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§ 393.11
Lamps and reflective devices.
(a)
(1)Lamps and reflex reflectors. Table 1 specifies the requirements for lamps, reflective devices and associated equipment by the type of commercial motor vehicle. The diagrams in this section illustrate the position of the lamps, reflective devices and associated equipment specified in Table 1. All commercial motor vehicles manufactured on or after December 25, 1968, must, at a minimum, meet the applicable requirements of 49 CFR 571.108 (FMVSS No. 108) in effect at the time of manufacture of the vehicle. Commercial motor vehicles manufactured before December 25, 1968, must, at a minimum, meet the requirements of subpart B of part 393 in effect at the time of manufacture.
(2)Exceptions: Pole trailers and trailer converter dollies must meet the part 393 requirements for lamps, reflective devices and electrical equipment in effect at the time of manufacture. Trailers which are equipped with conspicuity material which meets the requirements of § 393.11(b) are not required to be equipped with the reflex reflectors listed in Table 1 if—
(i)The conspicuity material is placed at the locations where reflex reflectors are required by Table 1; and
(ii)The conspicuity material when installed on the motor vehicle meets the visibility requirements for the reflex reflectors.
(b)Conspicuity Systems. Each trailer of 2,032 mm (80 inches) or more overall width, and with a GVWR over 4,536 kg (10,000 pounds), manufactured on or after December 1, 1993, except pole trailers and trailers designed exclusively for living or office use, shall be equipped with either retroreflective sheeting that meets the requirements of FMVSS No. 108 (S5.7.1), reflex reflectors that meet the requirements FMVSS No. 108 (S5.7.2), or a combination of retroreflective sheeting and reflex reflectors that meet the requirements of FMVSS No. 108 (S5.7.3). The conspicuity system shall be installed and located as specified in FMVSS No. 108 [S5.7.1.4 (for retroreflective sheeting), S5.7.2.2 (for reflex reflectors), S5.7.3 (for a combination of sheeting and reflectors)] and have certification and markings as required by S5.7.1.5 (for retroreflective tape) and S5.7.2.3 (for reflex reflectors).
(c)Prohibition on the use of amber stop lamps and tail lamps. No commercial motor vehicle may be equipped with an amber stop lamp, a tail lamp, or other lamp which is optically combined with an amber stop lamp or tail lamp.
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| Item on the vehicle | Quantity | Color | Location | Position | Height above the road surface in millimeters (mm) (with English units in parenthesis) measured from the center of the lamp at curb weight | Vehicles for which the devices are required |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headlamps | 2 | White | Front | On the front at the same height, with an equal number at each side of the vertical center line as far apart as practicable | Not less than 559 mm (22 inches) nor more than 1,372 mm (54 inches) | A, B, C |
| Turn signal (front). See footnotes #2 and 12 | 2 | Amber | At or near the front | One on each side of the vertical centerline at the same height and as far apart as practicable | Not less than 381 mm (15 inches) nor more than 2,108 mm (83 inches) | A, B, C |
| Identification lamps (front). See footnote #1 | 3 | Amber | Front | As close as practicable to the top of the vehicle, at the same height, and as close as practicable to the vertical centerline of the vehicle (or the vertical centerline of the cab where different from the centerline of the vehicle) with lamp centers spaced not less than 152 mm (6 inches) or more than 305 mm (12 inches) apart. Alternatively, the front lamps may be located as close as practicable to the top of the cab | All three on the same level as close as practicable to the top of the motor vehicle | B, C |
| Tail lamps. See footnotes #5 and 11 | 2 | Red | Rear | One lamp on each side of the vertical centerline at the same height and as far apart as practicable | Both on the same level between 381 mm (15 inches) and 1,829 mm (72 inches) | A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H |
| Stop lamps. See footnotes #5 and 13 | 2 | Red | Rear | One lamp on each side of the vertical centerline at the same height and as far apart as practicable | Both on the same level between 381 mm (15 inches) and 1,829 mm (72 inches) | A, B, C, D, E, F, G |
