No Trucks This Lane

[fillup420]

There are several examples of this in North Carolina. Most of the I-40/85 concurrency has a truck ban on the left 2 lanes. Enforcement is pretty lax as far as I can tell, but most trucks comply. It gets annoying real quick when they don't though.
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.0734294,-79.1641878,3a,42.2y,280.48h,89.88t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sbLZwrQ02DQ51Lanyggi_-Q!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Also heading into Raleigh on 40.
https://www.google.com/maps/@35.8947299,-78.860907,3a,33.5y,107.69h,91.44t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1stFI_R9yXCDRkGuYWUgUusw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

I know theres one on I-85 somewhere between the Yadkin river and Greensboro but I cannot find it. I don't know of any other states that have truck bans like this, but I'm sure they are out there.

[hotdogPi]

Massachusetts only allows trucks in the right two lanes (whether there are 3 or 4). It's followed pretty well. It might even be written into state law, as it doesn't depend on which road you're on.

[Big John]

On 3-lane in 1 direction Georgia freeways, trucks can't use the left lane.

[skluth]

Trucks are supposedly limited to the two right lanes in California. Most truckers are pretty good about it but it can be a real nightmare when one doesn't out here. Once got stuck behind an Midwest state westbound semi blocking the left middle lane of four lanes on I-10 for miles because some other slowpoke was blocking the left lane. There was a large gap in front of both vehicles for several hundred yards with fairly thin traffic ahead of that. I finally passed them by zipping through the thinned out truck lanes in the middle of the 10/57/71 interchange; I hadn't reached the next bit of traffic by the time I got to the IKEA exit at Barranca although some vehicles did join I-10 from the other freeways.

[wxfree]

I remember a "no trucks right lane" sign during a construction project when the right lane was pushed over onto the shoulder.  It made me wonder if that's because the shoulder wasn't built to the same strength as the regular lanes.  It also might be due to concerns about large vehicles going off the pavement.  I don't know what else it could be (maybe a low clearance under a bridge with an arch).  I don't remember any other details.

[webny99]

Previous thread on this subject here. As was mentioned in that thread, the NYS Thruway uses these signs to prohibit trucks, buses, and trailers from the left lane on six-lane sections. I've never noticed any trucks in the left lane on this particular segment, but then again it's only about 4 miles in length.

[Big John]

I remember a "no trucks right lane" sign during a construction project when the right lane was pushed over onto the shoulder.  It made me wonder if that's because the shoulder wasn't built to the same strength as the regular lanes.  It also might be due to concerns about large vehicles going off the pavement.  I don't know what else it could be (maybe a low clearance under a bridge with an arch).  I don't remember any other details.

The shoulder is not as strong as the regular lane as a thinner pavement thickness is used.

[sprjus4]

I could be wrong, but I think the OP was going for states that ban trucks from the left two lanes on an 8 lane highway. A lot do indeed ban from the left most lane, but not the center left if there's 4 or more in each direction.

[Ned Weasel]

I remember a "no trucks right lane" sign during a construction project when the right lane was pushed over onto the shoulder.  It made me wonder if that's because the shoulder wasn't built to the same strength as the regular lanes.  It also might be due to concerns about large vehicles going off the pavement.  I don't know what else it could be (maybe a low clearance under a bridge with an arch).  I don't remember any other details.

The shoulder is not as strong as the regular lane as a thinner pavement thickness is used.

I remember seeing that a lot in Indiana when I drove a truck, and I suspected that was the reason.  Few people bothered to pay attention to that, however.

[JoePCool14]

I could be wrong, but I think the OP was going for states that ban trucks from the left two lanes on an 8 lane highway. A lot do indeed ban from the left most lane, but not the center left if there's 4 or more in each direction.

The Illinois Tollway bans trucks from the left two lanes on sections of road with four lanes per direction.

Exhibit A: I-94 just south of the IL/WI border
Exhibit B: I-90 east of Randall Rd where the fourth lane is added

[fillup420]

I could be wrong, but I think the OP was going for states that ban trucks from the left two lanes on an 8 lane highway. A lot do indeed ban from the left most lane, but not the center left if there's 4 or more in each direction.

I wasn't getting that specific, just curious about what other states do regarding truck lane usage

[GaryV]

I don't recall if the signs are still there.  But on WB I-696 approaching the 96/275 interchange, there were/are signs saying, "End Truck Lane Restrictions".  That's because the intersection is a split with 2 lanes going each way, and the trucks need a little advance opportunity to get to the left if they're continuing WB on I-96.

[jemacedo9]

I remember a "no trucks right lane" sign during a construction project when the right lane was pushed over onto the shoulder.  It made me wonder if that's because the shoulder wasn't built to the same strength as the regular lanes.  It also might be due to concerns about large vehicles going off the pavement.  I don't know what else it could be (maybe a low clearance under a bridge with an arch).  I don't remember any other details.

The PA Turnpike does this in their widening projects where they are reconstructing the inside lanes, where traffic is running out the outside lane and shoulder...and it is for the reason you've guessed.

[jemacedo9]

On some 4-lane arterials in PA and DE, trucks are restricted from the left lane.  These are in built-up areas within an otherwise rural areas, where there are several traffic lights, that I can tell.  I think it is because having trucks in both lanes starting from a complete stop would tie up traffic endlessly.

PA:  US 15 in the Lewisburg area, US 11/15 in the Shamokin Dam/Selisgrove areas.
DE:  US 13 and US 113 in some of the larger towns.

