Missouri Truck Following Distance
300 feet. Behind another truck or bus, on a public highway outside a business or residential district, you can't follow within 300 feet, except when passing (RSMo 304.044). It says nothing about following a car or driving in town; there the general reasonably-safe-and-prudent rule governs (RSMo 304.017), a Class C misdemeanor. That general statute is what the Highway Patrol writes for tailgating; the 300-foot truck line is rarely the charge.
How much room Missouri makes you keep
300 feet. Behind another truck or bus, on a public highway outside a business or residential district, you can't follow within 300 feet, except when passing (RSMo 304.044). It says nothing about following a car or driving in town; there the general reasonably-safe-and-prudent rule governs (RSMo 304.017), a Class C misdemeanor. That general statute is what the Highway Patrol writes for tailgating; the 300-foot truck line is rarely the charge.
The required distance
- Rule: Fixed truck gap
- Gap: 300 feet behind another truck or bus, on a public highway outside a business or residential district, except when passing
- Fine: General following-too-closely (304.017) is a Class C misdemeanor; the 304.044 truck-distance violation is also a Class C misdemeanor (typically a fine plus 2 points).
Missouri Following Distance FAQ
How much following distance must a truck keep in Missouri?
What is the required gap in Missouri?
What is the following-too-closely fine in Missouri?
Reference information for planning, not legal advice. Traffic laws change and this can be out of date, so always confirm the current statute and obey posted signs before you rely on it. Last reviewed July 2026. Source: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=304.044. See our Terms & Disclaimer.
More for Missouri
Check Missouri before you roll
Live weather, closures, and hazards on one map. Free, no account.
Open Live Map →