Am I breaking any laws by not moving left?I was driving my motorhome through the construction zone cattle chutes this morning when I saw the sign: "Trucks and Buses Left Lane Only". Since the exit was in a few miles anyway, I stayed in the right lane because, in heavy bumper-to-bumper traffic, it is tough moving from the left lane. My motorhome is not registered as a truck nor a bus, but it is just as big. Has anyone got nabbed for staying right?

This is an 11yr old thread so he's probably chose a lane by now.Of course, it's equally true that if they wanted you in the right lane, they wouldn't put up a sign saying trucks in the left lane.If a ticket would stick is a different question but working in the industry, there is no question the intent is for trucks (and not only commercial trucks) to stay in the left lane. Usually, it is because the shoulder pavement is thinner and they don't want heavy trucks tearing it up, though if you are in it to take the next exit, no one is likely to hassle you over.

I used to be a traffic engineer for the state of Michigan. The posted height clearance sign is the lowest clearance for any drivable area (including shoulders). General rule during construction was if you couldn't accommodate non-oversize trucks, you don't open the lane to traffic. Usually not an issue because milling pavement or otherwise tearing it up would lower the driving surface increasing the clearance.Honestly, your aircon was not a big concern. It's not going to damage the bridge. A big track mounted backhoe hitting the bridge at 70mph is a big deal. I've dealt with a few of these type situations (signed properly but the backhoe arm and dump truck bucket wasn't all the way down). When they tear thru a bridge beam or two, everything stops and it's an emergency. It's also several million dollar bill for the truck's insurance company.

If you are preparing to turn right you should be in the right lane regardless of what you are driving.

It is the size and weight they are worried about. Sometimes the shoulder of the road is not as heavy duty.

The posting for "Trucks or Buses Left Lane Only" can be for many reasons. It's generally because there's road construction. The right lane may be too narrow to accommodate wide vehicles. Or it could be slanted or doesn't have a base strong enough to support heavy vehicles like trucks or busses. As previously mentioned I would drive in the left lane when asked to unless you are exiting to the right. I don't know if you're breaking the law, but it's most likely the left lane is more conducive to large heavy vehicles.

Trucks or Buses Left Lane Only. Does that mean me?

39 Replies

Scottiemom
Nomad
Jul 06, 2025
I have noticed that in construction lanes, those designated for trucks and buses generally have a little more "wiggle room" and often don't have the ruts that tend to throw off the balance of the rig. So generally, I would select those lanes. Now that I drive a smaller, B+, I normally leave those lanes for the big boys.
StrayTrons
Explorer
Jul 05, 2025
Generally speaking, RV's are not considered a Truck or Bus. However, in some cases there are truck and bus restrictions that could apply to RV's due to height, weight, or HAZ-MAT issues. Know your RV specifications, especially overall height (remember to account for any airbag lift) and GVRW for overpasses and bridges. In NJ there are sections of the GSP and PSP that do allow RV's, but you must stay in the CENTER LANE because the overpass curves down on the outer lanes to around 11' or 10' in some places. On some farm roads, the RV may be to heavy for some bridges, especially if it's a 3-axle bus chassis frame RV (aka Skoolie). Remember to account for your onboard water (all three tanks) as you have 8.35 pounds per gallon. 100 gal fresh, 75 black and 75 gray is 2,085 pounds. Make sure your GVRW calculations account for all three tanks as full, so you are able to accuratly calculate all the est of the things you have with you. Remember to add your passengers weight as well. I recently worked an RV accident that was over GVRW because they had lots of stuff with them, full water tanks, added three 12V 100AH AGM batteries to the single 12V 100AH house battery housing on the front frame, and the driver and all six passengers were over 250 lbs. Granted they were over by only about 1,800 lbs, but over GVRW is over GVRW. Especially when your insurance agent gets involved.

If you are close to GVRW, leave your fresh water tank empty (your gray and black should be empty when traveling anyway) and save that 900 pounds as your safety buffer.
The_Texan
Explorer
Apr 13, 2014
Daveinet wrote:
bigred1cav wrote:
A Motorhome is built on a truck frame, it is a truck. How silly is your argument that you can't turn right from the left lane. Make your lane change and turn right. The traffic direction say drive in this or that lane not turn across traffic.

