Federal & State Regulations | CMV parts and maintenance - California

Motor carriers, drivers, and vehicles must comply with Part 393 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs).

California has adopted 393.77 (Heaters) and 393.86 (Rear Impact Guards and Rear End Protection (vehicles manufactured on or after January 26, 1998)) of the FMCSRs, as published October 1, 2014.

Applicability varies. See individual topics.

Brakes	Vehicles registered in California > 14,000 lbs. must have power brakes. Vehicles having gross weight < 18,000 lbs. may have, in lieu of power brakes, two stage hydraulic actuators of a type designed to increase braking effect of its brakes. Every trailer or semitrailer having a gross weight ≥ 3,000 lbs. must be equipped with brakes on at least two wheels. Power brakes may be installed on any trailers or semitrailers. They must be equipped with brakes designed to be automatically applied upon breakaway. Trucks or truck-tractors used for towing a vehicle must have brakes capable of stopping such truck or truck-tractor in event of breakaway of towed unit. Every trailer or equipped with air brakes must be equipped with brakes on all wheels. All power units using air brakes must have an independent emergency device for applying brakes in the event of failure of service brakes. The device must be manually operated by the driver and by automatic means. The towed vehicle must have a breakaway device to automatically apply brakes if pressure fails. Use of the emergency control is permitted only when the service brake fails.
CMV Lights, Reflectors, and Reflective Tape	Back-Up Lights - All vehicles must have back-up lights that show a white light to the rear of the vehicle for a distance up to 75 ft. Back-up lights must only light when the vehicle is about to be or is backing or except in conjunction with a lighting system, which activates the lights for a temporary period after the ignition system is turned off.
	Clearance Lights - All vehicles ≥ 80 ins. wide must be equipped with at least one amber clearance lamp at each side on the front and at least one red clearance lamp at each side on the rear. Truck-tractors must have two amber clearance lamps, one at each side on the front.
	Conspicuity Systems/Reflective Tape - The following vehicles must be equipped and maintained with the conspicuity system specified in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 (49 CFR 571.108): All trailers and semitrailers manufactured on or after December 1, 1993, having an overall width ≥ 80 ins. and a GVWR > 10,000 pound; and All truck tractors manufactured on or after July 1, 1997. There is an exception to this requirement for trailer coaches and camp trailers designed exclusively for living or office use. Any trailer, semitrailer, or motor truck having an overall width ≥ 80 ins. and manufactured prior to December 1, 1993, and any truck tractor manufactured prior to July 1, 1997, may be equipped with the conspicuity system described in the paragraph above.
	Directional Signals - The following vehicles must be equipped with lamp-type turn signals: Trucks and truck-tractors, Trailers and semitrailers ≥ 6,000 lbs. gross weight, and Trailers and semitrailers ≥ 80 ins. wide.
	Fog Lamps - Fog lamps must not be used instead of headlamps. Off-road headlamps may not be used as fog lamps, and must be covered with opaque material when the vehicle is operated on any public roadway.
	Headlamps - Two single headlamps, one at each side, or two dual headlamps, one at each side, must be mounted on the front of all motor vehicles and must be operational during hours of darkness or inclement weather.
	Identification Lights - Identification lamps are not required, but commercial vehicles ≥ 80 ins. wide may be equipped with not more than three identification lamps mounted in a row on the front or rear. They may not exceed 3 ins. in diameter or have bulbs of more than 6 candlepower. No part of any such lamp may extend below the top of the windshield. Lamps in front must be amber. Lamps in the rear must be red.
	Lamps and Reflectors - All lamps and reflectors visible from in front of a vehicle must be white or amber, except rear side markers which must be red. Front side markers must be amber. Those lamps visible from the rear must be red, except for stop lamps and turn signals. Turn signals may be amber.
	Rear License Plate Light - A tail lamp or a separate lamp must illuminate the rear license plate. All rear license plate lights must provide enough illumination to be legible from a distance of 50 ft. to the rear. Lighting must be white.
CMV Lights, Reflectors, and Reflective Tape (continued)	Reflectors - All vehicles must have at least one red reflector mounted so it is visible from the rear when located in front of the lawful upper headlamp beams of following vehicles. The reflectors must be visible from 350 ft. All motor vehicles must be equipped with at least two reflectors. All motor trucks having an unladen weight > 5,000 lbs., and every vehicle ≥ 80 ins. wide must be equipped with at least two reflectors that are visible from 600 ft. directly in front of headlamp beams. When more than one reflector is required, at least one must be mounted on the left side and one at the right side, at the same level, from 15 ins. to 60 ins. off the ground. Motor trucks, trailers, and semitrailers ≥ 80 ins. wide must be equipped with an amber reflector mounted on each side at the front and a red reflector mounted on each side at the rear. Trucks or other vehicles > 30 ft. in long must have an additional amber reflector on each side, mounted at about the midpoint of the vehicle. Vehicles may instead be equipped with either the reflectorized red and white material or reflectors meeting and installed according to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
	Reflectorizing Material - Red reflectorizing material must not be displayed on the front. Designs should not distort the length or width of the vehicle and should not resemble official traffic control devices (except as in striping).
