Code of Federal Regulations (alpha)

CFR /  Title 49  /  Part 393  /  Sec. 393.11 Lamps and reflective devices.

(a)(1) Lamps and reflex reflectors. Table 1 specifies the requirements for lamps, reflective devices and associated equipment by the type of commercial motor vehicle. The diagrams in this section illustrate the position of the lamps, reflective devices and associated equipment specified in Table 1. All commercial motor vehicles manufactured on or after December 25, 1968, must, at a minimum, meet the applicable requirements of 49 CFR 571.108 (FMVSS No. 108) in effect at the time of manufacture of the vehicle. Commercial motor vehicles manufactured before December 25, 1968, must, at a minimum, meet the requirements of subpart B of part 393 in effect at the time of manufacture.

(1) Lamps and reflex reflectors. Table 1 specifies the requirements for lamps, reflective devices and associated equipment by the type of commercial motor vehicle. The diagrams in this section illustrate the position of the lamps, reflective devices and associated equipment specified in Table 1. All commercial motor vehicles manufactured on or after December 25, 1968, must, at a minimum, meet the applicable requirements of 49 CFR 571.108 (FMVSS No. 108) in effect at the time of manufacture of the vehicle. Commercial motor vehicles manufactured before December 25, 1968, must, at a minimum, meet the requirements of subpart B of part 393 in effect at the time of manufacture.

(2) Exceptions: Pole trailers and trailer converter dollies must meet the part 393 requirements for lamps, reflective devices and electrical equipment in effect at the time of manufacture. Trailers which are equipped with conspicuity material which meets the requirements of Sec. 393.11(b) are not required to be equipped with the reflex reflectors listed in Table 1 if--

(i) The conspicuity material is placed at the locations where reflex reflectors are required by Table 1; and

(ii) The conspicuity material when installed on the motor vehicle meets the visibility requirements for the reflex reflectors.

(b) Conspicuity Systems. Each trailer of 2,032 mm (80 inches) or more overall width, and with a GVWR over 4,536 kg (10,000 pounds), manufactured on or after December 1, 1993, except pole trailers and trailers designed exclusively for living or office use, shall be equipped with either retroreflective sheeting that meets the requirements of FMVSS No. 108 (S5.7.1), reflex reflectors that meet the requirements FMVSS No. 108 (S5.7.2), or a combination of retroreflective sheeting and reflex reflectors that meet the requirements of FMVSS No. 108 (S5.7.3). The conspicuity system shall be installed and located as specified in FMVSS No. 108 [S5.7.1.4 (for retroreflective sheeting), S5.7.2.2 (for reflex reflectors), S5.7.3 (for a combination of sheeting and reflectors)] and have certification and markings as required by S5.7.1.5 (for retroreflective tape) and S5.7.2.3 (for reflex reflectors).

(c) Prohibition on the use of amber stop lamps and tail lamps. No commercial motor vehicle may be equipped with an amber stop lamp, a tail lamp, or other lamp which is optically combined with an amber stop lamp or tail lamp.

Table 1 of Sec. 393.11--Required Lamps and Reflectors on Commercial Motor Vehicles--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Height above the

road surface in

millimeters (mm)

(with English Vehicles for which

Item on the vehicle Quantity Color Location Position units in the devices are

parenthesis) required

measured from the

center of the lamp

at curb weight--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Headlamps....................... 2................. White............. Front............. On the front at Not less than 559 A, B, C

the same height, mm (22 inches)

with an equal nor more than

number at each 1,372 mm (54

side of the inches).

vertical center

line as far apart

as practicable.Turn signal (front). See 2................. Amber............. At or near the One on each side Not less than 381 A, B, C

footnotes 2 and 12. front. of the vertical mm (15 inches)

centerline at the nor more than

same height and 2,108 mm (83

as far apart as inches).

practicable.Identification lamps (front). 3................. Amber............. Front............. As close as All three on the B, C

See footnote 1. practicable to same level as

the top of the close as

vehicle, at the practicable to

same height, and the top of the

as close as motor vehicle.

practicable to

the vertical

centerline of the

vehicle (or the

vertical

centerline of the

cab where

different from

the centerline of

the vehicle) with

lamp centers

spaced not less

than 152 mm (6

inches) or more

than 305 mm (12

inches) apart.

Alternatively,

the front lamps

may be located as

close as

practicable to

the top of the

cab.Tail lamps. See footnotes 5 and 2................. Red............... Rear.............. One lamp on each Both on the same A, B, C, D, E, F,

11. side of the level between 381 G, H

vertical mm (15 inches)

centerline at the and 1,829 mm (72

same height and inches).

as far apart as

practicable.Stop lamps. See footnotes 5 and 2................. Red............... Rear.............. One lamp on each Both on the same A, B, C, D, E, F,

13. side of the level between 381 G

vertical mm (15 inches)

centerline at the and 1,829 mm (72

same height and inches).

as far apart as

practicable.

Clearance lamps. See footnotes 2................. Amber............. One on each side One on each side Both on the same B, C, D, G, H

8, 9, 10, 15 & 17. of the front of of the vertical level as high as

the vehicle. centerline to practicable.

indicate overall

width.

