Conspicuity Tape on Trailers

[JPope]

You see the alternating red/silver tape on trailer sides, backs of semi-trailers, gooseneck trailers. My understanding is that his type of reflector tape (for at least 50% of the trailer length) is a DOT requirement for semi-trailers > 10,000#. They are also required to have an inverted L of silver at the upper corners, and all of the way across the back of the trailer, etc.

I also see this type of reflector tape on newer gooseneck trailers. I drive by the Featherlite plant warranty repair place just about every week, and see the tape on the gooseneck stock trailers, including ones that appear to have living quarters in the front. But you do not see this tape on 5th wheel trailers, motorhomes (BIG $expensive$ looking ones in the Featherlite yard).



1. Is it required for RV's (5th wheel,motorhomes, etc. )? A gooseneck w/LQ is considered a RV, so why do they install it on these trailers? Cheap to install vs. potential liability?

2. What about older trailers, is it required to update, or would you be considered to be compliant with whatever was legal at the time of manufacturing (per the weight tag on the trailer, complies with all regulations at time of manufacturering date__________. ) Is trailer length a factor or just GVW?



I know RV's are different, but the 'sobering/are you legal' thread got me to wondering so what are your thoughts?

Maybe the guys who enforce the regulations can respond, as they did on the other thread?

 

[DennyDay]

Reflective tape

Is required on any commercial trailer thirty (30) feet or longer, including the draw bar. For liability reasons most users have addad tape to all trailers.



Denny

 

[jelag]

There is a DOT standard for this and mandated 2 years ago as I remember for commerical trailers... and now your also seeing it on new railroad cars..... I've put it on my travel trailer, and on the back of all my trucks... .



CD Day is right about the trailer length but if makes the trailer stand out so well it only seems prudent to put it on all your stuff..... When I bought a roll for my trailers I bought 3-M at the time..... better warranty and I thought more reflectivity... but a roll was like 165. 00... ... I followed the DOT guidelines for all my installations.....



Jim

 

[y-knot]

Thr RV industry in this country is large enough to effectively have their way with reguards to laws and regulations governing requirments, and licensing.

That red/silver reflective tape you see is their because the DOT requires it, if they did not it sure wouldn't be there, it is very expensive a little over $1 /foot. All trailers with a wieght rating of 10,000lbs or more must have it down the complete bottom sides,back and. There are many regulations reguarding marker light placement and qunity, such as with vehicles that are rated to pull over 10,000lb like the dually. Those cab lights and rear tailgate lights are not there because they are pretty, the federal goverment requires that they be there, and working. The RV industry continuosly manages to been the laws in their favor, for better or worse that is just how it is. Without this special treatment the RV industry would be in a world of hurt, large RV owners would be required to have CDL's and they would also be required to outfit their trucks and trailers like everyone else. This would most likely hurt the RV industry, not to many would pass the required test to accure the CDL, and I suppose the industry would suffer.

I Have a 36' tri-axle gooseneck Toy box, it is considered a commercial trailer, so yes I have the reflective tape all long my bottom.



#ad

 

[QRTRHRS]

For more info on conspicuity tape, see here. http://www.truckroadservice.com/reflective.html



I like to be seen so I would readily retrofit any utility or horse trailer that did not have the tape. I have even seen "horses" spelled out with it on the back of a trailer. I suppose you could argue that an RV would not look so good with it. That is unless it was a requirement.

 

[lawdog]

This was copied from the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administraion)

site.





Regulations



§ 393. 13 Retroreflective sheeting and reflex reflectors, requirements for semitrailers and trailers manufactured before December 1, 1993.



(a) Applicability. All trailers and semitrailers manufactured prior to December 1, 1993, which have an overall width of 2,032 mm (80 inches) or more and a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 kg (10,001 pounds) or more, except trailers that are manufactured exclusively for use as offices or dwellings, pole trailers (as defined in § 390. 5 of this subchapter), and trailers transported in a driveaway-towaway operation, must be equipped with retroreflective sheeting or an array of reflex reflectors that meet the requirements of this section. Motor carriers operating trailers, other than container chassis (as defined in § 393. 5 ), have until June 1, 2001, to comply with the requirements of this section. Motor carriers operating container chassis have until December 1, 2001, to comply with the requirements of this section.