| Clearance lamps. See footnotes #8, 9, 10, 15 & 17 | 2 | Amber | One on each side of the front of the vehicle | One on each side of the vertical centerline to indicate overall width | Both on the same level as high as practicable | B, C, D, G, H |
| 2 | Red | One on each side of the rear of the vehicle | One on each side of the vertical centerline to indicate overall width | Both on the same level as high as practicable | B, D, G, H | |
| Reflex reflector, intermediate (side) | 2 | Amber | One on each side | At or near the midpoint between the front and rear side marker lamps, if the length of the vehicle is more than 9,144 mm (30 feet) | Between 381 mm (15inches) and 1,524 (60 inches) | A, B, D, F, G |
| Reflex reflector (rear). See footnotes #5, 6, and 8 | 2 | Red | Rear | One on each side of the vertical centerline, as far apart as practicable and at the same height | Both on the same level, between 381 mm (15 inches) and 1,524 mm (60 inches) | A, B, C, D, E, F, G |
| Reflex reflector (rear side). | 2 | Red | One on each side (rear) | As far to the rear as practicable | Both on the same level, between 381 mm (15 inches) and 1,524 mm (60 inches) | A, B, D, F, G |
| Reflex reflector (front side). See footnote #16 | 2 | Amber | One on each side (front) | As far to the front as practicable | Between 381 mm (15 inches) and 1,524 mm (60 inches) | A, B, C, D, F, G |
| License plate lamp (rear). See footnote #11 | 1 | White | At rear license plate to illuminate the plate from the top or sides | No requirements | A, B, C, D, F, G | |
| Side marker lamp (front). See footnote #16 | 2 | Amber | One on each side | As far to the front as practicable | Not less than 381 mm (15 inches) | A, B, C, D, F |
| Side marker lamp intermediate | 2 | Amber | One on each side | At or near the midpoint between the front and rear side marker lamps, if the length of the vehicle is more than 9,144 mm (30 feet) | Not less tan 381 mm (15 inches) | A, B, D, F, G |
| Side marker lamp (rear). See footnotes #4 and 8 | 2 | Red | One on each side | As far to the rear as practicable | Not less than 381 mm (15 inches), and on the rear of trailers not more than 1,524 mm (60 inches) | A, B, D, F, G |
| Turn signal (rear). See footnotes #5 and 12 | 2 | Amber or red | Rear | One lamp on each side of the vertical centerline as far apart as practicable | Both on the same level, between 381 mm (15 inches) and 2,108 mm (83 inches) | A, B, C, D, E, F, G |
| Identification lamp (rear). See footnotes #3, 7, and 15 | 3 | Red | Rear | One as close as practicable to the vertical centerline. One on each side with lamp centers spaced not less than 152 mm (6 inches) or more than 305 mm (12 inches) apart | All three on the same level as close as practicable to the top of the vehicle | B, D, G |
| Vehicular hazard warning signal flasher lamps. See footnotes #5 and 12 | 2 | Amber | Front | One lamp on each side of the vertical centerline, as far apart as practicable | Both on the same level, between 381 mm (15 inches) and 2,108 mm (83 inches) | A, B, C |
| 2 | Amber or red | Rear | One lamp on each side of the vertical centerline, as far apart as practicable | Both on the same level, between 381 mm (15 inches) and 2,108 mm (83 inches) | A, B, C, D, E, F, G | |
| Backup lamp. See footnote #14 | 1 or 2 | White | Rear | Rear | No requirement | A, B, C |
| Parking lamp | 2 | Amber or white | Front | One lamp on each side of the vertical centerline, as far apart as practicable | Both on the same level, between 381 mm (15 inches) and 2,108 mm (83 inches) | A |
| Item on the vehicle | Quantity | Color | Location | Position | Height above the road surface in millimeters (mm) (with English units in parenthesis) measured from the center of the lamp at curb weight | Vehicles for which the devices are required |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headlamps | 2 | White | Front | On the front at the same height, with an equal number at each side of the vertical center line as far apart as practicable | Not less than 559 mm (22 inches) nor more than 1,372 mm (54 inches) | A, B, C |
| Turn signal (front). See footnotes #2 and 12 | 2 | Amber | At or near the front | One on each side of the vertical centerline at the same height and as far apart as practicable | Not less than 381 mm (15 inches) nor more than 2,108 mm (83 inches) | A, B, C |