In my precinct your life and driving if it is a indicated would have put you and your MH in jail. I had zero tolerance for those thinking laws were for the other fellow. Drive in wrong lane, get a citation, mouth off, go to jail and have MH impounded.
Wow, I have great concern for a cop that would have that kind of attitude. You have been made aware of a Supreme Court ruling, yet you have stated that your would ignore that Supreme Court ruling and choose to interpret the law in the way that you see fit. I guess I would have hoped that our law enforcement officers had better integrity than that.
Please provide a LINK to this supposed SCOTUS "ruling". 28½ years enforcing the law, I never heard of such a cite. Parking cite from Euclid OH yes, but nothing that would define an RV as a particular vehicle for the road.
Daveinet
Explorer
Apr 13, 2014
bigred1cav wrote:
A Motorhome is built on a truck frame, it is a truck. How silly is your argument that you can't turn right from the left lane. Make your lane change and turn right. The traffic direction say drive in this or that lane not turn across traffic.

In my precinct your life and driving if it is a indicated would have put you and your MH in jail. I had zero tolerance for those thinking laws were for the other fellow. Drive in wrong lane, get a citation, mouth off, go to jail and have MH impounded.
Wow, I have great concern for a cop that would have that kind of attitude. You have been made aware of a Supreme Court ruling, yet you have stated that your would ignore that Supreme Court ruling and choose to interpret the law in the way that you see fit. I guess I would have hoped that our law enforcement officers had better integrity than that.
The_Texan
Explorer
Apr 13, 2014
bigred1cav wrote:
A Motorhome is built on a truck frame, it is a truck. How silly is your argument that you can't turn right from the left lane. Make your lane change and turn right. The traffic direction say drive in this or that lane not turn across traffic.

In my precinct your life and driving if it is a indicated would have put you and your MH in jail. I had zero tolerance for those thinking laws were for the other fellow. Drive in wrong lane, get a citation, mouth off, go to jail and have MH impounded.

MRUSA wrote:
bigred1cav wrote:
Why is this an issue. You are driving a truck, go with the trucks.

Wrong. That's the whole point. A motorhome is NOT a truck.

In addition, truck or not, you are not expected to make a right turn from the left lane. If you need to exit right, you should be in the right lane comfortably before the exit.
Usually bigred1cav and I agree to disagree, but not on this topic. You are driving a vehicle that is NOT a car, so figure it out for yourself. I too, would have stopped someone in this situation, if for nothing else than to try and educate him on what he was doing wrong. If he elected to take it downhill from there, then the stop may have taken on a whole new scenario. Common sense behind the wheel is what it is about, NOT your bravado.
- WorldTravelers
  Explorer
  May 17, 2025
  If you were not allowed in the right lane the sign would have said, automobiles only-right lane.
  - valhalla360
    Navigator
    May 17, 2025
    This is an 11yr old thread so he's probably chose a lane by now.
    Of course, it's equally true that if they wanted you in the right lane, they wouldn't put up a sign saying trucks in the left lane.
    If a ticket would stick is a different question but working in the industry, there is no question the intent is for trucks (and not only commercial trucks) to stay in the left lane. Usually, it is because the shoulder pavement is thinner and they don't want heavy trucks tearing it up, though if you are in it to take the next exit, no one is likely to hassle you over.
bigred1cav
Explorer
Apr 13, 2014
A Motorhome is built on a truck frame, it is a truck. How silly is your argument that you can't turn right from the left lane. Make your lane change and turn right. The traffic direction say drive in this or that lane not turn across traffic.

In my precinct your life and driving if it is a indicated would have put you and your MH in jail. I had zero tolerance for those thinking laws were for the other fellow. Drive in wrong lane, get a citation, mouth off, go to jail and have MH impounded.

MRUSA wrote:
bigred1cav wrote:
Why is this an issue. You are driving a truck, go with the trucks.

Wrong. That's the whole point. A motorhome is NOT a truck.

In addition, truck or not, you are not expected to make a right turn from the left lane. If you need to exit right, you should be in the right lane comfortably before the exit.
azpete
Explorer
Apr 13, 2014
what ever happened to common sense. use the left lane as needed. get in the right lane when appropriate, whether its the left or right.
safety should be your first concern. motorhomes are not considered trucks. however following truck rules for safety is not a bad idea.
having driven over almost all the major highways , 4 lane and two, in the lower 48 states, in various size vehicles,, ive found common sense, courtesy, and restraint using the middle finger has resulted in no accidents of any magnitude. hopefully the second million will be the same uneventful experience.
the_silverback
Explorer
Apr 13, 2014
Yes!!
MRUSA
Explorer
Apr 12, 2014
bigred1cav wrote:
Why is this an issue. You are driving a truck, go with the trucks.

Wrong. That's the whole point. A motorhome is NOT a truck.

In addition, truck or not, you are not expected to make a right turn from the left lane. If you need to exit right, you should be in the right lane comfortably before the exit.
bigred1cav
Explorer
Apr 12, 2014
Why is this an issue. You are driving a truck, go with the trucks.