will needlessly delay the movement of goods. Of far greater concern is the safety nightmare this will cause merging onto highways and entering and exiting businesses. The National Association of Motorists opposed the bill in the Assembly Transportation Committee.

According to Choose New Jersey, ‘New Jersey is one of the world’s fastest-growing hubs for logistics and distribution.‘ It is not possible to both be a ‘hub for logistics and distribution’ and hate trucks.

Moreover, Port Newark is now the busiest port in the United States and one of the state’s largest employers. This legislation will encourage shippers to look elsewhere.

Members of the General Assembly should consider this bill’s negative logistic and traffic implications, as well as the safety of New Jersey drivers, and vote NO on A-4470.”