Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 9, September 27, 2024
(a) Applicability. All trailers and
semitrailers manufactured prior to December 1, 1993, which have an overall
width of 2,032 mm (80 inches) or more and a gross vehicle weight rating of
4,536 kg (10,001 pounds) or more, except trailers that are manufactured
exclusively for use as offices or dwellings, pole trailers (as defined in
Regulation Regulation
38-390.5
of these regulation), and trailers transported in a driveaway-towaway
operation, must be equipped with retroreflective sheeting or an array of reflex
reflectors that meet the requirements. Motor carriers operating trailers, other
than container chassis (as defined in Regulation Regulation
38-393.5),
have until June 1, 2001, to comply with the requirements of 38-393. Motor
carriers operating container chassis have until December 1, 2001, to comply
with the requirements of 38-393.
(b) Retroreflective sheeting and reflex
reflectors. Motor carriers are encouraged to retrofit their trailers with a
conspicuity system that meets all of the requirements applicable to trailers
manufactured on or after December 1, 1993, including the use of retroreflective
sheeting or reflex reflectors in a red and white pattern (see Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108 (
49
CFR 571.108) , S5.7, Conspicuity systems).
Motor carriers which do not retrofit their trailers to meet the requirements of
FMVSS No. 108, for example by using an alternative color pattern, must comply
with the remainder of this paragraph and with paragraph (c) or (d).
Retroreflective sheeting or reflex reflectors in colors or color combinations
other than red and white may be used on the sides or lower rear area of the
semitrailer or trailer until June 1, 2009. The alternate color or color
combination must be uniform along the sides and lower rear area of the trailer.
The retroreflective sheeting or reflex reflectors on the upper rear area of the
trailer must be white and conform to the requirements of FMVSS No. 108 (S5.7).
Red retroreflective sheeting or reflex reflectors shall not be used along the
sides of the trailer unless it is used as part of a red and white pattern.
Retroreflective sheeting shall have a width of at least 50 mm (2
inches).
(c) Locations for
retroreflective sheeting.
(1) Sides.
Retroreflective sheeting shall be applied to each side of the trailer or
semitrailer. Each strip of retroreflective sheeting shall be positioned as
horizontally as practicable, beginning and ending as close to the front and
rear as practicable. The strip need no be continuous but the sum of the length
of all of the segments shall be at least half of the length of the trailer and
the spaces between the segments of the strip shall be distributed as evenly as
practicable. The centerline for each strip of retroreflective sheeting shall be
between 375 mm (15 inches) and 1,525 mm (60 inches) above the road surface when
measured with the trailer empty or unladed, or as close as practicable to this
area. If necessary to clear rivet heads or other similar obstruction, 50 mm (2
inches) wide retroreflective sheeting may be separated into two 25 mm (1 inch)
wide strips of the same length and color, separated by a space of not more than
25 mm (1 inch).
(2) Lower rear
area. The rear of each trailer and semitrailer must be equipped with
retroreflective sheeting. Each strip of retroreflective sheeting shall be
positioned as horizontally as practicable, extending across the full width of
the trailer, beginning and ending as close to the extreme edges as practicable.
The centerline for each of the strips of retroreflective sheeting shall be
between 375 mm (15 inches) and 1,525 mm (60 inches) above the road surface when
measured with the trailer empty or unladen, or as close as practicable to this
area.
(3) Upper rear area. Two
pairs of white strips of retroreflective sheeting, each pair consisting of
strips 300 mm (12 inches) long, must be positioned horizontally and vertically
on the right and left upper corners of the rear of the body of each trailer and
semitrailer, as close as practicable to the top of the trailer and as far apart
as practicable. If the perimeter of the body, as viewed from the rear, is not
square or rectangular, the strips may be applied along the perimeter, as close
as practicable to the uppermost and outermost areas of the rear of the body on
the left and right sides.
(d) Locations for reflex reflectors.
(1) Sides. Reflex reflectors shall be applied
to each side of the trailer or semitrailer. Each array of reflex reflectors
shall be positioned as horizontally as practicable, beginning and ending as
close to the front and rear as practicable. The array need not be continuous
but the sum of the length of all f the array segments shall be at least half of
the length of the trailer and the spaces between the segments of the strip
shall be distributed as evenly as practicable. The centerline for each array of
reflex reflectors shall be between 375 mm (15 inches) and 1,525 mm (60 inches)
above the road surface when measured with the trailer empty or unladen, or as
close as practicable to this area. The center of each reflector shall not be
more than 100 mm (4 inches) from the center of each adjacent reflector in the
segment of the array. If reflex reflectors are arranged in an alternating color
pattern, the length of reflectors of the first color shall be as close as
practicable to the length of the reflectors of the second color.
(2) Lower rear area. The rear of each trailer
and semitrailer must be equipped with reflex reflectors. Each array of reflex
reflectors shall be positioned as horizontally as practicable, extending across
the full width of the trailer, beginning and ending as close to the extreme
edges as practicable. The centerline for each array of reflex reflectors shall
be between375 mm (15 inches) and 1,525 mm (60 inches) above the road surface
when measured with the trailer empty or unladen, or as close as practicable to
this area. The center of each reflector shall not be more than 100 mm (4
inches) from the center of each adjacent reflector in the segment of the
array.
(3) Upper rear area. Two
pairs of white reflex reflector arrays, each pair at least 300 mm (12 inches)
long, must be positioned horizontally and vertically on the right and left
upper corners of the rear of the body of each trailer and semitrailer, as close
as practicable to the top of the trailer and as far apart as practicable. If
the perimeter of the body, as viewed from the rear, is not square or
rectangular, the arrays may be applied along the perimeter, as close as
practicable to the uppermost and outermost areas of the rear of the body on the
left and right sides. The center of each reflector shall not be more than 100
mm (4 inches) from the center of each adjacent reflector in the segment of the
array.
