Pennsylvania Railroad Crossing Laws
Pennsylvania names the vehicles that stop: school buses loaded or empty, trucks hauling gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, explosives, or radioactive material, every bus transporting passengers, and any vehicle listed in 49 CFR 392.10 (75 Pa.C.S. §3342). Stop 15 to 50 feet from the nearest rail and switch on your hazard lights. Cross in one gear. That violation runs $200 to $500. The CDL disqualification (60/120/365 days, 49 CFR 383.51) stacks on top.
How Pennsylvania handles grade crossings
Pennsylvania names the vehicles that stop: school buses loaded or empty, trucks hauling gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, explosives, or radioactive material, every bus transporting passengers, and any vehicle listed in 49 CFR 392.10 (75 Pa.C.S. §3342). Stop 15 to 50 feet from the nearest rail and switch on your hazard lights. Cross in one gear. That violation runs $200 to $500. The CDL disqualification (60/120/365 days, 49 CFR 383.51) stacks on top.
Who stops, how far, and the CDL risk
- Who must stop: Placarded + buses
- Stop distance: Not less than 15 feet, not more than 50 feet from the nearest rail (49 CFR 392.10; 75 Pa.C.S. §3342 matches it). Switch on your hazard lights while stopped.
- Clearance rule: Do not enter a crossing unless the far side is open and you can drive completely across without stopping; getting boxed in on the rails is a top-cited, disqualifying violation (49 CFR 392.11, 383.51). Cross in one low gear and never shift while any part of the rig is on the tracks (75 Pa.C.S. §3342 bars a gear change on the crossing). Heed low-ground-clearance signs so a lowboy or step-deck does not high-center.
- Fine & CDL disqualification: A summary offense. The who-must-stop and hazard-light provisions carry a $200 to $500 fine (75 Pa.C.S. §3342); other subsections run $100 to $150. Add the FMCSA CDL disqualification (49 CFR 383.51): at least 60 days, then 120 days for a second within 3 years, then 1 year for a third.
Pennsylvania Railroad Crossing FAQ
Which trucks must stop at railroad crossings in Pennsylvania?
How far from the tracks do I stop in Pennsylvania?
What is the clearance rule at a Pennsylvania crossing?
What does a railroad crossing violation cost in Pennsylvania?
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 Traffic laws change and this can be out of date, so always confirm the current statute and obey posted signs before you rely on it.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://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?txtType=HTM&ttl=75&div=00.&chapter=033.§ion=042.&subsctn=000.. See our Terms & Disclaimer.
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