New regulations in the state of New York banning trucks from using seven highways as shortcuts on their routes will drive up transportation costs and result in job losses, according to the state trucking association. Still, the governor’s office is moving ahead with the ban, citing safety as the primary reason. Visit the New York State Department of Transportation website for the complete list of highways affected.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Governator has effectively told truckers they won’t be back on a stretch of California highway.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill this week, banning vehicles with a GVW more 9,000 pounds from Angeles Crest Highway (State Route 2) between the city of La Canada Flintridge and County Route N2 in Los Angeles County.

This bill was introduced after an incident in April 2009 between a commercial truck and passenger vehicle that resulted in two fatalities.

Schwarzenegger immediately authorized a 90-day prohibition of commercial truck traffic before banning trucks entirely.

Meanwhile, New York Gov. David Paterson announced proposed new trucking regulations which would restrict large trucks from using seven highways as shortcuts.

The proposal drew fire from the New York State Motor Truck Association director, who called it a “terrible decision.”

The NYSDOT has evaluated 64 state highways and identified seven on which access to large trucks should be restricted. Each day, non-local trucks leave the interstates and cut through towns across the Finger Lakes and Central New York.

“These proposed regulations strike an appropriate balance between the safety concerns of Finger Lakes residents and those of the trucking industry,” Paterson said.

But the state trucking association doesn’t agree. “In taking this action, the administration ignored the pleas of virtually every major business, agricultural and retail group in New York,” said Kendra Adams, executive director. ” … These groups provided detailed information to the Governor’s office showing that the action would drive up transportation costs and eliminate thousands of jobs in the upstate region. The administration did not dispute this information. In fact, the administration acknowledged the potential job loss, but insisted that it would be limited to just one sector — the trucking industry.”

For a complete list of highway stretches that are being examined to go truck-free, click here.

[source - todaystrucking.com]