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Federal Lighting Requirements and Locations

Federal Lighting Equipment Location Requirements

Direct from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration     www.nhtsa.gov

IMPORTANT NOTE: Every lamp, reflex reflector, and conspicuity treatment (device) must be permanently attached in the location specified below and must comply with all applicable requirements prescribed for it by FMVSS/CMVSS 108. The face of any device on the front/rear and sides should be, respectively perpendicular and parallel to vehicle centerline, unless it is photometrically certified at installation angle. No part of the vehicle shall prevent an device from meeting its prescribed requirements unless an auxiliary device meeting all prescribed requirements is installed.

*Photometrically certified at installation angle

Basic Equipment Required On All Trailers Under 80’’ Wide

Description

Mandatory Requirements

Area

Equipment

SAE Lens Coding

Functional Purpose

Quantity

Color

Location

Height from the ground (in.)

1

Tail Lamps

(T)

Indicates vehicle presence & width

Minimum 2

Red

On rear- symmetrical-as far apart as practicable

15’’-72’’

1

Stop Lamps

(S)

Indicates braking

Minimum 2

Red

On rear- symmetrical-as far apart as practicable

15’’-72’’

1

Rear Turn Signal Lamps

(I)

Indicates direction of turn

Minimum 2

Red or Yellow

On rear- symmetrical-as far apart as practicable

15’’-83’’

1

Rear Reflex Reflectors

(A)

Indicates vehicle presence & width

Minimum 2

Red

On rear-symmetrical-as far apart as practicable-facing rearward

15’’-60’’

2

License Plate Lamp(s)

(L)

Illuminates license plate

Minimum 1

White

On rear-above or at the sides of license plate

N/A

3

Rear Side Marker Lamps

(P2, PC* or P3*)

Indicates vehicle presence & width

Minimum 2

Red

Each side at rear – as far back as practicable

15’’-60’’ max

3

Rear Side Reflex Reflectors

(A)

Indicates vehicle presence & width

Minimum 2

Red

Each side at rear – as far back as practicable-facing sideward

15’’-60’’

4a

Front Side Marker Lamps

(P2, PC* or P3, PC2*)

Indicates vehicle presence & width

Minimum 2

Yellow

Each side at front – as far back as practicable

15’’ minimum

4b

Front Side Reflex Reflectors

(A)

Indicates vehicle presence & width

Minimum 2

Yellow

Each side at front– as far back as practicable-facing sideward

15’’-60’’

 

ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENTFOR TRAILERS EXCEEDING THE FOLLOWING PARAMETERS

Length 30ft or Longer

Description

Mandatory Requirements

Area

Equipment

SAE Lens Coding

Functional

Purpose

Quantity

Color

Location

Height from the ground (in.)

5a

Intermediate Side Marker Lamps

(P2 or P3)

Indicate presence of long vehicle

Minimum   2

Yellow

Each side near center-facing sideward

15’’ minimum

5b

Intermediate Side Reflex Reflectors

(A)

Indicate presence of long vehicle

Minimum   2

Yellow

Each side near center-facing sideward

15’’-60’’

 

 

Basic Equipment Required On All Trailers Over 80’’ Wide

Description

Mandatory Requirements

Area

Equipment

SAE Lens Coding

Functional

Purpose

Quantity

Color

Location

Height from the ground (in.)

6

Rear Clearance Lamps

(P2, PC* or P3, PC2*)

Show’s vehicles width-MAY NOT be combined with tail lamps

Minimum  2

Red

At widest point-symmetrical-on the rear or near the rear-facing rearward

As high as practical-lower only if ID lamps are at the top

7

Rear Identification Lamps

(P2 or P3)

Indicate presence of wide vehicle

Exactly 3

Red

On the rear-center, facing rearward-horizontally spaced 6’’ to 12’’ apart

As high as practicable

8

Front Clearance Lamps

(P2, PC* or P3, PC2*)

Show vehicle’s width

Minimum   2

Yellow

At widest point-symmetrical-as far forward as practicable-facing forward

As high as practicable

 

 

Basic Equipment Required On All Trailers Over 80’’ Wide and GVWR 10,000 lbs. or Greater

Description

Mandatory Requirements

Area

Equipment

DOT Coding

Quantity

Color

Location

Height from the ground (in.)

9

Rear Upper Body Marking

DOT-C, DOT-C2, DOT-C3, or DOT-C4

Exactly 2 pairs of 300mm long strips

White

On the rear upper corners-facing rearward

At the top

10

Bumper Bar Marking

DOT-C, DOT-C2, DOT-C3, or DOT-C4

Continuous

Red / White

On the rear bumper bar’s horizontal element-full-width-facing rearward

No Requirement

11

Rear Lower Body Marking

DOT-C, DOT-C2, DOT-C3, or DOT-C4

Continuous

Red / White

See options

On the rear-full width of the vehicle-facing rearward

As horizontal as practicable and as close as practicable to the range of 375 to 1525 mm from the ground

12

Side Marking

DOT-C, DOT-C2, DOT-C3, or DOT-C4

See Location

Red / White

See options below

On rear-symmetrical-as far apart as practicable-facing rearward

As horizontal as practicable and as close as practicable to the range of 375 to 1525 mm from the ground

OPTIONS: Reflex reflectors may not be required if they are replaced, in their required location, with conspicuity treatment. Rear lower body and side conspicuity treatment may also be solid white, solid yellow, or white and yellow

 

 

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