You don’t see large trucks driving in the left lane very often, but is that because it’s illegal? Well, it depends. The laws on trucks in the left land differ by state. States also have varying laws on whether passenger cars may drive in the left lane when not passing, but this article will focus on trucks only.
States with ‘No Trucks in the Left Lane’ Laws
| Arkansas | Vehicles with more than two axels are prohibited from using the farthest left lane on designated six-lane interstate highways. |
| California | Motor trucks, truck tractors with three or more axles, and truck tractors trailing another vehicle must use lane(s) designated by signs. If there is no designated lane, trucks must use right-hand lane. They may use the second-to-right-hand lane if there are four or more lanes. To pass, they must use the designated lane, second-to-right lane, or right lane. |
| Connecticut | Operators of vehicles with commercial registration, motor buses, trailers, or school buses are prohibited from far-left lane on designated highways with more than two lanes. |
| Georgia | Trucks must use designated lanes. If no lanes are designated, and two or three lanes are available, trucks may not use the far left lane, except to pass or turn left. |
| Indiana | Trucks, truck tractors, road tractors, trailers, semitrailers, or pole trailers must use the far right lane (or two right lanes if three or more lanes available) on interstate highways except to pass, enter or exit a highway, or avoid special hazard. |
| Massachusetts | Commercial vehicles weighing more than 2.5 tons, used to transport goods, wares, and merchandise must use far-right lane. They may use the next adjacent lane for passing. They may not use other lanes except in an emergency. |
| Michigan | Trucks with gross weight over 10,000 pounds, truck tractors, or combination of vehicle and trailer or semitrailer must use the two right lanes on freeways with three or more lanes, except to turn left or where a special hazard exists. |
| Missouri | Trucks weighing more than 48,000 pounds used to transport property, motor vehicles designed or used for carrying freight, merchandise, or more than eight passengers, but not including vanpools or shuttle buses may not use the left-hand lane on interstate highways, freeways, or expressways within urbanized areas of the state having three or more lanes. |
| New Jersey | Trucks of at least 10,000 pounds registered gross weight may not drive in the far left-hand lane of roadways with three or more lanes, except for up to one mile before a left-hand turn, to enter or exit roadway, or due to emergency conditions. |
| Oregon | Any camper, vehicle with a trailer, vehicle with registration weight of 10,000 pounds or more must drive in right lane of all roadways with two or more lanes, except to pass (without interfering with passage of other vehicles), turn left, respond to emergency conditions, avoid merging traffic, or to obey traffic control devices. |
| Pennsylvania | Vehicles or combination over 10,000 pounds may not drive in left-hand lane of limited access highway with three or more lanes, except to turn left. |
| Utah | Vehicles drawing trailer or semitrailer, vehicles or combination of vehicles with gross weight of 12,001 or more pounds may not use the left lane of freeway with at least three lanes, except to turn left, exit, avoid merging traffic, respond to emergency conditions, or follow direction signs. |
| Virginia | Commercial motor vehicles, except buses or vehicles performing maintenance or construction work on interstate highway may not drive in the left lane of any interstate highway with more than two lanes where posted speed limit is at least 65 miles per hour. They also may not drive in the left lane on interstate highway within Eighth Planning District or Interstate Route 81 regardless of speed limit. They must drive in right lane of interstate highway with no more than two lanes when driving 15 miles per hour or more below speed limit. Exception: when exiting to the left. |
| Washington | Vehicles or combinations weighing more than 10,000 pounds may not use the left lane of a limited access roadway with three or more lanes, except to turn left. They also may not use the left lane of a two-lane roadway except to pass, when traveling at a greater speed than traffic, to avoid merging traffic, or to turn left or exit. |
Reasons for the Law
Why are trucks often not allowed in the left lane? One major reason is because of how long it takes trucks to brake. Loaded tractor-trailers take around 20-40% longer to stop than passenger cars, which is a major cause of trucking accidents, according to the truck accident attorneys at Craft Law Firm in Waco, Texas. This issue mainly affects the passengers in passenger vehicles, since they are so vulnerable in a collision with a heavy truck.
Another common cause of truck accidents is truckers driving for too long, breaking hours-of-service standards and getting sleepy or distracted behind the wheel. Other truck accidents are caused by improper vehicle maintenance or intoxicated truck drivers.
The penalties for truckers who drive in the left lane also vary by state. Some states start with issuing a fine up to $100, and some involve jail time or fees in the thousands. If you are a truck driver, make sure you are up to date on your state’s laws and regulations before ending up with a fine, or worse, a serious truck accident.