	Side Marker Lights - Trailers and semitrailers which are ≥ 80 ins. wide must be equipped with at least one amber side marker lamp on each side at or near the front and one red lamp on each side at or near the rear. Truck-tractors must be equipped with one amber side marker lamp on each side near the front. Trucks, trailers and semitrailers > 30 ft. long must be equipped with an additional amber side marker on each side at about the midpoint of the vehicle.
	Stoplamps - Stoplamps must be mounted from 15 ins. to 72 ins. from the road surface, and must be red.
	Taillamps - Vehicles must be equipped with two red taillamps in the rear, mounted one on each side. All vehicles must be equipped with taillamps capable of remaining lighted for a period of at least ¹/₄ hour with the engine inoperative. Taillamps must be visible from 1,000 ft. to the rear, and must be mounted from 15 ins. to 72 ins. from ground level.
	Turn Signals - Lamp turn signals are required on all trailers and semitrailers ≥ 80 ins. wide.
Coupling Devices	A towing vehicle and a towed vehicle must be coupled together by means of a rigid structure. Safety chain or cable required except with fifth wheel coupling device.
Electrical Connections	Electrical wiring must be grouped together and protected either by non-metallic tape, braid, or other covering capable of withstanding severe abrasion. Wiring may also be enclosed in a metal sheath or tube.
Fifth Wheels	The lower half of the fifth wheel on any truck tractor or dolly must be securely attached to the frame by bolts of adequate size or by other equally effective means of securement. Positive means must be provided to prevent the lower half of the fifth wheel from shifting on the frame to which it is attached. Locking devices must have sufficient strength to control the gross weight of the vehicle or combination of vehicles being towed.
Fire Extinguishers - Motor Carrier	Every motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles must be equipped with one fully charged fire extinguisher with at least a 4 B:C rating. Vehicles transporting placardable hazardous materials are required to be equipped with one fire extinguisher with at least a 10 B:C rating. Each fire extinguisher must be: Securely mounted to prevent sliding, rolling, or vertical movement relative to the motor vehicle in a conspicuous place or located so it is readily accessible for use; Maintained in efficient operating condition; and Equipped with a means for determining if it is fully charged.
First Aid Kit	Not required
Horns	All motor vehicles must be equipped with horns in good working order. The sound must be audible at a distance of 200 ft. Horns must not be unreasonably loud or harsh in sound, and the horn used on motor vehicles must be for highway use.
Mirrors	Out-of-state registered motor vehicles must have at least one mirror which reflects a view at least 200 ft. to the rear. California-based vehicles must have at least two such mirrors. All vehicles must have a left and right-side mirror when view to rear is obscured through rear window by vehicle or load.
Mudflaps	Vehicles must be equipped with the proper fenders, covers, flaps, or splash aprons to cover the entire width of the tires and effectively minimize the spray or splash of water or mud to the rear of the vehicle.
Tires	Tires - Tires used on dual wheels must be the same size. No tire may be used on a motor carrier vehicle if it has: Any portion of the ply or cord structure exposed; Any bumps, bulges, or knots relating to ply or tread separation or failure of tire structure; A ply or cord break; or Any cut extending more than one inch in any direction on the outside of the tire and deep enough to expose body cords. Tire tread on steering axles of commercial motor vehicles must be at least ⁴/₃₂ of an inch deep. Tread on all other tires on commercial vehicles must be at least ²/₃₂ of an inch deep. Studded Tires - No tire may have any block, stud, flange, cleat, ridge, bead, or other protuberances of metal or wood that projects beyond the tread surface. Exception: The use of studded tires is permitted between November 1 and April 30. Tire Chains - Tire traction devices of reasonable size may be used to prevent skidding when on wet surfaces, snow, or ice. When a road is posted with a sign requiring chains, all heavy-duty vehicles (> 6,500 lbs. gross weight) must be equipped with chains mounted on the tires in order to proceed. Vehicles without chains are not permitted to enter chain control areas and must return to a safe area.
Warning Devices	The following must be equipped with three red emergency reflectors: All vehicles ≥ 80 ins. wide, operated during hours of darkness, and Any truck tractor, regardless of width at all times.
Windshields and Windows	Windshields and Windows - An object or material that obstructs or reduces the driver's view may not be placed on the vehicles windshield, side windows, or rear windows. Exception: This does not apply to stickers in a 7-inch square at the bottom right of the windshield or to side windows to the rear of the driver. Exception: This does not apply to a 5-inch square at the bottom left of the windshield or the rear windows if the motor vehicle is equipped with outside mirrors on both the left and right-hand sides of the vehicle that are so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway through each mirror for a distance of at least 200 ft. to the rear of the vehicle. All windshields and windows must be constructed of safety glass. All windshields must be equipped with self-operating windshield wipers.
	Window Tinting - Tint material must not be installed on windshields or front side windows. Tinted glass must only be installed in a location permitted by U.S. Department of Transportation standards
	Windshield (bug) Deflectors - No vehicles may be equipped with red, blue, or amber translucent aftermarket material in any window, or wind deflectors.

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CMV parts and maintenance - California