2................. Red............... One on each side One on each side Both on the same B, D, G, H

of the rear of of the vertical level as high as

the vehicle. centerline to practicable.

indicate overall

width.Reflex reflector, intermediate 2................. Amber............. One on each side.. At or near the Between 381 mm A, B, D, F, G

(side). midpoint between (15inches) and

the front and 1,524 (60 inches).

rear side marker

lamps, if the

length of the

vehicle is more

than 9,144 mm (30

feet).Reflex reflector (rear). See 2................. Red............... Rear.............. One on each side Both on the same A, B, C, D, E, F,

footnotes 5, 6, and 8. of the vertical level, between G

centerline, as 381 mm (15

far apart as inches) and 1,524

practicable and mm (60 inches).

at the same

height.Reflex reflector (rear side).... 2................. Red............... One on each side As far to the rear Both on the same A, B, D, F, G

(rear). as practicable. level, between

381 mm (15

inches) and 1,524

mm (60 inches).Reflex reflector (front side). 2................. Amber............. One on each side As far to the Between 381 mm (15 A, B, C, D, F, G

See footnote 16. (front). front as inches) and 1,524

practicable. mm (60 inches).License plate lamp (rear). See 1................. White............. At rear license No requirements... A, B, C, D, F, G

footnote 11. plate to

illuminate the

plate from the

top or sides.Side marker lamp (front). See 2................. Amber............. One on each side.. As far to the Not less than 381 A, B, C, D, F

footnote 16. front as mm (15 inches).

practicable.Side marker lamp intermediate... 2................. Amber............. One on each side.. At or near the Not less tan 381 A, B, D, F, G

midpoint between mm (15 inches).

the front and

rear side marker

lamps, if the

length of the

vehicle is more

than 9,144 mm (30

feet).Side marker lamp (rear). See 2................. Red............... One on each side.. As far to the rear Not less than 381 A, B, D, F, G

footnotes 4 and 8. as practicable. mm (15 inches),

and on the rear

of trailers not

more than 1,524

mm (60 inches).Turn signal (rear). See 2................. Amber or red...... Rear.............. One lamp on each Both on the same A, B, C, D, E, F,

footnotes 5 and 12. side of the level, between G

vertical 381 mm (15

centerline as far inches) and 2,108

apart as mm (83 inches).

practicable.Identification lamp (rear). See 3................. Red............... Rear.............. One as close as All three on the B, D, G

footnotes 3, 7, and 15. practicable to same level as

the vertical close as

centerline. One practicable to

on each side with the top of the

lamp centers vehicle.

spaced not less

than 152 mm (6

inches) or more

than 305 mm (12

inches) apart.Vehicular hazard warning signal 2................. Amber............. Front............. One lamp on each Both on the same A, B, C

flasher lamps. See footnotes 5 side of the level, between

and 12. vertical 381 mm (15

centerline, as inches) and 2,108

far apart as mm (83 inches).

practicable.

2................. Amber or red...... Rear.............. One lamp on each Both on the same A, B, C, D, E, F,

side of the level, between G

vertical 381 mm (15

centerline, as inches) and 2,108

far apart as mm (83 inches).

practicable.Backup lamp. See footnote 14... 1 or 2............ White............. Rear.............. Rear.............. No requirement.... A, B, CParking lamp.................... 2................. Amber or white.... Front............. One lamp on each Both on the same A

side of the level, between

vertical 381 mm (15

centerline, as inches) and 2,108

far apart as mm (83 inches).

practicable.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Legend: Types of commercial motor vehicles shown in the last column of Table 1.A. Buses and trucks less than 2,032 mm (80 inches) in overall width.B. Buses and trucks 2,032 mm (80 inches) or more in overall width.C. Truck tractors.D. Semitrailers and full trailers 2,032 mm (80 inches) or more in overall width except converter dollies.E. Converter dolly.F. Semitrailers and full trailers less than 2,032 mm (80 inches) in overall width.G. Pole trailers.H. Projecting loads.Note: Lamps and reflectors may be combined as permitted by Sec. 393.22 and S5.4 of 49 CFR 571.108, Equipment combinations.Footnote--1 Identification lamps may be mounted on the vertical centerline of the cab where different from the centerline of the vehicle, except where

the cab is not more than 42 inches wide at the front roofline, then a single lamp at the center of the cab shall be deemed to comply with the

requirements for identification lamps. No part of the identification lamps or their mountings may extend below the top of the vehicle windshield.Footnote--2 Unless the turn signals on the front are so constructed (double-faced) and located as to be visible to passing drivers, two turn signals are

required on the rear of the truck tractor, one at each side as far apart as practicable.Footnote--3 The identification lamps need not be visible or lighted if obscured by a vehicle in the same combination.Footnote--4 Any semitrailer or full trailer manufactured on or after March 1, 1979, shall be equipped with rear side-marker lamps at a height of not

less than 381 mm (15 inches), and on the rear of trailers not more than 1,524 mm (60 inches) above the road surface, as measured from the center of

the lamp on the vehicle at curb weight.Footnote--5 Each converter dolly, when towed singly by another vehicle and not as part of a full trailer, shall be equipped with one stop lamp, one tail