[jeffandnicole]

On I-95 in Delaware, specifically the Turnpike section, there used to be signs restricting trucks to only the two right lanes. But as traffic started getting heavier, trucks were having a hard time moving over from the 295 merge to the two right lanes. Then trucks would need to get back to the left lane for the service plaza just a few miles later. Then they divided the toll plaza in half, so trucks had to get back to the left two lanes again for the Express EZ Pass lanes.

With such a short highway to begin with, and traffic getting heavier, the newer signs just try to keep the trucks out of the left lane. Still tough due to the service area and toll plaza configurations.

On the Northbound side, there used to be "End Truck Lane Restrictions" on 95 just north of the DE 1/7 interchange. They were removed when the interchange was reconstructed.

[jeffandnicole]

On some of the bridges crossing the Delaware River:

Delaware Memorial Bridge (I-295):
https://maps.app.goo.gl/XUSU8A7YTYdn2Mmw8

Commodore Barry Bridge (US 322):
https://maps.app.goo.gl/HMedoUW96j3V2x3L6

Walt Whitman Bridge (I-76):
https://maps.app.goo.gl/rPf4crfMDZWnD7mQ8

Ben Franklin Bridge (I-676)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/qjbmsBH9XcSUbTtQ7
Also,
https://maps.app.goo.gl/BjPXFrUzyab3Fmjz9 , due to the quickly narrowing roadway forcing a sharp merge to the right after the toll plaza in that area.

[interstatefan990]

Truck left lane restrictions can also be zone-specific. I have seen several "END LEFT LANE RESTRICTION" signs where the prohibition ended and trucks were once again allowed to use the left lane.

[sprjus4]

Truck left lane restrictions can also be zone-specific. I have seen several "END LEFT LANE RESTRICTION" signs where the prohibition ended and trucks were once again allowed to use the left lane.

I saw a lot of those along I-75 in Florida. Not sure why they just weren't restricted from the left lane throughout. Likely due to urban areas, but the speed limit remained at 70 mph the whole way.

In Virginia, trucks are only prohibited (with clear explicit signage that buses are always allowed in the left lane - which I don't agree with unless it's HOV) where the speed limit is 65 mph or higher and there's more than 2 lanes in each direction, or the left lane is an HOV lane. But where the speed limit is 55 mph or 60 mph and there's no HOV lane, they are legally permitted in the left lane. Now granted, around here in Hampton Roads, I've rarely seen it. They are usually pretty good at sticking to the right. The vast majority of trucks on the highways around here seem to be local port trucks, given the large presence of ports around here and very little freight through traffic. Either way, the truck volumes are always fairly light anyways and the whole trucks micropassing is hardly ever a thing. I suppose that's a nice benefit living in an urban area that's not on a major trucking corridor or through corridor in general.

[gonealookin]

Here's an unusual one on southbound I-580 in Nevada, through the Washoe Valley between Reno and Carson City, where trucks, RVs, buses and vehicles with trailers over 9 feet in height must use the left lane when indicated by the flashing lights.  That's because there can be strong downslope winds coming off the Carson Range just to the west, and the presumption is that the winds would tend to cause tall vehicles to veer to the left, or into the center divider, rather than into the left lane if they were traveling in the right lane.  On the northbound side the flashing lights direct those vehicles into the right lane only.

https://goo.gl/maps/DDTxHWdQVLXnRYYd6

In many cases when the winds are strong, tall vehicles are banned from that stretch of I-580 entirely and are routed over to Alternate US 395.

[interstatefan990]

Here's an unusual one on southbound I-580 in Nevada, through the Washoe Valley between Reno and Carson City, where trucks, RVs, buses and vehicles with trailers over 9 feet in height must use the left lane when indicated by the flashing lights.  That's because there can be strong downslope winds coming off the Carson Range just to the west, and the presumption is that the winds would tend to cause tall vehicles to veer to the left, or into the center divider, rather than into the left lane if they were traveling in the right lane.  On the northbound side the flashing lights direct those vehicles into the right lane only.

https://goo.gl/maps/DDTxHWdQVLXnRYYd6

In many cases when the winds are strong, tall vehicles are banned from that stretch of I-580 entirely and are routed over to Alternate US 395.

That actually could be seen as a little unfair. Many average drivers will ignore or miss that sign and get angry with truckers for using the left lane, when they don't understand that they are required to at that moment. The truckers have to choose between following the law or not causing irritation or even road rage.

[sprjus4]

^ The same is true in those work zones that say trucks use the left lane. IMO, lazy on the DOT's part because if the problem is shifting lanes and the shoulder is weaker, simply harden the shoulder before shifting and problem solved. That's what they do in Virginia.

[andrepoiy]

Seems like most Ontario freeways prohibit trucks in the very left lane if there are more than 2 lanes.

Although I don't really pay attention that much, so idk if that's the case in rural areas, and idk if it's true when there are left exits.

[Road Hog]

Texas in select 3-lane sections does ban truck traffic in the left lane. In rural sections I don't think it matters much unless you're one of those Euro Yankee types who abhor passing on the right.

[CtrlAltDel]

On 3-lane in 1 direction Georgia freeways, trucks can't use the left lane.

They also put a sign on pretty much every overcrossing bridge, if I'm not mistaken, like so:

[Ned Weasel]

That actually could be seen as a little unfair. Many average drivers will ignore or miss that sign and get angry with truckers for using the left lane, when they don't understand that they are required to at that moment. The truckers have to choose between following the law or not causing irritation or even road rage.

Look, nobody causes road rage except the person engaging in road rage.  If a person is upset with another driver's behavior, it's that person's choice to either be a patient, safe driver or someone who flips their shit on a whim.  People who engage in road rage are responsible for their own actions; drivers whose behavior might annoy them, especially when doing so in accordance with the law, are not.

This shouldn't even have to be said, but here we are.