New Jersey is one of the most freight-intensive states in the United States, anchored by the Port Newark–Elizabeth Marine Terminal complex — the largest seaport on the East Coast by container volume — and dense highway infrastructure connecting the New York metro market to the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) administers IRP and IFTA credentials for motor carriers. The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) oversees highway standards and oversized/overweight permits. The New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the South Jersey Transportation Authority (Atlantic City Expressway) operate major toll facilities with commercial vehicle lane classifications. The I-95 corridor (New Jersey Turnpike) is the primary north–south freight artery, with heavy commercial traffic between the Port and New York to the north and Philadelphia, Baltimore, and beyond to the south. The George Washington Bridge lower level is a critical freight crossing into New York City, with specific lane restrictions and height limitations for trucks. Drayage operations at Port Newark/Elizabeth are among the most complex in the country, involving chassis pools, terminal appointment systems, and congestion pricing schemes. NJDOT enforces commercial vehicle restrictions on certain Turnpike segments and urban routes.
| GVWR | 80,000 lbs federal interstate standard |
| Single axle | 22,400 lbs on non-Interstate state routes |
| Tandem axle | 34,000 lbs |
New Jersey allows single-axle weights up to 22,400 lbs on non-Interstate state routes under applicable conditions. Federal limits apply on Interstates. Overweight permits available from NJDOT for non-divisible loads. GW Bridge and certain Turnpike interchanges have structural weight limits on specific spans.
State trucking association: New Jersey Motor Truck Association
The George Washington Bridge lower level is the primary truck route connecting New Jersey to Upper Manhattan. Certain spans have a 13'6" height restriction. Carriers with loads exceeding the height limit must use alternative crossings (Lincoln Tunnel, Holland Tunnel) or obtain special clearance from the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. Hazardous materials routing through GWB tunnels has additional restrictions governed by PANY&NJ and New York City rules.
Port Newark–Elizabeth Marine Terminal is the largest container port on the East Coast. Drayage carriers must register with the individual terminal operating companies (APM Terminals, Maher Terminals, GCT Bayonne, etc.) and comply with terminal gate appointment systems. Drivers must hold a valid TWIC card for port access. Port congestion and chassis availability are ongoing operational concerns; most terminals use appointment windows to manage gate queues.
The New Jersey Turnpike requires commercial vehicles to use designated truck lanes on segments where they exist. The Turnpike classifies vehicles by axle count for toll assessment; E-ZPass reduces toll costs for regular commercial users. Certain Turnpike interchanges and segments have structural weight limits on specific spans; carriers with overweight loads must obtain NJDOT permits and verify Turnpike clearances.
Both IFTA fuel tax licensing and IRP apportioned vehicle registration are administered by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission Commercial Vehicle Services unit. Applications and quarterly IFTA filings can be submitted through the NJ MVC online portal.