In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation to allow the operation of mini trucks on Pennsylvania roadways.

A mini truck is a motor vehicle, traditionally from Japan, that is essentially a miniature version of what would be considered a “truck” in the United States. They have a significantly smaller body, cab, and bed, and are used for transportation of goods and materials throughout the world.

Currently, Pennsylvania will only allow the registration of mini trucks in three ways: As an off-road vehicle, as a farm vehicle, or as an antique vehicle. In order to be imported into the United States, mini trucks must be older than 25 years at the time of importation, where they face further restrictions of operation in Pennsylvania as previously mentioned.

I am planning to introduce legislation to allow the operation of mini trucks in Pennsylvania as though they are a passenger vehicle. Under my legislation, mini trucks would be subject to the same rules of the road as all other vehicles but would not be able to operate on any roadways with a speed limit in excess of 55 miles per hour, unless special permits are granted by either PennDOT or a local authority. Furthermore, mini trucks would not be subject to vehicle inspection or emission inspection requirements, however individuals are still required to keep their mini trucks in good order to operate on Pennsylvania roads.

I believe that mini trucks are safe to operate on Pennsylvania roads, and we should not limit the choices that our constituents have for what vehicles they choose to utilize. My legislation would allow our constituents to freely choose whether to use mini trucks or not, a decision that we should not be making for them exclusively. With increasing advents of safety technology across the United States, it is well within the right of each citizen to choose what vehicle they should wish to use. Mini trucks present Pennsylvania with a unique opportunity to increase our trade relationships in East Asia, as well as providing our constituents with the choice of using mini trucks.

I hope you will join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation to allow the operation of mini trucks in Pennsylvania.
 

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 1353 (Apr 15, 2025): 75-102
Printer's No. 1353: 75-102