Trucks
Trucks deliver goods and services to thousands of Roanoke businesses relied upon by residents. Trucks are vital for a city with a strong economy. That said, trucks can also bring noise, vibration, and annoyance to residential neighborhoods. The Transportation Division is committed to mitigating the impact of trucks on neighborhoods.
In this section, you will learn about how trucks are regulated – both by the City and by the Commonwealth. You can also see where and when trucks are restricted.
Truck Routes
While trucks are permitted on any street in the City of Roanoke if they have a destination on that street or a nearby street, all trucks are encouraged to use the system of city arterials and collectors roads for the majority of every trip.
Roads Defined
- Urban Arterial Roads: provide high-capacity multi-vehicle service from I-81, I-581, and US route 220 to local collector roads. Arterials are expected to service commercial vehicles; therefore, truck route restrictions are nominal.
- Collector Roads: provide a link between arterial roads to residential streets as well as commercial and industrial zoned areas. Collector roads have minimal truck restriction and are essential to the flow of goods for the City of Roanoke. There are some cases where the decision is made to restrict collector roads to through truck travel. For these instances, local destination commercial travel is still allowed but all through truck activity is prohibited. For a view of restricted collector roads, please view the Trucks Route Map.
- Residential Streets: provide local access to shopping, entertainment, work, and housing. Due to road design and neighborhood aesthetics, commercial truck activity is limited to local deliveries only. For the purpose of visual clarity, residential streets are not included on the restricted truck route map.
Heavy truck route network within the City of Roanoke is defined by the Code of the City of Roanoke, §20-54. Truck drivers should plan their route using the designated truck routes primarily to get as close to their final destinations as possible. They can contact the Transportation Division at 540-853-2676 for advice about their route.
Be Safe - Obey the Signs | ||
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| The City is authorized to restrict trucks on a number of streets to all commercially-plated trucks over 2.5 tons gross vehicle weight 24-hours a day (unless they have a delivery on that street or a nearby street). Streets where a need for thru traffic restrictions have been identified by the City of Roanoke and can be reviewed in the Truck Restrictions Map. All streets including several residential streets where truck activity has been identified as a problem are marked as "NO TRUCKS" streets, with the signs on the left. Please try to avoid streets marked with these signs. | ||
WARNING: General-use, “off-the-shelf” GPS units do not recognize the above restricted or designated highways, therefore, the routings indicated by these units may include roads that are restricted to your vehicle.
For information about truck access routes in surrounding jurisdictions please visit the VDOT STTA Truck Routes & Restrictions Map
The City of Roanoke does not issue permits for oversized loads. However, before bringing any oversized load into the City, please contact each of the following:
| City of Roanoke Transportation Division | 540-853-2676 |
| City of Roanoke Traffic Safety Unit | 540-853-2321 |
You will be asked for the following:
- The route the truck will take within the City of Roanoke both entering and leaving the site
- The height, length, width, and weight per axle of the truck
- The time and date of the haul
Please see our Truck Route Map for locations of designated and restricted routes.