MENU
SEARCHIf truck drivers are using a navigation app that takes them off the approved interstate detour to get around the part of I-40 closed by Hurricane Helene, they could be risking tickets or worse.
North Carolina DOT officials have been ticketing trucks for not using approved detours -- and many are getting stuck trying to navigate the narrow, winding secondary mountain roads.
Photo: NCDOT
As work continues to restore Interstate 40 after the devastation of Hurricane Helene, officials in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee are warning truck drivers to not use narrow, winding detours instead of designated Interstate detours.
The North Carolina DOT posted on its social media that the risks include tickets as well as trucks getting stuck or overturning. More than 100 tickets were issued in a single day on Nov. 14.
Hurricane Helene hit the area on September 27, with torrential rains causing extensive flooding and mudslides and closing thousands of roads. Many routes need significant repairs and others a total rebuild.
There's a long detour to get around the closed portion of I-40 in western North Carolina.
Photo: Tennessee DOT
The only large truck routes to and from western North Carolina are Interstate 77 to Interstate 81 or Interstate 40 to US Highway 74.
The department also discouraged drivers from following other routes suggested by some navigation apps.
The NC DOT has targeted New Year’s Day for a partial reopening of I-40, with one late in each direction.
Meanwhile, in Tennessee, according to published reports, new signs have been installed along Highway 30 in Polk County to deter commercial trucks from using it.
Heavy Duty Trucking is searching for forward-looking leaders at trucking fleets as nominations for HDT’s Truck Fleet Innovators 2026. Deadline is May 15.
Read More →
Detroit’s next-generation ABA6 safety system adds cross-traffic detection and enhanced side guard assist with left-turn protection, targeting high-risk urban scenarios.
Read More →
The American Transportation Research Institute will examine driver coaching, regulatory impacts — including the "Beyond Compliance" concept —and weather disruptions that shape trucking operations.
Read More →
New requirements add firm deadlines and independent review steps, addressing long-standing complaints about inconsistent rulings and slow response times.
Read More →
Five states still aren't ready to accept commercial driver medical exam information directly from the medical examiner's registry.
Read More →
Heavy Duty Trucking's Top 20 Products awards recognize the best new products and technologies. Check out the award presentations at the 2026 Technology & Maintenance Council annual meeting.
Read More →
The Detroit® Gen 6 engine platform proves that real progress doesn’t require a complete redesign. Built on 20 years of trusted technology, these engines are designed for efficiency, stronger performance, and greater reliability than before. And they do it all while complying with 2027 EPA standards on every mile.
Read More →
Aperia Technologies introduced a new automatic tire inflation system for steer axles and a partnership with Fontaine Fifth Wheel to integrate coupling status into its Halo Connect platform.
Read More →
Fleetworthy and HAAS Alert expanded their partnership to deliver real-time digital alerts that warn motorists when commercial trucks are stopped roadside and notify truck drivers when approaching emergency responders.
Read More →
More than 100,000 new trucking companies enter the industry each year, but regulators manage to audit only a fraction of them. That churn creates opportunities for inexperienced startups — and for “chameleon carriers” that shut down after safety violations and reappear under new identities. Read more from Deborah Lockridge in this commentary.
Read More →
