Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024:
Washed-out I-40 could be closed for a year
Officials in North Carolina are currently projecting an October 2025 reopening date for I-40 in the western part of the state near the Tennessee state line.
Additionally, North Carolina DOT has issued a “Do Not Travel” advisory in western North Carolina. “All roads in Western North Carolina should be considered closed and non-emergency travel is prohibited,” NCDOT said.
A representative in the North Carolina DOT’s communications office, asked about the no-travel advisory and its application to needed freight deliveries coming into the region, noted “we do not yet have an established detour for I-40,” then reiterating “all roads in Western North Carolina are considered closed. You should delay your travels in that region.”
At DriveNC.gov for trip-planning/status-monitoring purposes, the rep added, “you can select a county or highway route to see a list of state-maintained roads that are closed due to Helene.” Users of the tool can toggle on/off to show only Helene-impacted road closures.
It’s important to note, the rep added, that “damage is so widespread in Western North Carolina, and there are power outages and cell phone service issues, that not all closed roads” have been entered into DriveNC.gov as of Monday, Sept. 30.
The eastbound lanes of I-40 were washed out by floodwaters resulting from Hurricane Helene. The interstate is closed for 43 miles in both directions between Exit 432 (US 25W/US 70/US 411) in Tennessee and Exit 20 (US 276) in North Carolina.
📸 I-40 washout near Tennessee state line.
— NCDOT (@NCDOT) September 28, 2024
We cannot say this enough: DO NOT TRAVEL IN OR TO WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA.
Travel in this area for non-emergency purposes is hindering needed emergency response.
Details on the restricted travel area ➡️ https://t.co/AGDVnBcZMS. pic.twitter.com/2KLwssiBv1
In addition to I-40, I-26 is also closed in Tennessee from milemarker 39 to the North Carolina state line.
There are also numerous U.S., state and local highways and roads closed in Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee. Stay tuned to DriveNC and TDOT SmartWay for the most up-to-date traffic information for each state.
Alaska’s CDL testing waiver renewed
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has renewed a waiver for the state of Alaska that allows the state to waive specified portions of the CDL skills test for drivers who reside and operate in 14 defined geographical areas that lack infrastructure to allow completion of the full skills test.
Drivers who receive a restricted CDL under the provisions of the renewed exemption are also exempt from the Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) regulations.
The waiver was first issued for the period of Dec. 28, 2022, through Dec. 30, 2024. FMCSA said it “has monitored the records of drivers who were issued CDLs under this exemption and has found no deterioration of their safety records.”
As such, the agency granted the renewal for five years through Dec. 30, 2029.
[Related: Alaska requests renewal of waiver for entry-level training relief]
PrePass now available through Motive
PrePass is now available on the Motive Marketplace through a new partnership between the two companies.
The integration gives owner-operators and fleets seamless access to PrePass’ weigh station bypass and toll management services through Motive’s app marketplace.
Customers will benefit from fewer weigh station stops and improved bypass reliability with the PrePass app and transponder, the companies said. Additionally, Motive and PrePass customers will gain access to PrePass GPS Toll Verification, which matches GPS location to toll charges.
