Michigan Truck Lane Restrictions

Which lanes a truck can use in Michigan

Michigan holds heavy trucks to the right. If your truck is over 10,000 pounds, or you're pulling a trailer or semi, you have to stay in the two right lanes (MCL 257.634). That rule sticks even on a freeway with three or more lanes each way. Cars can use any lane there; you can't. You get out of the right two lanes only for a short stretch to turn left or to clear a hazard. It's a civil infraction, roughly $130 plus costs.

Roads, exceptions, and signs

• Where it applies: All freeways and multi-lane roads statewide. On a 3+ lane freeway, regular cars may use any lane, but a heavy truck is still confined to the right two lanes.
• Statutory. Not dependent on a posted sign.
• General rule: MCL 257.634 also puts all traffic in the extreme right lane on multi-lane roads. That general keep-right rule is lifted for cars on a freeway with three or more lanes each way, but the two-right-lanes rule for heavy trucks is not.
• The truck sentence is often cited as 257.634(3). The 3-or-more-lane freeway clause frees regular vehicles from the extreme-right-lane rule, but the heavy-truck restriction to the right two lanes overrides it and still applies. Verified against the statute and a plain-language explainer.

What a lane violation costs

Civil infraction. The scheduled fine sits around $130; with court costs and the state assessment the total is usually about $150 to $200, and it varies by district court.

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