Railroad Crossing Procedures for Commercial Vehicles: Rules and Safety

Mandatory Stop Requirements at Railroad Crossings

Federal and state regulations require certain commercial vehicles to stop at all railroad crossings regardless of whether a train is approaching. Vehicles that must stop include buses carrying passengers, vehicles carrying hazardous materials requiring placarding, and cargo tank vehicles (whether loaded or empty). The stop must occur within 15 to 50 feet of the nearest rail and the driver must look and listen in both directions before proceeding.

The stop procedure requires coming to a complete stop (not a rolling pause), opening the window or door to listen for approaching trains, looking in both directions along the tracks, and proceeding only when you have confirmed no train is approaching. Do not shift gears while crossing the tracks. Select a gear that will carry you completely across the crossing without needing to shift, and maintain steady speed through the crossing.

Exemptions from the mandatory stop exist at certain crossings. Crossings marked with an Exempt sign (a round white sign with the word EXEMPT below it) do not require the mandatory stop for commercial vehicles. However, the driver must still slow down, look, and listen before crossing. Exempt crossings are typically low-traffic rail lines where train frequency is very low, but trains can still appear at any time.

Safe Railroad Crossing Procedures for All Trucks

Even if your truck is not required to make a mandatory stop, every railroad crossing demands attention and caution. A fully loaded freight train traveling at 55 mph needs approximately 1 mile (5,280 feet) to stop. From the time an engineer sees an obstruction to full stop is 1 to 2 minutes. Once the train is visible, there is no possibility of it stopping in time to avoid a collision with a vehicle on the tracks.

Approach every crossing prepared to stop. Reduce speed, check mirrors for following vehicles that may not expect you to slow down, look both directions along the tracks, and proceed only when the crossing is clear. Never race a train to the crossing. The optical illusion of distance and speed makes trains appear farther away and slower than they are.

Never stop on the tracks. Ensure there is adequate space on the other side of the crossing for your entire vehicle (truck and trailer) before entering the crossing. In traffic, do not follow the vehicle ahead onto the tracks unless you can clear completely. Getting trapped on the tracks by traffic congestion is a common cause of train-vehicle collisions.

Check track clearance for low-ground-clearance equipment. Lowboy trailers, car haulers with low ramps, and some construction equipment trailers can get stuck on raised railroad crossings where the road surface humps over the tracks. Know your vehicle's ground clearance and identify crossings that present a high-center risk. Some crossings have phone numbers posted to call the railroad if your vehicle becomes stuck.

Responding to Railroad Crossing Signals and Gates

When flashing red lights activate at a railroad crossing, stop and wait until the lights stop flashing, the gate rises, and you can see that no trains are approaching from either direction. Do not proceed when the lights are flashing even if you do not see a train. Double-track crossings may have a second train approaching from the other direction immediately behind the first.

If crossing gates are descending, do not attempt to drive around them. Gate systems are timed to provide adequate warning, and attempting to beat the gate puts you on the tracks with a train approaching at potentially 60+ mph. The gate may also lower a second time if a second train is coming on another track.

If crossing gates are down but no train is visible, wait. Gate malfunctions can hold gates down after a train has passed, but the gate may also be down because a train is approaching from a direction you cannot see. Wait a reasonable time (2 to 3 minutes), and if no train appears and other traffic begins crossing, proceed cautiously. Report the malfunctioning gate to the railroad using the phone number on the blue Emergency Notification System sign at the crossing.

Passive crossings (crossbuck sign only, no lights or gates) require the same caution as active crossings. Look and listen in both directions, at night use your headlights to look for the reflected light of approaching trains, and proceed only when you are certain no train is coming. Passive crossings are more dangerous than active crossings because there is no automated warning of an approaching train.

What to Do If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck on the Tracks

If your truck stalls or gets stuck on railroad tracks, you have seconds to act. Get out of the vehicle immediately. Do not try to restart the engine or free the vehicle. Move away from the tracks at a 45-degree angle toward the approaching train. This angle takes you away from the impact zone where your vehicle will be thrown if hit.

Call 911 and the emergency number posted on the blue Emergency Notification System (ENS) sign at the crossing. Every crossing with an ENS sign has a unique identifier number (DOT crossing number) that allows the railroad to identify the exact crossing and notify trains in the area. Provide the crossing location, the ENS number, and confirm that a vehicle is on the tracks.

If a train is approaching and you cannot exit the vehicle in time, move to the far side of the vehicle away from the approaching train and get down as low as possible. The impact will push the vehicle in the train's direction of travel, so being on the far side puts the vehicle between you and the initial impact force.

Never return to the vehicle on the tracks to retrieve personal items, paperwork, or cargo. Your life is infinitely more valuable than anything in the truck. Trains are quieter than most people expect, and a train that seemed far away when you left the vehicle may arrive in seconds.

Special Railroad Crossing Rules for Hazmat Vehicles

Placarded hazmat vehicles must stop at every railroad crossing (except those marked Exempt) regardless of whether signals are present or activated. This requirement exists because a hazmat vehicle struck by a train creates a catastrophic environmental and safety disaster that goes far beyond a standard vehicle collision.

The stop procedure for hazmat vehicles includes stopping within 15 to 50 feet of the nearest rail, turning off any noisy equipment (radio, fan, engine accessories) to listen for trains, opening the window or opening the door if windows do not provide adequate hearing, looking in both directions along the tracks, and proceeding across only when certain no train is approaching.

Select a gear before crossing that will carry you completely across without shifting. Shifting gears on the tracks risks stalling or bogging down the engine, leaving you stranded in the worst possible location. A single gear that provides steady momentum across the crossing is essential.

Document your railroad crossing stops in your trip log or ELD notes. In the event of an incident or compliance audit, having a record of your crossing procedures demonstrates compliance with federal regulations. Some carriers equip hazmat vehicles with dashcams that document crossing stops for compliance verification.

Hazmat drivers should know the emergency response procedures for their specific cargo in the event of a railroad collision. The Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) provides initial response guidance for hazmat spills and releases. Carry the current ERG in your vehicle and know the guide number for your placard class.