Related: Old Sayings Apply While Driving Through Bad Weather
Winter Storm Stella Wreaks Havoc in the Northeast
Winter Storm Stella has hit the Northeast, dumping snow in New England and freezing rain in warmer areas, and causing road closures along the East Coast.

Photo via NYS Thruway Authority Twitter
#BlizzardStella - Heavy tow operator Gallagher's Garage performs a winch-out on I-87 at milepost 103 southbound pic.twitter.com/68JWipMWrL
— NYSThruwayAuthority (@NYSThruway) March 14, 2017
Winter Storm Stella has hit the Northeast, dumping snow in New England and freezing rain in warmer areas, and causing road closures along the East Coast.
Stella has dropped more than a foot of snow already in areas of New York and Pennsylvania and brought freezing rain and ice to the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore areas. The rain and snow led to the declaration of states of emergency in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia, according to the Washington Post.
Several major roads have been closed in the area. The storm is expected to continue through Tuesday and into Wednesday as it moves in a northeasterly direction. In New York, the state has issued a tractor-trailer ban on the full length of Interstates 81, 84, 86, 88, Route 17 and the NYS Thruway.
Pennsylvania is joining New York in restricting all trucks from Interstate 84 and is advising truckers to avoid Interstate 81 although trucks are not officially banned. The state is also imposing restrictions on interstate roads in central and eastern Pennsylvania. Speed limits are reduced to 45 mph and the affected interstates are closed to tandem trailers, empty trailers, buses, motorcycles recreational vehicles and towed trailers.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie authorized road closures in the state in anticipation of the storm and directed travelers to use 511nj.org to keep up with the latest road conditions. Connecticut has issued a statewide travel ban, authorizing only essential travel on state roads.
Earlier in the week, Stella left behind several inches of snow in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, in some cases exceeding a foot.
Southern states also received snowfall, though in smaller amounts in parts of Georgia, Arkansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
Originally posted on Automotive Fleet
More Operations

Shades of Fleet Call for Voices: Next Up in Fleet
Apprentices, interns, young professionals, and rising leaders: share your voice in our "Next Up in Fleet" episode of our Shades of Fleet video series!
Read More →
Fleet Leadership, Skilled Trades, and Better Data Take Center Stage | Weekly Cheat Sheet
Skilled trades, fleet leadership, DataQs, and driver input take center stage in this week's Truck Chat Weekly Cheat Sheet. Watch the latest fleet headlines.
Read More →
NAFA Names 2026 Class of Fellows, Honoring Leaders in Fleet Management
NAFA Fleet Management Association (NAFA) has recognized five fleet professionals by naming them to the 2026 Class of NAFA Fellows. Find out who they are and learn more about their impact on the fleet management profession.
Read More →
Verisk CargoNet Assists in Manhattan Cargo Theft Indictment Targeting Multi-State Impersonation Ring
Verisk CargoNet assisted law enforcement efforts tied to an indictment related to an organized, multi-state cargo theft operation that allegedly took nearly $5 million in stolen goods through impersonation tactics.
Read More →
What Does a Potato Have to Do with Leadership?
From simple process improvements and creative problem-solving to the little moments that strengthen team culture, this conversation dives into the power of unexpected ideas and why innovation doesn't always arrive wrapped in new technology or a major initiative.
Read More →
Looking for a New Podcast for the Road? Start Here!
Looking for a new podcast? Truck Chat delivers fleet leadership insights, industry deep dives, AI discussions, innovations, and real-world stories.
Read More →
WTX Fleet Manager Applications Close Soon (and Yes, You Want In)
WTX Fleet Manager Applications close soon for the hosted Work Truck Exchange, Sept. 23-25, 2026, in Scottsdale, Arizona. Limited spots available, apply today!
Read More →Did You Know What You Don't See May Be Costing You Big?
As more employees choose personal vehicles (including hybrids and EVs) for business use, companies face new challenges around visibility, insurance, liability, and cost control.
Read More →
Veteran Voices in Fleet | How Military Service Shapes Fleet Leaders
Across every perspective, one message is clear: the experiences gained through military service continue to influence how veterans contribute to the fleet industry every day.
Read More →
The Fleet Lessons That Don’t Show Up on a Spreadsheet
From index cards to predictive maintenance, Robert Martinez shares the hard-earned leadership lessons that shaped nearly 40 years in fleet.
Read More →

