| MPORTANT NOTE: Every lamp, reflex reflector, and conspicuity treatment (device) must be permanently attached in the location listed below and meet all FMVSS/CMVSS 108 requirements. Any device on the front, back, or sides of the car should have its face perpendicular to the vehicle’s centerline or parallel to it, unless it is photometrically certified at the installation angle. No part of the vehicle can stop a device from meeting its requirements unless an extra device is installed that meets all of the requirements. In Canada, manufacturers and importers of vehicles must have the right certification test records to show that the lights meet all requirements. |
BASIC LIGHTING SPECIFIED FOR ALL TRAILERS
| DESCRIPTION | MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Equipment | (SAE Lens Coding) | Functional Purpose | Quantity | Color | Location | Height mm (in.) from the ground |
| 1 | Tail Lamps | (T) | Indicate vehicle’s presence and width | Minimum 2 | Red | On the rear – symmetrical – as far apart as practicable | 380-1830 (15-72) |
| Stop Lamps | (S) | Indicate braking | Minimum 2 | Red | On the rear – symmetrical – as far apart as practicable | 380-1830 (15-72) | |
| Rear Turn Signal Lamps | ( I) | Indicate direction of turn | Minimum 2 | Red or Yellow | On the rear – symmetrical – as far apart as practicable | 380-2110 (15-83) | |
| Rear Reflex Reflectors | (A) | Indicate vehicle’s presence and width | Minimum 2 | Red | On the rear – symmetrical – as far apart as practicable- facing rearward | 380-1530 (15-60) | |
| 2 | License Plate Lamp(s) | (L) | Illuminates license plate | Minimum 1 | White | On the rear – above or at the sides of license plate | No requirement |
| 3 | Rear Side Marker Lamps | (P2,PC* or P3, PC2*) *photometrically certified at installation angle | Front and rear side marker lamps / side reflex reflectors indicate vehicle’s presence and length | Minimum 2 | Red | Each side at rear – as far back as practicable | 380-1530 (15-60) no max. for veh. under 2.032m(80″) wide |
| Rear Side Reflex Reflectors | (A) | Minimum 2 | Red | Each side at rear – as far back as practicable facing sideward | 380-1530 (15-60) | ||
| 4a | Front Side Marker Lamps | (P2, PC* or P3, PC2*) * photometrically certified at installation angle | Minimum 2 | Yellow | Each side at front – as far forward as practicable | 380 (15) minimum | |
| 4b | Front Side Reflex Reflectors | (A) | Minimum 2 | Yellow | Each side at front – as far forward as practicable facing sideward | 380-1530 (15-60) |
ADDITIONAL LIGHTING SPECIFIED FOR TRAILERS EXCEEDING THE FOLLOWING PARAMETERS
LENGTH 9.1 m (30 ft.) OR LONGER
| DESCRIPTION | MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Equipment | (SAE Lens Coding) | Functional Purpose | Quantity | Color | Location | Height mm (in.) from the ground |
| 5a | Intermediate Side Marker Lamps | (P2 or P3) | Indicate presence of a long vehicle | Minimum 2 | Yellow | Each side near center – facing sideward | 380 (15) minimum |
| 5b | Intermediate Side Reflex Reflectors | (A) | Indicate presence of a long vehicle | Minimum 2 | Yellow | Each side near center – facing sideward | 380-1530 (15-60) |
LIGHTING REQUIRED FOR TRAILERS WITH A WIDTH 2.032 m (80 in.) OR WIDER
| DESCRIPTION | MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Equipment | (SAE Lens Coding) | Functional Purpose | Quantity | Color | Location | Height |
| 6 | Rear Clearance Lamps | (P2, PC*or P3, PC2*) * photometrically certified at installation angle | Show vehicle’s width – MAY NOT be combined with tail lamps | Minimum 2 | Red | At widest point – symmetrical – on the rear or near the rear – facing rearward | As high as practicable – may be lower only if ID lamps are at the top |
| 7 | Rear Identification Lamps | (P2 or P3) | Indicate presence of a wide vehicle | Exactly 3 | Red | On the rear – center, facing rearward – horizontally spaced 150 mm (6 in.) to 300 mm (12 in.) apart | in Canada : at the top – maybe lower if door header narrower than 25 mm in USA: as high as practicable |
| 8 | Front Clearance Lamps | (P2, PC*or P3, PC2*) * photometrically certified at installation angle | Show vehicle’s width | Minimum 2 | Yellow | At widest point – symmetrical – as far forward as practicable – facing forward | As high as practicable |
TRAILER LIGHTING REQUIRED FOR WIDTHS 2.032 m (80 in.) OR WIDER AND GVWR 4536 kg (10,000 lb.) OR MORE
| DESCRIPTION | MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Conspicuity Treatment | DOT Coding | Quantity | Color | Location | Height | OPTIONS |
| 9 | Rear Upper Body Marking | DOT-C, DOT-C2, DOT-C3, or DOT-C4 | Exactly 2 pairs of 300mm long strips | White | On the rear upper corners – facing rearward | At the top | Reflex reflectors may not be required if they are replaced, in their required location, with conspicuity treatment Optional in CanadaRear lower body and side conspicuity treatment may also be solid white, solid yellow, or white and yellow. |
| 10 | Bumper Bar Marking | Continuous | Red/White | On the rear bumper bar’s horizontal element – full width – facing rearward | No requirement | ||
| 11 | Rear Lower Body Marking | Continuous | Red/White see options | On the rear – full width of the vehicle – facing rearward | As horizontal as practicable and as close as practicable to the range of 375 to 1525 mm from the ground | ||
| 12 | Side Marking | see location | Red/White see options | Each side – facing sideward – continuous, or evenly spaced over minimum of 50% of length, starts and ends as close to the front and rear or vehicle as practicable | As horizontal as practicable and as close as practicable to the range of 375 to 1525 mm from the ground |
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This table summarizes lighting equipment requirements contained in Federal/Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108. For complete compliance requirements, consult Title 49 – Code of Federal Regulations-Section 571.108 (USA) or Section 108 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (Canada).
Steven Cole (Economics, MBA – University of West Florida , Business & Innovation – Stanford University) 25 years of experience in the reflective safety business. Specializing in vehicle accident and rear end collision reduction through increased visibility.
