Office of Operations
21st Century Operations Using 21st Century Technologies

4.2.6.8 Truckers

Very little information was found on evacuation efforts associated with truckers. The Effects of Catastrophic Events on Transportation System Management and Operations: August 2003 Northeast Blackout New York City reported: “While several agencies did use their operating variable message sign system(s) and highway advisory radio system(s) to post messages to alert drivers of closings and traffic conditions, there were no messages posted specifically to inform truckers.”

In addition, according to the Reverse Lane Standards and ITS Strategies Southeast United States Hurricane Study: Technical Memorandum Number 1: Final Report, “Florida Highway Patrol is working with the trucking associations to curtail commercial vehicles during a hurricane evacuation. This would improve the roadway capacity and safety. Any truck traffic would be confined to the normal lanes and not the reversed lanes. The trucking associations are agreeable and volunteered to curtail trips during Hurricane Floyd.”


February 7, 2006
Publication #FHWA–HOP-08-015