Total eclipse of the trucks: transportation departments warn of traffic for upcoming solar eclipse

On April 8th, a solar eclipse will stretch across the United States, from Maine to Texas. The astronomical event has caused quite a stir among the American population, to the extent that road trips have been planned to witness this astonishing celestial wonder. However, due to the high number of drivers expected on the roads around the time of the event, some state transportation departments recommend that truckers avoid traveling on the roads.

During the last solar eclipse in 2017, millions of people headed to states with better views, causing significant congestion on the roads. Hence, transportation authorities are making efforts to minimize potential traffic jams on major routes of communication. It is estimated that around 3.7 million people will undertake trips to witness the eclipse.

The approximate number of people expected to travel is so high that traffic officials warn that the day could be entirely unproductive for the freight transportation sector. They urge truckers to consider taking voluntary vacations around April 8th to avoid congestion on the roads and main routes.

The Arkansas Department of Transportation forecasts that 1.5 million people will travel to the state to witness the eclipse. Meanwhile, the Indiana Department of Transportation, through a bulletin, asks truckers to complete their loads on April 7th or 9th. Similarly, the Vermont Department of Transportation urges truckers to avoid driving on April 8th and 9th. However, it is unknown how many truckers will take such precautions.