Lane Indicator Signs for Goods Vehicles

Cargo vehicles in this context are mainly cargo-type vehicles that are 65ft long or more. They are also the most common type of cargo vehicle on US highways. With their high loads, high centres of gravity, long bodies, low speeds and difficult manoeuvrability, coupled with the potential for over-width, over-height and over-weight operations, these cargo vehicles have a significant impact on the safety of highway operations. Basically, the United States uses a permit system for the operation of cargo vehicles. There are clear regulations on the geometric dimensions, number of axles, and cargo carried by cargo vehicles. Drivers of goods vehicles are also professional drivers who have been screened through a strict assessment system. At the same time, to drive a truck, especially an overloaded truck, you must register with the road authority in advance and obtain permission to drive the route. Warning signs must be displayed on overloaded vehicles to ensure traffic safety. In addition to this, special lanes, special service facilities, special traffic control facilities, and even special roads are set up for goods vehicles in order to ensure traffic safety and minimise friction between goods vehicles and other traffic. For example, at the U.S.-Mexico International Crossing, special facilities for goods vehicles are used for customs clearance of goods vehicles. Here we will mainly look at the signage system related to cargo vehicles in the United States.

The signage system for goods vehicles is mainly used for wayfinding for goods vehicles, special service facilities for goods vehicles, climbing lanes and refuge lanes for goods vehicles, as well as height limit, weight limit and lane indication signs. Since ordinary highway standards may not always be able to adapt to the driving of goods vehicles, it is necessary to consider special service facilities and signage systems for goods vehicles. For example, there are special signage systems for refuelling, parking and repair of goods vehicles and catering services for drivers of goods vehicles.

In the Motor Vehicle Control Act of the United States, it is expressly stated that goods vehicles can only use the rightmost lane. Only when overtaking can you use the second right-hand lane. On motorways, signs indicating the lanes for goods vehicles are often seen to remind drivers of goods vehicles, including all kinds of trailers, that they should not occupy the inside lane for a long time. For a 4-lane motorway, there is no doubt that such prohibition signs will reduce the safety impact of goods vehicles on the entire road facility, which is very beneficial for efficient operations. Of course, such traffic regulations can also lead directly to accelerated damage to the right-hand lane, for example, the right-hand lane is generally significantly worse than the left-hand lane in terms of pavement smoothness. This is sort of a side effect of driving on the right side of the road for goods vehicles.

However, when approaching a city, the requirement for goods vehicles to drive on the right-hand side of the motorway is likely to make it necessary for transit goods vehicles to change lanes frequently because of the increase in the total number of lanes on the main line of the motorway and the addition or deletion of auxiliary lanes. Therefore, in such cases, goods vehicles should be allowed to use the inside lane. This requires clear signs indicating the lanes for trucks to tell truck drivers which sections of the roadway can be used as inside lanes and which sections of the roadway cannot be used. This type of Lorry Lane Indicator Sign. The sign uses the rectangular design of a prohibition sign, with a white background, black lettering, and a black arrow. The black arrow is directed to the centre of the inside lane that can be used by trucks. In system interchanges, frequent lane changes on the mainline, mainline bifurcations, etc., this type of lane indication sign is required to avoid making drivers of goods vehicles break the law.