Section

[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 4]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR393.11]

[Page 1040-1052]

TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION

CHAPTER III--FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION,
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

PART 393--PARTS AND ACCESSORIES NECESSARY FOR SAFE OPERATION--Table of Contents

Subpart B--Lighting Devices, Reflectors, and Electrical Equipment

Sec. 393.11 Lighting devices and reflectors.

The following Table 1 sets forth the required color, position, and
required lighting devices by type of commercial motor vehicle. Diagrams
illustrating the locations of lighting devices and reflectors, by type
and size of commercial motor vehicle, are shown immediately following
Table 1. All lighting devices on motor vehicles placed in operation
after March 7, 1989, must meet the requirements of 49 CFR 571.108 in
effect at the time of manufacture of the vehicle. Motor vehicles placed
in operation on or before March 7, 1989, must meet either the
requirements of this subchapter or part 571 of this title in effect at
the time of manufacture.

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Table 1--Required Commercial Vehicle Lighting Equipment
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Height above road
surface in inches
Item on the vehicle Quantity Color Location Position measured from the Required lighting
center of the lamp devices/vehicles
at curb weight
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Headlamps....................... 2 At Least...... White......... Front.............. On the front at Not less than 22 A, B, C
the same height, nor more than 54.
an equal number
at each side of
the vertical
centerline as far
apart as
practicable.
Turn Signal (Front) See 2............... Amber......... At or Near Front... One on each side Not less than 15 A, B, C
Footnotes 2 & 12. of the vertical nor more than 83.
centerline at the
same height and
as far apart as
practicable.
Identification Lamp (Front) 3............... Amber......... Front.............. Mounted on the All three on same B, C
Footnote 1. vertical level as close as
centerline of the practicable to
vehicle or the the top of the
vertical vehicle with lamp
centerline of the centers spaced
cab where not less than 6
different from inches or more
the centerline of than 12 inches
the vehicle. apart.
Tail Lamp See Footnotes 5 & 11. of the vertical level between 15
centerline at the and 72.
same height and
as far apart as
practicable.
Stop Lamp See Footnotes 5 & 13. of the vertical level between 15
centerline at the and 72.
same height and
as far apart as
practicable.
Clearance Lamps See Footnotes 2............... Amber......... One on each side of One on each side Both on same level B, C, D, G, H
9, 10, & 15. front. of the vertical as high as
centerline to practicable.
indicate width.
2............... Red........... One on each side of One on each side Both on same level B, D, G, H
rear. of the vertical as high as
centerline to practicable.
indicate overall
width.
Side Marker Lamp, Intermediate.. 2............... Amber......... One on each side... At or near Not less than 15.. A, B, D, F, G
midpoint between
front and rear
side marker
lamps, if over
30[foot] in
length.
Reflex Reflector Intermediate 2............... Amber......... One on each side... At or near Between 15 and 60. A, B, D, F, G
(Side). midpoint between
front and rear
side reflectors
if over 30[foot]
in length.
Reflex Reflector (Rear) See 2............... Red........... Rear............... One on each side Both on same A, B, C, D, E, F, G
Footnotes 5, 6, & 8. of vertical level, between 15
centerline, as and 60.
far apart as
practicable.
Reflex Reflector (Rear Side) 2............... Red........... One on each side As far to the rear Both on same A, B, D, F, G
Footnote 4. (rear). as practicable. level, between 15
and 60.
Reflex Reflector (Front Side)... 2............... Amber......... One on each side As far to the Between 15 and 60. A, B, C, D, F, G
(front). front as
practicable.
License Plate Lamp Rear See 1............... White......... At rear license To illuminate the No requirements... A, B, C, D, F, G
Footnote 11. plate. license plate
from the top or
sides.
Side Marker Lamp (Front)........ 2............... Amber......... One on each side... As far to the Not less than 15.. A, B, C, D, F
front as
practicable.
Side Marker Lamp (Rear) See 2............... Red........... One on each side... As far to the rear Not less than 15 A, B, D, F, G
Footnotes 4 & 8. as practicable. and on the rear
of trailer, not
more than 60.
Turn Signal (Rear) See Footnotes 2............... Amber or Red.. Rear............... One lamp on each Both on the same A, B, C, D, E, F, G
5 & 12. side of the level, between 15
vertical and 83.
centerline as far
apart as
practicable.

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Identification Lamp (Rear) See 3............... Red........... Rear............... One as close as All three on same B, D, G
Footnotes 3, 7 & 15. practicable to level as close as
vertical practicable to
centerline. One the top of the
on each side with vehicle.
lamp centers
spaced not less
than 6
or more than
12
apart.
Vehicular Hazard Warning 2............... Amber......... Front.............. One lamp on each Both on same A, B, C, D, E, F, G
Flashing Lamps See Footnote side of vertical level, between 15
12. centerline as far and 83.
apart as
practicable.
2............... Amber or Red.. Rear............... .................. .................. .......................
Backup Lamp See Footnote 14.
Parking Lamp.................... 2............... Amber or white Front.............. One lamp on each Both on same A
side of vertical level, between 15
centerline as far and 72.
apart as
practicable.
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* Lighting Required per Type of Commercial Vehicle as Shown Last Column of Table.

A. Small buses and trucks less than 80 inches in overall width.
B. Buses and trucks 80 inches or more in overall width.
C. Truck Tractors.
D. Large semitrailers and full trailers 80 inches or more in overall width except converter dollies.
E. Converter dolly.
F. Small semitrailers and full trailers less than 80 inches in overall width.
G. Pole Trailers.
H. Projecting loads.
Lamps and reflectors may be combined as permitted by Paragraphs 393.22 and S4.4 of 49 CFR 571.108, Equipment combinations.

