Minnesota Truck Lane Restrictions

Which lanes a truck can use in Minnesota

Minnesota does not pull trucks out of the left lane by weight. You run under the general rules in Minn. Stat. 169.18: drive on the right half, keep right when you are slower than traffic, and move out of the leftmost lane so faster vehicles can pass (subd. 10). No truck carve-out and no Twin Cities truck-lane ban. A violation is a petty misdemeanor, no jail, up to $300. Use the left lane to pass and get back over.

Roads, exceptions, and signs

• Where it applies: All roadways statewide. No truck-only corridor and no Twin Cities freeway truck-lane ban. I-94, I-35, and I-90 carry no left-lane truck restriction.
• General rule: Minn. Stat. 169.18, subd. 10 (slower vehicles keep right and move from the leftmost lane to allow passing), with subd. 1 (keep to the right half) and subd. 7 (three-lane roads).
• Section 169.18 has truck language only for following distance (subd. 8, 500-foot gap for trucks outside business/residence districts), not for lane use. No truck left-lane carve-out.

What a lane violation costs

Petty misdemeanor. No jail; fine up to $300, plus the state surcharge and court costs. Typical payable amount is well under the max.

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