Every year, truck drivers cover a staggering 80 billion miles across the United States.
This may seem like an impossible amount of driving, but it’s actually a very important part of the supply chain.
However, a large portion of those miles are unnecessary. That’s why it’s important to choose the right route.
Interstate 80
Interstate 80 is one of the most important routes in the United States. It links the East Coast to the West. It is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the US and the tenth-longest highway in the world.
The road started out as a series of trails in the mid-1800s, connecting settlers traveling to the gold fields. As time went on, these roads were improved and more people began to travel the long journey from coast to coast. In addition to its box truck routes for sale, Interstate 80 also runs through Nevada and Utah. It is the only Interstate Highway that crosses the Great Basin.
It is also the largest truck route in the United States. It carries about 40.3 percent of the nation’s single and combination-unit truck traffic.
The route begins in Oakland and passes through the Sacramento Valley. It then heads to the Sierra Nevada Mountains, crossing Donner Pass (7227 ft). From there it continues through the Nevada state capital and on to Reno.
Interstate 95
The country’s most crowded highway, Interstate 95 stretches more than 2,000 miles from Florida to Maine. It’s an important part of commerce and tourism, linking scenic New England with subtropical South Florida.
The interstate is an artery that connects some of America’s largest cities, including New York City, Philadelphia, and Boston. It’s also an essential artery for freight shipping. While this is an excellent road for truckers, it does have some problems. For one, it’s the second most dangerous interstate for truckers to drive in rain or snow.
In fact, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration reports that I-95 has a fatality rate of 5.7 per 100 miles when it’s wet or snowy.
Thankfully, there are a number of things that can be done to help improve the traffic on I-95 and keep it safe for truckers.
For example, the New York State Department of Transportation has worked with other agencies to renumber I-95 exits with sequential numbers. This helps make sure that people know where they’re going, even if they’re in unfamiliar areas.
US 550
US 550 is one of the biggest truck routes, running for more than 305 miles from New Mexico to Colorado. It is also the most dangerous highway in Colorado.
While there are some very beautiful areas to drive on this highway, it can be very hazardous and difficult for drivers. Drivers should be prepared with food, water, fuel, and first aid supplies at all times. In addition, they should be aware of Colorado’s traction and chain laws.
The highway stretches from Bernalillo to Montrose, a distance of 97 miles. It’s part of the San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway and loosely parallels the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.
The Million Dollar Highway section of US 550, between Silverton and Ouray, is another of the most famous parts of the road. This stretch of road is known for its scenic drives, small adventure towns and ghost mining villages.
Interstate 680
Interstate 680 is considered one of the biggest truck routes in the country, and it’s often busy. It moves a lot of goods from the three largest ports on the West Coast, said Dan McOmie, executive director of the California Trucking Association.
It’s not a good idea to take Interstate 680 for granted, McOmie says. It can be dangerous because of the number of trucks that use it.
The busiest part of I-680 is the stretch between Auto Mall Parkway and Route 84, which ranks fourth among Bay Area freeways in terms of congestion. Caltrans is planning to add a carpool/express lane from Auto Mall Parkway to Route 84 to ease the pressure.
Once it’s complete, the express lane will be open to carpools and vanpools, but solo drivers will pay a toll. It’ll be similar to the FasTrak system used on bridges, with electronic tags that charge fees but don’t require stoplights or traffic signals.