Railroad crossings for all trucks or just hazmat?

State. The states have the right to be more strict than Federal law, but not the other way around. Unless of course it's legalizing weed because then they make a crapload of tax money off it.

I'd love to see how they handle a driver not licensed in NJ that doesn't stop because he wouldn't need to anywhere else. People wonder why companies andvestise "No NY/NJ" on job ads! THIS is why!

 

Keep reading grasshopper...

2.15.4 – Stopping Safely at Railroad-highway Crossings
A full stop is required at grade crossings whenever:

The nature of the cargo makes a stop mandatory under state or federal regulations.
Such a stop is otherwise required by law.​

9.6.12 – Stop Before Railroad Crossings
Stop before a railroad crossing if your vehicle:

Is placarded.
Carries any amount of chlorine.
Has cargo tanks, whether loaded or empty used for hazardous materials.​

13.1.8 – Railroad Crossing
[...]
If you are driving a bus, a school bus, or a vehicle displaying placards, you should be prepared to observe the following procedures at every railroad crossing (unless the crossing is exempt):

 

Here's Washington State's guidance out of the new manual:
2.15 – Railroad-highway Crossings
<skipped some stuff>
Driving Procedures
Never race a train to a crossing. Never attempt to race a train to a crossing. It is extremely difficult to
judge the speed of an approaching train. Reduce speed.
Speed must be reduced in accordance with your ability to see approaching trains in any direction, and speed must be held to a point which will permit you to stop short of the tracks in case a stop is necessary.
Don’t expect to hear a train. Because of noise inside your vehicle, you cannot expect to hear the train horn until
the train is dangerously close to the crossing. Don’t rely on signals. You should not rely solely upon the presence of warning signals, gates, or flagmen to warn of the approach of trains. Be especially alert at crossings that do not have gates or flashing red light signals.
<skipped some more stuff>
Stopping Safely at Railroad-highway Crossings
A full stop is required at grade crossings whenever:
• The nature of the cargo makes a stop mandatory under state or federal regulations.
• Such a stop is otherwise required by law.
When stopping be sure to:
• Check for traffic behind you while stopping gradually. Use a pullout lane, if available.
• Turn on your four-way emergency flashers.

See their get out of jail free blurb?

Good topic for a new driver. Now wondering what other state specific driving rules might catch out a newbie like me.

 

Well, I spoke too soon. I'll leave it up for newbness. In comparing the two manuals, they look awful #### similar.

bstrong3,
Possible incident of copy paste gone wrong? Shoot an email to NJ State Patrol and ask them what's up. Let us know.

 

Where the hell have you been sugar?

 

the feds set up the minimum requirements. as a result, ALL states MAY bump that up (supersede) to HIGHER rules, but NEVER go below the feds.

as I stated to you earlier, DO AS YOUR STATE SAYS...

 

Outside of FMCSA's, always obey posted signage. Been running thru NJ a couple years most recently... never saw or heard anything out of the norm.

 

Yes, and when you get your own truck, install those train horns. They're a blast to use when a car is halfway across the tracks. They're a little costly, but well worth it for morale purposes.
Can buy them on Ebay. The cheap ones with 2 trumpets are about $50.00 and the good ones have 4 or 5 trumpets and can cost a couple hundred or more.