lamp, and two reflectors (one on each side of the vertical centerline, as far apart as practicable) on the rear. Each converter dolly shall be

equipped with rear turn signals and vehicular hazard warning signal flasher lamps when towed singly by another vehicle and not as part of a full

trailer, if the converter dolly obscures the turn signals at the rear of the towing vehicle.Footnote--6 Pole trailers shall be equipped with two reflex reflectors on the rear, one on each side of the vertical centerline as far apart as

practicable, to indicate the extreme width of the trailer.Footnote--7 Pole trailers, when towed by motor vehicles with rear identification lamps meeting the requirements of Sec. 393.11 and mounted at a height

greater than the load being transported on the pole trailer, are not required to have rear identification lamps.Footnote--8 Pole trailers shall have on the rearmost support for the load: (1) two front clearance lamps, one on each side of the vehicle, both on the

same level and as high as practicable to indicate the overall width of the pole trailer; (2) two rear clearance lamps, one on each side of the

vehicle, both on the same level and as high as practicable to indicate the overall width of the pole trailer; (3) two rear side marker lamps, one on

each side of the vehicle, both on the same level, not less than 375 mm (15 inches) above the road surface; (4) two rear reflex reflectors, one on each

side, both on the same level, not less than 375 mm (15 inches) above the road surface to indicate maximum width of the pole trailer; and (5) one red

reflector on each side of the rearmost support for the load. Lamps and reflectors may be combined as allowed in Sec. 393.22.Footnote--9 Any motor vehicle transporting a load which extends more than 102 mm (4 inches) beyond the overall width of the motor vehicle shall be

(1) The foremost edge of that portion of the load which projects beyond the side of the vehicle shall be marked (at its outermost extremity) with an

amber lamp visible from the front and side.(2) The rearmost edge of that portion of the load which projects beyond the side of the vehicle shall be marked (at its outermost extremity) with a red

lamp visible from the rear and side.(3) If the projecting load does not measure more than 914 mm (3 feet) from front to rear, it shall be marked with an amber lamp visible from the front,

both sides, and rear, except that if the projection is located at or near the rear it shall be marked by a red lamp visible from front, side, and

rear.Footnote--10 Projections beyond rear of motor vehicles. Motor vehicles transporting loads which extend more than 1,219 mm (4 feet) beyond the rear of

the motor vehicle, or which have tailboards or tailgates extending more than 1,219 mm (4 feet) beyond the body, shall have these projections marked as

follows when the vehicle is operated during the hours when headlamps are required to be used:(1) On each side of the projecting load, one red side marker lamp, visible from the side, located so as to indicate maximum overhang.(2) On the rear of the projecting load, two red lamps, visible from the rear, one at each side; and two red reflectors visible from the rear, one at

each side, located so as to indicate maximum width.Footnote--11 To be illuminated when tractor headlamps are illuminated.Footnote--12 Every bus, truck, and truck tractor shall be equipped with a signaling system that, in addition to signaling turning movements, shall have

a switch or combination of switches that will cause the two front turn signals and the two rear signals to flash simultaneously as a vehicular traffic

signal warning, required by Sec. 392.22(a). The system shall be capable of flashing simultaneously with the ignition of the vehicle on or off.Footnote--13 To be actuated upon application of service brakes.Footnote--14 Backup lamp required to operate when bus, truck, or truck tractor is in reverse.Footnote--15

(1) For the purposes of Sec. 393.11, the term ``overall width'' refers to the nominal design dimension of the widest part of the vehicle, exclusive of

the signal lamps, marker lamps, outside rearview mirrors, flexible fender extensions, and mud flaps.(2) Clearance lamps may be mounted at a location other than on the front and rear if necessary to indicate the overall width of a vehicle, or for

protection from damage during normal operation of the vehicle.(3) On a trailer, the front clearance lamps may be mounted at a height below the extreme height if mounting at the extreme height results in the lamps

failing to mark the overall width of the trailer.(4) On a truck tractor, clearance lamps mounted on the cab may be located to indicate the width of the cab, rather than the width of the vehicle.(5) When the rear identification lamps are mounted at the extreme height of a vehicle, rear clearance lamps are not required to be located as close as

practicable to the top of the vehicle.Footnote--16 A trailer subject to this part that is less than 1829 mm (6 feet) in overall length, including the trailer tongue, need not be equipped

with front side marker lamps and front side reflex reflectors.Footnote--17 A boat trailer subject to this part whose overall width is 2032 mm (80 inches) or more need not be equipped with both front and rear

clearance lamps provided an amber (front) and red (rear) clearance lamp is located at or near the midpoint on each side so as to indicate its extreme

width.

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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR15AU05.006 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR15AU05.007 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR15AU05.008 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR15AU05.009 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR15AU05.010 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR15AU05.011 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR15AU05.012 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR15AU05.013 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR15AU05.014 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR15AU05.015 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR15AU05.016 [70 FR 48027, Aug. 15, 2005, as amended at 72 FR 32014, June 11, 2007; 72 FR 33562, June 18, 2007; 78 FR 58484, Sept. 24, 2013]