I-10 crosses the southern United States from Southern California to Jacksonville, Florida. For Phoenix-area commercial drivers, it connects the Valley with California to the west and Tucson, New Mexico, and Texas to the east. A useful cross-country trip plan accounts for heat, dust, traffic delays, inspection instructions, and rules that change at state lines.
Ports of entry: follow the instruction for your truck
Arizona's I-10 ports include Ehrenberg near California and San Simon near New Mexico. Watch roadside signs as you approach.
ADOT describes electronic screening that can direct a truck to bypass a port or enter for further inspection. Follow signs, officer directions, and authorized bypass instructions applicable to your vehicle. Passing one port under an authorized bypass does not give you permission to bypass the next.
For more on documents, weight distribution, and inspections, see our weigh-station guide.
Desert heat and long delays
Plan fuel and legal parking stops before departure, including alternatives if your first choice is unavailable. Account for available Hours of Service and delays rather than relying on a single estimated arrival time.
Carry extra drinking water, food, medication, sun protection, and a charged phone for an unexpected closure or breakdown. Inspect and operate the truck according to its manufacturer and carrier procedures. Our summer trucking guide covers heat illness and hot-weather vehicle checks.
Dust storms: avoid entering them
Do not drive into a dust storm. Exit the highway safely before it arrives when possible. If caught without an exit, ADOT's dust-storm procedure is to check surrounding traffic and slow, then find a safe place completely beyond the paved roadway, clear of travel and emergency lanes. Once safely off the roadway, turn off all lights, including flashers, set the parking brake, and take your foot off the brake. Remain buckled in the vehicle until the storm passes.
The lights-off instruction applies to this dust-storm situation after clearing the roadway. In low visibility, lights on a stopped vehicle can draw following drivers toward it.
Phoenix to Tucson: check conditions before departure
Use AZ511 for closures, incidents, restrictions, and traffic cameras. Check current weather and identify safe stopping options before conditions deteriorate. Recheck during stops; yesterday's open road does not establish today's conditions.
Monsoon rain can create hazards beyond blowing dust. ADOT advises drivers to leave extra braking room, never cross a flooded wash, and obey road-closed signs.
Heading west into California
California's 55 mph maximum applies to a motortruck or truck tractor with three or more axles, and to a motortruck or truck tractor towing another vehicle. The California Highway Patrol's driver requirements manual reproduces Vehicle Code Section 22406. Follow lower posted limits and slow further when conditions require it.
Check Caltrans QuickMap for California traffic and road restrictions. Plan grades with the vehicle's weight, speed-control procedures, and available stopping locations in mind before reaching them.
New Mexico and West Texas: plan the next safe stop
Before entering long rural stretches, verify fuel range, available driving hours, legal parking, and a backup stop. Leave room in the plan for weather, fuel queues, and unavailable parking rather than assuming each stop will work exactly as expected.
Use NMRoads in New Mexico and DriveTexas in Texas for current road information. Recheck the route before departure and during safe stops. A southern route can still encounter dangerous weather; do not assume it will remain open or free of ice.
Louisiana to Florida: check traffic and storm impacts
Plan urban sections, including Houston and Mobile, using current traffic information and your legal driving hours. A blanket recommendation to drive overnight does not account for fatigue, appointments, or closures.
For bridges, tunnels, and work zones, obey current truck speed and lane signs. Plan for heavy rain, poor visibility, flooding, and storm-related closures, and identify somewhere safe to stop before conditions deteriorate.
Use these state road-information systems for the eastern part of the corridor:
- Louisiana: 511LA
- Mississippi: MDOTtraffic
- Alabama: ALGO Traffic
- Florida: FL511
Traffic maps support trip planning. Verify commercial routing and restrictions separately, and follow current signs and official instructions throughout the trip.
