Pole and utility vehicles/trailers – Ohio

Load size exception for pole trailers

Highway load limits do not apply to vehicles and pole trailers used in the transportation of wooden and metal poles, nor to the transportation of pipes or well-drilling equipment.

Stop lamps

After January 1, 1967, every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer and pole trailer must be equipped with two or more stop lamps. 

Reflectors

Every pole trailer must carry on the rear, either as a part of the tail lamps or separately, two or more red reflectors constructed and installed to provide adequate and reliable illumination and must conform to the appropriate S.A.E. standards for reflex reflectors.

Every reflector must be mounted on the vehicle at a height not less than 15 inches nor more than 60 inches and must be of such size and characteristic and so mounted as to be visible at night from all distances within 300 feet to 50 feet from such vehicle when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps.

Lamps and reflectors on pole trailers

Pole trailers must have on each side:

• One amber side marker lamp and one amber reflector, centrally located with respect to the length of the vehicle;
• One amber side marker lamp at or near the front of the load; and
• One amber reflector at or near the front of the load.

On the rearmost support for the load, pole trailers must have one combination marker lamp showing amber to the front and red to the rear and side, mounted to indicate maximum width of the pole trailer.

Mounting of rear reflectors

The rear reflectors on a pole trailer may be mounted on each side of the bolster or load.