Table 1 of § 393.11 -Required Lamps and Reflectors on Commercial Motor Vehicles
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 |
LEGEND: TYPES OF COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLES SHOWN IN THE LAST COLUMN OF TABLE 1.
NOTE: Lamps and reflectors may be combined as permitted by § 393.22 and S5.4 of 49 CFR 571.108 , Equipment combinations.
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 manufactured on or after March 1, 1979, shall be equipped with rear side-marker lamps at a height of not less than 381 mm (15 inches), and on the rear of trailers not more than 1,524 mm (60 inches) above the road surface, as measured from the center of the lamp on the vehicle at curb weight.
Footnote-5 Each converter dolly, when towed singly by another vehicle and not as part of a full trailer, shall be equipped with one stop lamp, one tail lamp, and two reflectors (one on each side of the vertical centerline, as far apart as practicable) on the rear. Each converter dolly shall be equipped with rear turn signals and vehicular hazard warning signal flasher lamps when towed singly by another vehicle and not as part of a full trailer, if the converter dolly obscures the turn signals at the rear of the towing vehicle.
Footnote-6 Pole trailers shall be equipped with two reflex reflectors on the rear, one on each side of the vertical centerline as far apart as practicable, to indicate the extreme width of the trailer.
Footnote-7 Pole trailers, when towed by motor vehicles with rear identification lamps meeting the requirements of § 393.11 and mounted at a height greater than the load being transported on the pole trailer, are not required to have rear identification lamps.
Footnote-8 Pole trailers shall have on the rearmost support for the load: (1) two front clearance lamps, one on each side of the vehicle, both on the same level and as high as practicable to indicate the overall width of the pole trailer; (2) two rear clearance lamps, one on each side of the vehicle, both on the same level and as high as practicable to indicate the overall width of the pole trailer; (3) two rear side marker lamps, one on each side of the vehicle, both on the same level, not less than 375 mm (15 inches) above the road surface; (4) two rear reflex reflectors, one on each side, both on the same level, not less than 375 mm (15 inches) above the road surface to indicate maximum width of the pole trailer; and (5) one red reflector on each side of the rearmost support for the load. Lamps and reflectors may be combined as allowed in § 393.22 .
Footnote-9 Any motor vehicle transporting a load which extends more than 102 mm (4 inches) beyond the overall width of the motor vehicle shall be equipped with the following lamps in addition to other required lamps when operated during the hours when headlamps are required to be used.
Footnote-10 Projections beyond rear of motor vehicles. Motor vehicles transporting loads which extend more than 1,219 mm (4 feet) beyond the rear of the motor vehicle, or which have tailboards or tailgates extending more than 1,219 mm (4 feet) beyond the body, shall have these projections marked as follows when the vehicle is operated during the hours when headlamps are required to be used:
Footnote-11 To be illuminated when headlamps are illuminated. No rear license plate lamp is required on vehicles that do not display a rear license plate.
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 § 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.
Footnote-15
Footnote-16 A trailer subject to this part that is less than 1829 mm (6 feet) in overall length, including the trailer tongue, need not be equipped with front side marker lamps and front side reflex reflectors.
Footnote-17 A boat trailer subject to this part whose overall width is 2032 mm (80 inches) or more need not be equipped with both front and rear clearance lamps provided an amber (front) and red (rear) clearance lamp is located at or near the midpoint on each side so as to indicate its extreme width.
49 C.F.R. §393.11