Commercial truck drivers issued citations in Great Smoky Mountains

ASHEVILLE - The National Park Service has reported recent incidents with large commercial vehicles on Newfound Gap Road, or U.S. 441, including when a semi-truck's brakes caught fire, according to an Oct. 17 news release.

NPS officials are reminding drivers that no commercial vehicles are allowed on this main road connecting Cherokee in North Carolina to Gatlinburg, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Violators will be subject to a citation as well as a fine of up to $5,000, the release said.

On Oct. 3, NPS responded after a commercial car hauler crashed into a wall and down an embankment. That same day, a semi-truck's brakes caught on fire, according to the release.

"While responding to these incidents, eight semi-trucks drove past emergency responders," the release said.

The two-lane road — with steep continuous grades and tight curves — has no truck lanes, runaway truck ramps or places for a large commercial vehicle to slow down and pull over, making it unsafe for large commercial vehicles.

"Park staff have taken multiple actions to restrict access to the road, including staffing checkpoints, use of variable message signs, working with local communities to place signs outside the park, as well as strategically placed traffic cones and barrels to discourage commercial vehicles," the release said.

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With help from Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Government and Sevier County law enforcement, NPS has been staffing check points on either end of the road around the clock since Oct. 2, according to the release.

Since then, over 800 commercial vehicles have been turned away from Newfound Gap Road.

NPS noted other situations that highlight how dangerous driving on the throughfare in a commercial vehicle can be:

Commercial vehicles are always prohibited on US 441/Newfound Gap Road and in all of Great Smoky Mountains National Park (with the exception of the Spur).

While I-40 between Exit 20 in North Carolina and Exit 432 in Tennessee, drivers should consult North Carolina Department of Transportation and Tennessee Department of Transportation routes before starting their trips.

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Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. She is a graduate of Indiana University and was the Citizen Times Summer News Reporting Intern in 2022. Email her at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @ryleyober