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InstituteFleet SafetyCMV Parts and MaintenanceTransportationCMV lights, reflectors, and reflective tapeUSAEnglishAnalysisFocus AreaIn Depth (Level 3)

Reflective tape and reflectors

['CMV Parts and Maintenance']
Reflective tape and reflectors

  • The FMCSRs specify requirements for reflective tape and/or reflectors on certain trailers and truck tractors.
  • Tape and reflectors are not required on straight trucks.

The FMCSRs require the use of “conspicuity” materials — that is, reflective tape and/or reflex reflectors — on certain trailers and the rear of truck tractors, to help make these vehicles more visible to other motorists at night or when visibility is otherwise reduced. The following is an overview of the basic requirements.

Trailers

The conspicuity requirements apply to semitrailers and trailers that have an overall width of 80 inches or more and a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,001 pounds or more. Trailers manufactured on or after December 1, 1993, were to be manufactured with the proper conspicuity treatments as described in 571.108. Those manufactured prior to that date were to be retrofitted to meet the same standards, although a certain amount of flexibility is allowed (see 393.13).

LocationColorRequirements
SidesAlternating red and whiteReflective tape (or reflectors) must be applied to each side of the trailer or semitrailer as follows:
  • Each strip of sheeting (or reflector) must be positioned as horizontally as possible, beginning and ending as close to the front and rear as possible.
  • The tape does not have to be continuous, but the sum of the length of all of the segments must be at least half of the length of the trailer and the spaces between the segments must be distributed as evenly as possible.
  • The centerline for each strip (or reflector) must be between 15 and 60 inches above the road surface when measured with the trailer empty or unladen, or as close as possible to that area.
  • If necessary to clear rivet heads or other similar obstructions, 2-inch wide sheeting may be separated into two 1-inch wide strips of the same length and color, separated by a space of not more than 1 inch.
Lower rearAlternating red and whiteThe lower rear of each trailer and semitrailer must be equipped with reflective sheeting or reflectors, positioned as horizontally as possible, extending across the full width of the trailer, beginning and ending as close to the extreme edges as possible. The centerline of this reflective material must be between 15 and 60 inches above the road surface when measured with the trailer empty or unladen, or as close as possible to that area.
Underride guardAlternating red and whiteReflective materials must be applied across the full width of the horizontal member of the rear underride protection device.
Upper rearWhiteTwo pairs of white strips of reflective sheeting (or reflectors), each pair consisting of strips 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 possible to the top of the trailer and as far apart as possible. If the perimeter of the body, as viewed from the rear, is not square or rectangular, the conspicuity treatments may be applied along the perimeter, as close as possible to the uppermost and outermost areas of the rear of the body on the left and right sides.

Tractors

Truck tractors manufactured on or after July 1, 1997, must be equipped with red-and-white reflective material (tape or reflectors) similar to that required on the rear of the trailers they tow, to increase nighttime conspicuity. This includes white reflective material marking the upper corners of the cab (as described for trailers above) and red-and-white material marking the width of the body, normally installed on the mudflaps, as follows:

  • Two strips of sheeting or reflectors, each at least 24 inches long, must be located as close as possible to the edges of the rear fenders, mudflaps, or the mudflap support brackets.
  • The strips must be mounted as horizontal as possible on the mudflap support brackets, on plates attached to the mudflap support brackets, or on the mudflaps.
  • Strips on mudflaps must be mounted no lower than 12 inches below the upper horizontal edge of the mudflap.
  • If the vehicle is delivered with temporary mudflap support brackets, the strips must be mounted on the mudflaps or on plates transferable to the permanent mudflap support brackets.

Straight trucks

The requirements for reflective tape do not apply to straight trucks, only truck tractors and large trailers as noted above. Tape and reflectors may be added to straight trucks as an added measure of safety as long as they do not conflict with any required lights.

:
cmv-parts-and-maintenance
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Reflective tape and reflectors

InstituteFleet SafetyCMV Parts and MaintenanceTransportationCMV lights, reflectors, and reflective tapeUSAEnglishAnalysisFocus AreaIn Depth (Level 3)
['CMV Parts and Maintenance']
Reflective tape and reflectors

  • The FMCSRs specify requirements for reflective tape and/or reflectors on certain trailers and truck tractors.
  • Tape and reflectors are not required on straight trucks.

The FMCSRs require the use of “conspicuity” materials — that is, reflective tape and/or reflex reflectors — on certain trailers and the rear of truck tractors, to help make these vehicles more visible to other motorists at night or when visibility is otherwise reduced. The following is an overview of the basic requirements.

Trailers

The conspicuity requirements apply to semitrailers and trailers that have an overall width of 80 inches or more and a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,001 pounds or more. Trailers manufactured on or after December 1, 1993, were to be manufactured with the proper conspicuity treatments as described in 571.108. Those manufactured prior to that date were to be retrofitted to meet the same standards, although a certain amount of flexibility is allowed (see 393.13).

LocationColorRequirements
SidesAlternating red and whiteReflective tape (or reflectors) must be applied to each side of the trailer or semitrailer as follows:
  • Each strip of sheeting (or reflector) must be positioned as horizontally as possible, beginning and ending as close to the front and rear as possible.
  • The tape does not have to be continuous, but the sum of the length of all of the segments must be at least half of the length of the trailer and the spaces between the segments must be distributed as evenly as possible.
  • The centerline for each strip (or reflector) must be between 15 and 60 inches above the road surface when measured with the trailer empty or unladen, or as close as possible to that area.
  • If necessary to clear rivet heads or other similar obstructions, 2-inch wide sheeting may be separated into two 1-inch wide strips of the same length and color, separated by a space of not more than 1 inch.
Lower rearAlternating red and whiteThe lower rear of each trailer and semitrailer must be equipped with reflective sheeting or reflectors, positioned as horizontally as possible, extending across the full width of the trailer, beginning and ending as close to the extreme edges as possible. The centerline of this reflective material must be between 15 and 60 inches above the road surface when measured with the trailer empty or unladen, or as close as possible to that area.
Underride guardAlternating red and whiteReflective materials must be applied across the full width of the horizontal member of the rear underride protection device.
Upper rearWhiteTwo pairs of white strips of reflective sheeting (or reflectors), each pair consisting of strips 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 possible to the top of the trailer and as far apart as possible. If the perimeter of the body, as viewed from the rear, is not square or rectangular, the conspicuity treatments may be applied along the perimeter, as close as possible to the uppermost and outermost areas of the rear of the body on the left and right sides.

Tractors

Truck tractors manufactured on or after July 1, 1997, must be equipped with red-and-white reflective material (tape or reflectors) similar to that required on the rear of the trailers they tow, to increase nighttime conspicuity. This includes white reflective material marking the upper corners of the cab (as described for trailers above) and red-and-white material marking the width of the body, normally installed on the mudflaps, as follows:

  • Two strips of sheeting or reflectors, each at least 24 inches long, must be located as close as possible to the edges of the rear fenders, mudflaps, or the mudflap support brackets.
  • The strips must be mounted as horizontal as possible on the mudflap support brackets, on plates attached to the mudflap support brackets, or on the mudflaps.
  • Strips on mudflaps must be mounted no lower than 12 inches below the upper horizontal edge of the mudflap.
  • If the vehicle is delivered with temporary mudflap support brackets, the strips must be mounted on the mudflaps or on plates transferable to the permanent mudflap support brackets.

Straight trucks

The requirements for reflective tape do not apply to straight trucks, only truck tractors and large trailers as noted above. Tape and reflectors may be added to straight trucks as an added measure of safety as long as they do not conflict with any required lights.

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