Vehicle Snow Removal Laws in New Jersey: What to Know Before Your Fleet Trucks or Buses Hit Winter Roads

Like other road laws, snow removal rules for fleet trucks and buses are determined by where the vehicle is, not where the driver is licensed.

Operators should know, however, that vehicle snow removal laws vary widely by state and province.

Is it illegal to drive with snow on your truck in New Jersey? Law enforcement in many other states might pull over drivers to simply warn them they are at risk of fines if snow or ice falls off on the road.

But in New Jersey, drivers can be fined for not removing all ice and snow from their vehicle’s exposed surfaces.

New Jersey snow removal requirements

Safety is always a driver’s top priority. Beyond that, though, there are legal penalties to consider.

In 2023, New Jersey revised its statutes for motor vehicles, including truck cabs, trailers and semitrailers, intermodal freight containers, buses, and other vehicles moving with snow or ice on their roof, trunk, hood, windshield, and windows.

According to Title 39 for Motor Vehicles and Traffic Regulation Section 39:4-77.1, the penalties in New Jersey for not removing snow and ice from vehicles prior to getting on streets or highways include:

• A $25 to $75 fine each day if the officer believes accumulated snow or ice poses a threat to persons or property.
• For commercial vehicles, the “operator, owner, lessee, [or] bailee” is subject to a fine of no less than $500 and no more than $1,500 when “snow or ice is dislodged from a moving vehicle and strikes another vehicle or pedestrian causing injury or property damage.”

Note that law enforcement will not issue a fine if the driver of a commercial vehicle “is traveling to a location where equipment or technology that is used to remove snow and ice from commercial motor vehicles is available.”

However, if law enforcement determines the driver has already passed such a location, they are subject to a fine.

Of course, federal regulations for vehicle weight and securing loads — 23 CFR 658.17 and 49 CFR 393.100(b) — apply everywhere in the US. New Jersey’s Title 39 lists the state’s specific standards for vehicle height and weight (39:3-84), securing loads (39:4-77), and safe operation (39:4).

The business side of snow and ice removal

Beyond safety, fines, and liability, clearing snow off commercial trucks and buses makes simple business sense — cutting weight saves on fuel and removing rooftop snow protects your company from high-cost lawsuits.

Efficiency is key, though. The snow removal process increases downtime and is dangerous to anyone pulling snow off a vehicle’s roof or climbing onto it. Instead, operators sometimes choose to take risks by leaving rooftop snow intact.

Snow removal machines for truck and bus fleets help do the job faster and more safely than manual scraping.

• Prevent employee injuries.
• Lower manual labor costs.
• Put vehicles on the road faster after a snowfall.
• Protect your brand.

Rite-Hite helps solve these issues with heavy-duty and medium-duty snow removal machines. Scraper Systems™ Fleet Plows clear up to 24 inches of snow in under 30 seconds per truck or bus.

Comprehensive expertise of transportation laws is tough when you serve customers with interstate freight transport or travel. Having a system in place for fleet truck and bus snow removal takes one major variable out of the equation — and improves your bottom line.

Operational costs add up with manual snow and ice removal. Learn how much you can save with our calculator tool. Depending on climate and fleet size, a Scraper System can start earning in a year or two.

If you see value for your fleet, our reps can answer remaining questions or quickly get you a quote to start you saving during the winter months.

The information provided herein does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal or other professional advice. All information, content and materials available in this blog are for general informational purposes only. Information in this blog may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information. Additional laws, regulations or statutes may apply locally or on specific roadways. Readers, users or browsers of this blog are responsible for understanding applicable current and pending legislation in all relevant jurisdictions. No reader, user, or browser of this blog should act or refrain from acting based on information herein without first consulting authorities in relevant jurisdictions along travel routes for the most up-to-date information. The content in this blog is provided “as is,” and no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, is made regarding the accuracy, reliability or completeness of any information, content or materials herein.