(b) Retroreflective sheeting and reflex reflectors. Motor carriers are encouraged to retrofit their trailers with a conspicuity system that meets all of the requirements applicable to trailers manufactured on or after December 1, 1993, including the use of retroreflective sheeting or reflex reflectors in a red and white pattern (see Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108 (49 CFR 571. 108 ), S5. 7, Conspicuity systems ). Motor carriers which do not retrofit their trailers to meet the requirements of FMVSS No. 108, for example by using an alternative color pattern, must comply with the remainder of this paragraph and with paragraph (c) or (d) of this section. Retroreflective sheeting or reflex reflectors in colors or color combinations other than red and white may be used on the sides or lower rear area of the semitrailer or trailer until June 1, 2009. The alternate color or color combination must be uniform along the sides and lower rear area of the trailer. The retroreflective sheeting or reflex reflectors on the upper rear area of the trailer must be white and conform to the requirements of FMVSS No. 108 (S5. 7). Red retroreflective sheeting or reflex reflectors shall not be used along the sides of the trailer unless it is used as part of a red and white pattern. Retroreflective sheeting shall have a width of at least 50 mm (2 inches).



(c) Locations for retroreflective sheeting --



(c)(1) Sides . Retroreflective sheeting shall be applied to each side of the trailer or semitrailer. Each strip of retroreflective sheeting shall be positioned as horizontally as practicable, beginning and ending as close to the front and rear as practicable. The strip need not be continuous but the sum of the length of all of the segments shall be at least half of the length of the trailer and the spaces between the segments of the strip shall be distributed as evenly as practicable. The centerline for each strip of retroreflective sheeting shall be between 375 mm (15 inches) and 1,525 mm (60 inches) above the road surface when measured with the trailer empty or unladen, or as close as practicable to this area. If necessary to clear rivet heads or other similar obstructions, 50 mm (2 inches) wide retroreflective sheeting may be separated into two 25 mm (1 inch) wide strips of the same length and color, separated by a space of not more than 25 mm (1 inch).



(c)(2) Lower rear area. The rear of each trailer and semitrailer must be equipped with retroreflective sheeting. Each strip of retroreflective sheeting shall be positioned as horizontally as practicable, extending across the full width of the trailer, beginning and ending as close to the extreme edges as practicable. The centerline for each of the strips of retroreflective sheeting shall be between 375 mm (15 inches) and 1,525 mm (60 inches) above the road surface when measured with the trailer empty or unladen, or as close as practicable to this area.



(c)(3) Upper rear area. Two pairs of white strips of retroreflective sheeting, each pair consisting of strips 300 mm (12 inches) long, must be positioned horizontally and vertically on the right and left upper corners of the rear of the body of each trailer and semitrailer, as close as practicable to the top of the trailer and as far apart as practicable. If the perimeter of the body, as viewed from the rear, is not square or rectangular, the strips may be applied along the perimeter, as close as practicable to the uppermost and outermost areas of the rear of the body on the left and right sides.



(d) Locations for reflex reflectors. --



(d)(1) Sides . Reflex reflectors shall be applied to each side of the trailer or semitrailer. Each array of reflex reflectors shall be positioned as horizontally as practicable, beginning and ending as close to the front and rear as practicable. The array need not be continuous but the sum of the length of all of the array segments shall be at least half of the length of the trailer and the spaces between the segments of the strip shall be distributed as evenly as practicable. The centerline for each array of reflex reflectors shall be between 375 mm (15 inches) and 1,525 mm (60 inches) above the road surface when measured with the trailer empty or unladen, or as close as practicable to this area. The center of each reflector shall not be more than 100 mm (4 inches) from the center of each adjacent reflector in the segment of the array. If reflex reflectors are arranged in an alternating color pattern, the length of reflectors of the first color shall be as close as practicable to the length of the reflectors of the second color.



