[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 5]
[Revised as of October 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR393.86]

[Page 431-432]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
                      DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 393_PARTS AND ACCESSORIES NECESSARY FOR SAFE OPERATION--Table of 
Contents
 
              Subpart G_Miscellaneous Parts and Accessories
 
Sec.  393.86  Rear impact guards and rear end protection.

    (a)(1) General requirements for trailers and semitrailers 
manufactured on or after January 26, 1998. Each trailer and semitrailer 
with a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 kg (10,000 pounds) or more, 
and manufactured on or after January 26, 1998, must be equipped with a 
rear impact guard that meets the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle 
Safety Standard No. 223 (49 CFR 571.223) in effect at the time the 
vehicle was manufactured. When the rear impact guard is installed on the 
trailer or semitrailer, the vehicle must, at a minimum, meet the 
requirements of FMVSS No. 224 (49 CFR 571.224) in effect at the time the 
vehicle was manufactured. The requirements of paragraph (a) of this 
section do not apply to pole trailers (as defined in Sec.  390.5 of this 
chapter); pulpwood trailers, low chassis vehicles, special purpose 
vehicles, wheels back vehicles (as defined in Sec.  393.5); and trailers 
towed in driveaway-towaway operations (as defined in Sec.  390.5).
    (2) Impact guard width. The outermost surfaces of the horizontal 
member of the guard must extend to within 100 mm (4 inches) of the side 
extremities of the vehicle. The outermost surface of the horizontal 
member shall not extend beyond the side extremity of the vehicle.
    (3) Guard height. The vertical distance between the bottom edge of 
the horizontal member of the guard and the ground shall not exceed 560 
mm (22 inches) at any point across the full width of the member. Guards 
with rounded corners may curve upward within 255 mm (10 inches) of the 
longitudinal vertical planes that are tangent to the side extremities of 
the vehicle.
    (4) Guard rear surface. At any height 560 mm (22 inches) or more 
above the ground, the rearmost surface of the horizontal member of the 
guard must be within 305 mm (12 inches) of the rear extremity of the 
vehicle. This paragraph shall not be construed to prohibit the rear 
surface of the guard from extending beyond the rear extremity of the 
vehicle. Guards with rounded corners may curve forward within 255 mm (10 
inches) of the side extremity.
    (5) Cross-sectional vertical height. The horizontal member of each 
guard must have a cross sectional vertical height of at least 100 mm 
(3.94 inches) at any point across the guard width.
    (6) Certification and labeling requirements for rear impact 
protection guards. Each rear impact guard used to satisfy the 
requirements of paragraph (a)(1) of this section must be permanently 
marked or labeled as required by FMVSS No. 223 (49 CFR 571.223, S5.3). 
The label must be on the forward-facing surface of the horizontal member 
of the guard, 305 mm (12 inches) inboard of the right end of the guard. 
The certification label must contain the following information:
    (i) The impact guard manufacturer's name and address;
    (ii) The statement ``Manufactured in ----'' (inserting the month and 
year that the guard was manufactured); and,
    (iii) The letters ``DOT'', constituting a certification by the guard 
manufacturer that the guard conforms to all requirements of FMVSS No. 
223.

[[Page 432]]

    (b)(1) Requirements for motor vehicles manufactured after December 
31, 1952 (except trailers or semitrailers manufactured on or after 
January 26, 1998). Each motor vehicle manufactured after December 31, 
1952, (except truck tractors, pole trailers, pulpwood trailers, or 
vehicles in driveaway-towaway operations) in which the vertical distance 
between the rear bottom edge of the body (or the chassis assembly if the 
chassis is the rearmost part of the vehicle) and the ground is greater 
than 76.2 cm (30 inches) when the motor vehicle is empty, shall be 
equipped with a rear impact guard(s). The rear impact guard(s) must be 
installed and maintained in such a manner that:
    (i) The vertical distance between the bottom of the guard(s) and the 
ground does not exceed 76.2 cm (30 inches) when the motor vehicle is 
empty;
    (ii) The maximum lateral distance between the closest points between 
guards, if more than one is used, does not exceed 61 cm (24 inches);
    (iii) The outermost surfaces of the horizontal member of the guard 
are no more than 45.7 cm (18 inches) from each side extremity of the 
motor vehicle;
    (iv) The impact guard(s) are no more than 61 cm (24 inches) forward 
of the rear extremity of the motor vehicle.
    (2) Construction and attachment. The rear impact guard(s) must be 
substantially constructed and attached by means of bolts, welding, or 
other comparable means.
    (3) Vehicle components and structures that may be used to satisfy 
the requirements of paragraph (b) of this section. Low chassis vehicles, 
special purpose vehicles, or wheels back vehicles constructed and 
maintained so that the body, chassis, or other parts of the vehicle 
provide the rear end protection comparable to impact guard(s) conforming 
to the requirements of paragraph (b)(1) of this section shall be 
considered to be in compliance with those requirements.

[64 FR 47708, Sept. 1, 1999, as amended at 67 FR 61824, Oct. 2, 2002]