| Identification lamps (front). See footnote #1 | 3 | Amber | Front | As close as practicable to the top of the vehicle, at the same height, and as close as practicable to the vertical centerline of the vehicle (or the vertical centerline of the cab where different from the centerline of the vehicle) with lamp centers spaced not less than 152 mm (6 inches) or more than 305 mm (12 inches) apart. Alternatively, the front lamps may be located as close as practicable to the top of the cab | All three on the same level as close as practicable to the top of the motor vehicle | B, C |
| Tail lamps. See footnotes #5 and 11 | 2 | Red | Rear | One lamp on each side of the vertical centerline at the same height and as far apart as practicable | Both on the same level between 381 mm (15 inches) and 1,829 mm (72 inches) | A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H |
| Stop lamps. See footnotes #5 and 13 | 2 | Red | Rear | One lamp on each side of the vertical centerline at the same height and as far apart as practicable | Both on the same level between 381 mm (15 inches) and 1,829 mm (72 inches) | A, B, C, D, E, F, G |
| Clearance lamps. See footnotes #8, 9, 10, 15 & 17 | 2 | Amber | One on each side of the front of the vehicle | One on each side of the vertical centerline to indicate overall width | Both on the same level as high as practicable | B, C, D, G, H |
| 2 | Red | One on each side of the rear of the vehicle | One on each side of the vertical centerline to indicate overall width | Both on the same level as high as practicable | B, D, G, H | |
| Reflex reflector, intermediate (side) | 2 | Amber | One on each side | At or near the midpoint between the front and rear side marker lamps, if the length of the vehicle is more than 9,144 mm (30 feet) | Between 381 mm (15inches) and 1,524 (60 inches) | A, B, D, F, G |
| Reflex reflector (rear). See footnotes #5, 6, and 8 | 2 | Red | Rear | One on each side of the vertical centerline, as far apart as practicable and at the same height | Both on the same level, between 381 mm (15 inches) and 1,524 mm (60 inches) | A, B, C, D, E, F, G |
| Reflex reflector (rear side). | 2 | Red | One on each side (rear) | As far to the rear as practicable | Both on the same level, between 381 mm (15 inches) and 1,524 mm (60 inches) | A, B, D, F, G |
| Reflex reflector (front side). See footnote #16 | 2 | Amber | One on each side (front) | As far to the front as practicable | Between 381 mm (15 inches) and 1,524 mm (60 inches) | A, B, C, D, F, G |
| License plate lamp (rear). See footnote #11 | 1 | White | At rear license plate to illuminate the plate from the top or sides | No requirements | A, B, C, D, F, G | |
| Side marker lamp (front). See footnote #16 | 2 | Amber | One on each side | As far to the front as practicable | Not less than 381 mm (15 inches) | A, B, C, D, F |
| Side marker lamp intermediate | 2 | Amber | One on each side | At or near the midpoint between the front and rear side marker lamps, if the length of the vehicle is more than 9,144 mm (30 feet) | Not less tan 381 mm (15 inches) | A, B, D, F, G |
| Side marker lamp (rear). See footnotes #4 and 8 | 2 | Red | One on each side | As far to the rear as practicable | Not less than 381 mm (15 inches), and on the rear of trailers not more than 1,524 mm (60 inches) | A, B, D, F, G |
| Turn signal (rear). See footnotes #5 and 12 | 2 | Amber or red | Rear | One lamp on each side of the vertical centerline as far apart as practicable | Both on the same level, between 381 mm (15 inches) and 2,108 mm (83 inches) | A, B, C, D, E, F, G |
| Identification lamp (rear). See footnotes #3, 7, and 15 | 3 | Red | Rear | One as close as practicable to the vertical centerline. One on each side with lamp centers spaced not less than 152 mm (6 inches) or more than 305 mm (12 inches) apart | All three on the same level as close as practicable to the top of the vehicle | B, D, G |
| Vehicular hazard warning signal flasher lamps. See footnotes #5 and 12 | 2 | Amber | Front | One lamp on each side of the vertical centerline, as far apart as practicable | Both on the same level, between 381 mm (15 inches) and 2,108 mm (83 inches) | A, B, C |
| 2 | Amber or red | Rear | One lamp on each side of the vertical centerline, as far apart as practicable | Both on the same level, between 381 mm (15 inches) and 2,108 mm (83 inches) | A, B, C, D, E, F, G | |
| Backup lamp. See footnote #14 | 1 or 2 | White | Rear | Rear | No requirement | A, B, C |
| Parking lamp | 2 | Amber or white | Front | One lamp on each side of the vertical centerline, as far apart as practicable | Both on the same level, between 381 mm (15 inches) and 2,108 mm (83 inches) | A |
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