(d)(2) Lower rear area . The rear of each trailer and semitrailer must be equipped with reflex reflectors. Each array of reflex reflectors shall be positioned as horizontally as practicable, extending across the full width of the trailer, beginning and ending as close to the extreme edges as practicable. The centerline for each array of reflex reflectors shall be between 375 mm (15 inches) and 1,525 mm (60 inches) above the road surface when measured with the trailer empty or unladen, or as close as practicable to this area. The center of each reflector shall not be more than 100 mm (4 inches) from the center of each adjacent reflector in the segment of the array.



(d)(3) Upper rear area . Two pairs of white reflex reflector arrays, each pair at least 300 mm (12 inches) long, must be positioned horizontally and vertically on the right and left upper corners of the rear of the body of each trailer and semitrailer, as close as practicable to the top of the trailer and as far apart as practicable. If the perimeter of the body, as viewed from the rear, is not square or rectangular, the arrays may be applied along the perimeter, as close as practicable to the uppermost and outermost areas of the rear of the body on the left and right sides. The center of each reflector shall not be more than 100 mm (4 inches) from the center of each adjacent reflector in the segment of the array.



[64 FR 15605, Mar. 31, 1999, as amended at 66 FR 30339, June 6, 2001]

 

[JStraw]

Reference to Y-Knots posting... "All trailers with a wieght rating of 10,000lbs or more must have it down the complete bottom sides,back and. There are many regulations reguarding marker light placement and qunity, such as with vehicles that are rated to pull over 10,000lb like the dually. "



Question: Why doesn't the single axle 3500 have tailgate lighting? I'm thinking it has more to do with the width of the vehicle rather than the tow capacity. Anyone know???

 

[QRTRHRS]

Your correct. Anything over 80 inches in width needs the extra markers. See 393. 11 here. http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rulesregs/fmcsr/regs/393.htm 393. 13 explains the retroactive requirements for conspicuity tape by the way.

 

[JStraw]

Thanks Oo.

 

[Jim Smith]

Oh NO

Holy mackeral not another liability issue to be concerned about in our already CRAZY litigious society.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Holy mackeral not another liability issue to be concerned about in our already CRAZY litigious society.

Depends on your point of view. Back in the seventies, I knew a couple who broad sided a flatbed that someone was backing across a three lane road at night. The sidelights were not working. She was decapitated and he wore a neck brace for a long time afterwards. I don't know if he strained it or broke it. Anyway, this particular accident helped lead the way towards the tape laws.



I happen to like to be seen. Tape works if you keep it clean. With a little thought, you can add it even if not required and it won't detract from your utility trailer. Perhaps that might prevent a lawsuit.

 

[HBarlow]

I've been traveling a lot this year with my TT and have noticed how effective this reflective tape is on the big rigs. Adding conspicuity tape to my 5er would increase nighttime visibility and increase safety when parked overnight.



Does anyone have suggestions for sources to buy conspicuity tape at fair prices?



Harvey

 

[Jack in Alaska]

I have it on my 2004 Mobile Suites and also on the back of my truck.

Anything that makes me more visible out on the roads is a big plus in my estimation.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Does anyone have suggestions for sources to buy conspicuity tape at fair prices?Harvey

Be aware, not all tape is the same. For example, gemples.com claims their's has 47,000 microprisms per square inch and is three times more effective than others. Overall, you might get sticker shock when you check prices. It's not cheap. You can also find one inch high plastic strips that either use sticky backing or can be screwed on. They are as legel as the 2 inch wide tape. I think AW Direct carries those. In some cases, they might look better.

 

[lawdog]

I like the 3M Diamond Grade... . do a search on 3M conspicuity and you should find it. Local truck shops get abour $1. 50 fer ft, but I am sure it could be had cheaper.

 

[HBarlow]

Thanks for the suggestions and info. A friend told me Southwest Wheel carries it. I'll check them also.



Harvey

 

[Graphic man]

look for a graphic supply place for the best $$$

iam sure there are a few in your area

sign shops can get it for you too but they will charge you more $$$

3M or Avery is a good choice