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Footnote--1
Identification lamps may be mounted on the vertical centerline of
the cab where different from the centerline of the vehicle, except where
the cab is not more than 42 inches wide at the front roofline, then a
single lamp at the center of the cab shall be deemed to comply with the
requirements for identification lamps. No part of the identification
lamps or their mountings may extend below the top of the vehicle
windshield.

Footnote--2
Unless the turn signals on the front are so constructed (double-
faced) and located as to be visible to passing drivers, two turn signals
are required on the rear of the truck tractor, one at each side as far
apart as practicable.

Footnote--3
The identification lamps need not be visible or lighted if obscured
by a vehicle in the same combination.

Footnote--4
Any semitrailer or full trailer vehicles manufactured on and after
March 1, 1979, shall be equipped with rear side-marker lamps at a height
of not less than 15 inches (381 mm) nor more than 60 inches (1524 mm)
above the road surface, as measured from the center of the lamp on the
vehicle at curb weight. The rear side marker lamps shall be visible in
the vehicle's rearview mirrors when the trailer is tracking straight.

Footnote--5
For purposes of these regulations, each converter dolly shall be
equipped with one stop lamp, one tail lamp, and two reflectors on the
rear at each side when towed singly by another vehicle. Each converter
dolly shall be equipped with turn signals at the rear if the converter
dolly obscures the turn signals at the rear of the towing vehicle when
towed singly by another vehicle.

Footnote--6
Pole trailers will have two reflectors, one on each side, placed to
indicate extreme width of the trailer.

Footnote--7
Pole trailers may have three identification lamps mounted on the
vertical centerline of the rear of the cab of the truck tractor drawing
the pole trailer, and higher than the load being transported, in lieu of
the three identification lamps mounted on the rear vertical centerline
of the trailer.

Footnote--8
Pole trailers shall have on the rearmost support for the load, one
combination marker lamp or two single lamps showing amber to the front
and red to the rear and side, mounted on each side to indicate maximum
width of the pole trailer; and one red reflector on each side of the
rearmost support for the load.

Footnote--9
Any motor vehicle transporting a load which extends more than 4
inches beyond the width of the motor vehicle, or having projections
beyond the rear of such vehicles, shall be equipped with the following
lamps in addition to other required lamps, have the loads marked
Loads projecting more than 4 inches beyond sides of motor vehicles:
(1) The foremost edge of the projecting load at its outermost
extremity shall be marked with an amber lamp visible from the front and
both sides.
(2) The rearmost edge of the projecting load at its outermost
extremity shall be marked with a red lamp visible from the rear and
side.
(3) If any portion of the projecting load extends beyond both the
foremost and rearmost edge, it shall be marked with an amber lamp
visible from the front, both sides, and rear.
(4) If the protecting load does not measure more than 3 feet from
front to rear, it shall be marked with an amber lamp visible from the
front, both sides, and rear, except that if the projection is located at
or near the rear it shall be marked by a red lamp visible from front,
side, and rear.

Footnote--10
Projections beyond rear of motor vehicles. Motor vehicles
transporting loads which extend more than 4 feet beyond the rear of the
motor vehicle, or which have these tailboards or tailgates extending
more than 4 feet beyond the body, shall have projections marked as
follows:
(1) On each side of the projecting load, one red lamp, visible from
the side, located so as to indicate maximum overhang.
(2) On the rear of the projecting load, two red lamps, visible from
the rear, one at each side; and two red reflectors visible from the
rear, one at each side, located so as to indicate maximum width.

Footnote--11
To be illuminated when tractor headlamps are illuminated.

Footnote--12
Every bus, truck, and truck tractor shall be equipped with a
signaling system that, in addition to signaling turning movements, shall
have a switch or combination of switches that will cause the two front
turn signals and the two rear signals to flash simultaneously as a
vehicular traffic signal warning, required by Sec. 392-22(a). The system
shall be capable of flashing simultaneously with the ignition of the
vehicle on or off.

Footnote--13
To be actuated upon application of service brakes.

Footnote--14
Backup lamp required to operate when bus, truck, or truck tractor is
in reverse.

[[Page 1044]]

Footnote--15
When the rear identification lamps are mounted at the extreme height
of a vehicle, rear clearance lamps need not meet the requirement that
they be located as close as practicable to the top of the vehicle.
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Legend (Used in Illustrations)

1. Headlamps (2)-White (4 optional)
2. Side-marker lamps. Front (2)-Amber
3. Side reflectors. Front (2)-Amber
4. Turn-signal lamps. Front (2)-Amber
4a. Turn-signal lamps. Front (2)-Amber (Optional location)
5. Identification lamps. Front (3)-Amber
5a. Identification lamps. Front (3)-Amber (Optional location)
6. Clearance lamps. Front (2)-Amber
7. Side-marker lamps. Rear (2)-Red
8. Side-reflectors. Rear (2)-Red
9. Identification lamps. Rear (3)-Red
10. Clearance lamps. Rear (2)-Red
11. Reflectors Rear (2)-Red
12. Stop lamps. Rear (2)-Red
13. License plate lamp. Rear (1)-White
14. Backup lamp. Rear (1)-White (location optional provided optional
requirements are met)
15. Side-marker lamps. Intermediate (2)-Amber (if vehicle is 30' or more
overall length)
16. Side reflectors. Intermediate (2)-Amber (if vehicle is 30' or more
overall length)
17. Turn signal lamps. Rear (2)-Amber or Red
18. Tail lamps. Rear (2)-Red
19. Parking lamps. Front 2-Amber or White

[53 FR 49385, Dec. 7, 1988]