...
Federal regulations
Motor carriers, drivers, and vehicles must comply with Part 393 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs).
California has adopted Secs. 393.77 and 393.86 (Rear Impact Guards and Rear End Protection (vehicles manufactured on or after January 26, 1998)) of the FMCSRs.
Back-up lights
All vehicles manufactured on and after January 1, 1969, must have back-up lights. Back-up lamps must show a white light to the rear of the vehicle for a distance up to 75 feet. 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.
Brakes
Vehicles registered in California exceeding 14,000 lbs. must have power brakes, but vehicles having gross weight of less than 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 manufactured and first registered after January 1, 1966, and having a gross weight of 3,000 pounds or more shall 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 semitrailer manufactured after January 1, 1982 and 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.
Power units manufactured before 1964 can qualify by having axle-by-axle brake application, where at least two axles have separate air tanks and where the brakes of each axle system can be applied from the driver’s seat.
Clearance Lights
All vehicles 80 inches or more in width 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
All trailers and semitrailers manufactured on or after December 1, 1993, having an overall width of 80 inches or more and a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 10,000 pounds and all truck tractors manufactured on or after July 1, 1997, must be equipped and maintained with the conspicuity system specified in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 (49 CFR 571.108). 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 of 80 inches or more 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.
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 5th wheel coupling device.
Directional signals
Trucks and truck-tractors manufactured and first registered in the state on or after January 1, 1958, must be equipped with lamp type turn signals. The same requirement applies to trailers and semitrailers 6,000 lbs. or more gross weight manufactured and first registered in California between December 31, 1957 and January 1, 1969. Trailers and semitrailers 80 inches or more wide manufactured since January 1, 1969, must also have lamp-type turn signals.
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 shall be securely attached to the frame by bolts of adequate size or by other equally effective means of securement. Positive means shall be provided to prevent the lower half of the fifth wheel from shifting on the frame to which it is attached. Locking devices shall have sufficient strength to control the gross weight of the vehicle or combination of vehicles being towed.
Fire extinguishers
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. Each fire extinguisher must be maintained in efficient operating condition and equipped with a means for determining if it is fully charged.
First aid kit
No requirement for commercial trucks.
Flares and other warning devices
All vehicles 80 inches or more in width operated during hours of darkness must be equipped with three red emergency reflectors, and any truck tractor, regardless of width, shall at all times be so equipped.
Fog lamps
Fog lamps shall 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. No motor vehicle shall be operated with parking lights only.
Horns
All motor vehicles must be equipped with horns in good working order. The sound must be audible at a distance of 200 feet. Horns shall not be unreasonably loud or harsh in sound, and the horn used on motor vehicles shall be for highway use.
Identification lights
Identification lamps are not required, but commercial vehicles having a width of 80 inches or more may be equipped with not more than three identification lamps mounted in a row on the front or rear. They may not exceed 3 inches 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 shall be amber. For vehicles manufactured prior to January 1, 1968, lamps in front may be amber, green, or white. Lamps in the rear shall 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, and stop lamps on vehicles manufactured prior to January 1, 1979, may be amber.
Mirrors
Out-of-state registered motor vehicles must have at least one mirror which reflects a view at least 200 feet 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.
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 feet to the rear. Lighting shall only be white.
Reflectors
All vehicles must have at least one red reflector so mounted as to be visible from the rear when located in front of the lawful upper headlamp beams of following vehicles which will be visible from 350 feet. All motor vehicles manufactured and first registered on or after January 1, 1965, must be equipped with at least two reflectors. All motor trucks having an unladen weight of more than 5,000 lbs., and every vehicle 80 or more inches in width manufactured on or after January 1, 1969, must be equipped with at least two reflectors maintained so as to be visible from 600 feet 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 15–60 inches off the ground. Motor trucks, trailer and semitrailer 80 or more inches in width and manufactured on or after January 1, 1968, 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 more than 30 feet in length 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 semitrailer which are 80 inches or more in overall width and manufactured and first registered after January 1, 1962, 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 manufactured on or after January 1, 1969, must be equipped with one amber side marker lamp on each side near the front. Trucks, trailers and semitrailers over 30 feet in length must be equipped with an additional amber side marker on each side at about the midpoint of the vehicle.
Stoplamps
On vehicles manufactured as of January 1, 1969, stoplamps must be mounted from 15 to 72 inches from the surface of the road.
Stoplamps on vehicles manufactured as of January 1, 1979, must be red. Stoplamps on vehicles manufactured before January 1, 1979, may be red or yellow.
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.
Taillamps
Vehicles manufactured and first registered on or after January 1, 1958, must be equipped with two red taillamps in the rear, mounted one on each side.
All vehicles manufactured and first registered after January 1, 1970, must be equipped with taillamps capable of remaining lighted for a period of at least 1/4 hour with the engine inoperative. Taillamps on vehicles manufactured on or after January 1, 1969, must be visible from 1,000 feet to the rear (500 feet before 1969), and must be mounted from 15 to 72 inches from ground level.
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.
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 (over 6,500 pounds 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.
Turn signals
Lamp turn signals are required on trailers and semitrailers having a gross weight of 6,000 lbs., and manufactured and first registered between December 31, 1957, and January 1, 1969; and on all trailers and semitrailers 80 or more inches in width manufactured on or after January 1, 1969.
Windshield (bug) deflectors
No vehicles may be equipped with red, blue, or amber translucent aftermarket material in any window, or wind deflectors.
Windshields and windows
No person may drive any motor vehicle with any object or material so placed upon the windshield, side or rear windows or with any object or material so place in or upon the vehicle as to obstruct or reduce the driver’s view. 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. This regulation also 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 feet 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 shall not be installed on windshields or front side windows. Tinted glass shall only be installed in a location permitted by U.S. Department of Transportation standards.