Commercial vehicles, railroad crossings and work zones

Key points

1. Passing a commercial vehicle takes three to five seconds longer than passing a car.

   Source: Handbook p. 51

   “It takes three to five seconds longer to pass a commercial vehicle than a car.”
   Minnesota Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 51

2. A car at 55 mph can stop within 130 to 140 feet, but a loaded tractor trailer may need more than 400 feet.

   Source: Handbook p. 52

   “An average passenger car traveling at 55 mph can stop within 130 to 140 feet. A fully loaded tractor-trailer may need more than 400 feet to stop completely.”
   Minnesota Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 52

3. Truck drivers may not see up to 20 feet in front of the cab or up to 200 feet behind.

   Source: Handbook p. 52

   “Some truck drivers may not be able to see up to 20 feet in front of the cab, on either side of the trailer, and up to 200 feet to the rear.”
   Minnesota Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 52

4. When crossing signals activate, stop at least 10 feet from the nearest rail or gate.

   Source: Handbook p. 53

   “Stop your vehicle at least 10 feet from the nearest rail or gate.”
   Minnesota Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 53

5. It is illegal to pass any vehicle within 100 feet of a railroad crossing.

   Source: Handbook p. 53

   “It is illegal to pass any vehicle within 100 feet of a railroad crossing.”
   Minnesota Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 53

6. Speeding in a work zone adds a $300 fine to the regular ticket.

   Source: Handbook p. 54

   “Fines for speeding in work zones are $300 in addition to the regular speeding ticket.”
   Minnesota Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 54

7. In a zipper merge, stay in your lane to the merge point and take turns.

   Source: Handbook p. 54

   “stay in your current lane until the point of merge. Take turns with other drivers to safely and smoothly merge into the remaining lane.”
   Minnesota Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 54

8. The zipper merge cuts backups by up to 40 percent.

   Source: Handbook p. 55

   “Reduces the overall length of traffic backups by up to 40 percent.”
   Minnesota Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 55

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Minnesota practice test

1. 1. How far does an average car at 55 mph need to stop compared with a loaded tractor trailer, according to the Minnesota manual?

   1. 50 feet and 100 feet
   2. 400 feet for both
   3. 1,000 feet for the truck and 500 for the car
   4. 130 to 140 feet for the car and more than 400 feet for the truck
   Show answer

   130 to 140 feet for the car and more than 400 feet for the truck. An average passenger car traveling at 55 mph can stop within 130 to 140 feet, while a fully loaded tractor trailer may need more than 400 feet to stop completely. Following a commercial vehicle too closely also hides the road ahead, so leave extra room, never cut in front of a truck, and allow for speed limiters and other operating restrictions trucks face.

2. 2. What is the additional fine for speeding in a Minnesota work zone?

   1. $1,000 instead of any regular speeding ticket
   2. $50 in addition to the regular speeding ticket
   3. $300 in addition to the regular speeding ticket
   4. No additional fine when workers are not visible
   Show answer

   $300 in addition to the regular speeding ticket. Minnesota adds a $300 fine to the regular speeding ticket when a driver disobeys the speed limit in a work zone. The extra penalty applies because workers and equipment may be close to moving traffic, even when a worker is not immediately visible. The $50 and $1,000 figures are not the stated work-zone addition, and the absence of visible workers does not remove the obligation to obey the posted limit. The cue is the work-zone setting and its signs: slow down, watch for altered lanes, and follow the posted restriction throughout the zone.

3. 3. By how much does the zipper merge reduce traffic backups, according to the Minnesota manual?

   1. Up to 40 percent
   2. About 5 percent
   3. It lengthens backups
   4. About 90 percent
   Show answer

   Up to 40 percent. The zipper merge, using both lanes until the merge point and then alternating, reduces the overall length of traffic backups by up to 40 percent, reduces speed differences between lanes, eases congestion at interchanges, improves worker safety in construction zones, and reduces road rage by creating a sense of fairness. Merging early leaves usable road empty and slows everyone behind you.

Source: the Minnesota Driver's Manual, Chapter 4: Sharing the road. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.