It is a legal requirement for trailers to have appropriate lighting. The location of the lights, their height from the ground, and their color are important specifications you should remember to save you from legal troubles in the future. Each light has a specific function that increases your visibility to safeguard your trailer and yourself from potential hazards and accidents. Learn about the basic trailer light requirements and any additional modifications concurrent with trailer size.
Basic Trailer Light Requirements
Regardless of the width and length of your trailer, all trucks are required to have at least 9 pieces of light equipment. You will need:
- Tall Lamps
- Stop Lamps
- Front Side Marker Lamps
- Front Side Reflex Reflectors
- License Plate Lamps
- Rear Turn Signal Lamps
- Rear and Rear Side Reflex Reflectors
- And Rear Side Marker Lamps
Specifications
To start, trailers need a minimum of two red tall lamps. The placement is 15″ to 72″ in height from the ground. Trailers are also required to have a minimum of two red stop lamps. These should also be 15″ to 72″ from the ground to indicate when you are breaking. All trailers are also obligated to have two red or amber rear turn signal lamps. They are positioned 15″ to 83″ from the ground to show the direction of a turn. In addition to this, trailers are also required to have two red rear reflex reflectors placed 15″ to 60″ off the ground. All of these lights have a required placement at the rear end of the trailer. They should be positioned as symmetrical as possible.
In order to indicate vehicle presence and length, your trailer should also have rear side and front side marker lamps and rear side and front side reflex reflectors. The rear side lamps and reflectors should be placed at the rear end of the trailer and positioned 15″ to 60″ from the ground. Both should have a minimum of two lights respectively (one for each side) in the color red. On the other hand, the front side marker lamps and reflex reflectors are amber and should be placed 15″ to 16″ from the ground. The front side marker lamps should be installed on each side of the trailer at the front. Lastly, trailers need a white license plate lamp on the rear placed above or at the side of the license plate.
Trailer Light Requirements for a Length of 30″ or Longer
If your trailer is 30 inches or longer, there are two additional requirements to be aware of. The first requirement is intermediate side marker lamps that should be a minimum of 15″ from the ground. The second requirement is intermediate side reflex reflectors that should be positioned 15″ to 60″ from the ground. Also, both require a minimum of two amber lights each and should be placed on each side of the trailer near the center.
Requirements for a Width of 80″ or Wider
Trailers that are 80″ or wider need rear identification lamps and rear and front clearance lamps. Your trailer needs 3 rear identification lamps in the color red placed 15″ to 60″ from the ground. The lamps should be placed horizontally 6″ to 12″ apart on the rear. They should be centered and facing rearward. On the other hand, the rear clearance lamps should both be placed at the widest points of the trailer near the rear and facing rearward. They should be 15″ minimum from the ground and in the color red. The front clearance lamps should both be placed as high as possible at the widest point. They should be facing forward in the color amber.
Conspicuity Treatment for 80″ or Wider and GVWR of 10,000lbs
Trailers that have a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of 10,000lbs and are 80″ or wider need conspicuity treatment. This is needed for the rear upper body, bumper bar, rear lower body, and side. The rear upper body marking should be 2 pairs of 300mm strips in white on the rear upper corners facing rearward. The bumper bar marking should be a continuous red or white strip placed on the rear bumper. Additionally, the rear lower body marking should also be a continuous red or white strip. It should be placed on the rear taking up the full width of the trailer. Lastly, the side marking should be placed on each side.
Following these regulations will keep you and others safe on the road! For illustrations and a more comprehensive review of trailer light requirements, download our guide. Remember that Custer sells reflective tape, trailer lights, reflective tape, and more that are DOT certified. Contact us to learn more and take advantage of our prices today.
