Texas Railroad Crossing Laws
Texas plays it federal. Placarded hazmat and passenger buses stop at every crossing, 15 to 50 feet from the nearest rail (49 CFR 392.10; Tex. Transp. Code § 545.253). Your dry van slows, looks, and stays ready to stop (392.11). Once you stop, cross without shifting gears. A grade-crossing stop violation is a misdemeanor, a fine up to $200. The FMCSA CDL disqualification stacks on top: 60 days, then 120, then a year.
A detail here is flagged medium confidence — confirm with the state DMV or the FMCSA rule before you rely on it.
How Texas handles grade crossings
Texas plays it federal. Placarded hazmat and passenger buses stop at every crossing, 15 to 50 feet from the nearest rail (49 CFR 392.10; Tex. Transp. Code § 545.253). Your dry van slows, looks, and stays ready to stop (392.11). Once you stop, cross without shifting gears. A grade-crossing stop violation is a misdemeanor, a fine up to $200. The FMCSA CDL disqualification stacks on top: 60 days, then 120, then a year.
Who stops, how far, and the CDL risk
- Who must stop: Placarded + buses
- Stop distance: Not less than 15 feet and not more than 50 feet from the nearest rail — the federal window (49 CFR 392.10), and the same figures Texas sets for buses that must stop (Tex. Transp. Code § 545.253).
- Clearance rule: Never roll onto the tracks without room to clear the far side completely, and do not stop on the crossing. Texas spells out the gear rule for buses: after you stop, proceed without manually shifting gears while crossing (Tex. Transp. Code § 545.253). Pick a gear that finishes the crossing in one pull, and obey gates, flashing lights, and any flagger.
- Fine & CDL disqualification: A grade-crossing stop violation is a traffic misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $200 (Tex. Transp. Code §§ 545.251, 545.253, 542.401). Driving around a lowered gate is a separate offense. On top of any state fine, FMCSA disqualifies your CDL at least 60 days for a first grade-crossing offense, 120 days for a second within 3 years, and 1 year for a third (49 CFR 383.51).
Texas Railroad Crossing FAQ
Which trucks must stop at railroad crossings in Texas?
How far from the tracks do I stop in Texas?
What is the clearance rule at a Texas crossing?
What does a railroad crossing violation cost in Texas?
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 Traffic laws change and this can be out of date, so always confirm the current statute and obey posted signs before you rely on it.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://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.545.htm. See our Terms & Disclaimer.
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