Trailers: Federal Lighting Equipment Location Requirements

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IMPORTANT NOTE: Every lamp, reflex reflector, and conspicuity treatment must be permanently attached in the location specified below and must comply with all applicable requirements prescribed for it by FMVSS/CMVSS 108.  The face of any device on the front/rear and sides should be, respectively perpendicular and parallel to the vehicles centerline unless it is photometrically certified at installation angle.  No part of the vehicle shall prevent any device from meeting its prescribed requirements unless an auxiliary device meeting all prescribed requirements is installed.
IN CANADA: Manufacturers and importers of vehicles must have the proper certification test records demonstrating compliance of lighting components with all prescribed requirements.

BASIC EQUIPMENT REQUIRED ON ALL TRAILERS

 DESCRIPTION  MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS
Area Equipment SAE Lens Coding Functional Purpose Quantity Colour Location Height mm (in.) from ground
 
 
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)
License Plate Lamp(s) (L) Illuminates license plate Minimum
1
White On the rear - above or at the sides of license plate No requirement
Rear Side Marker Lamps (P2, PC* OR P3, PC2*)
*photometrically certified at installation angle
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 2032mm (80"") wide
Rear Side Reflex Reflectors (A) Indicate vehicle's presence and length Minimum
2
Red Each side at rear as far back as practicable facing sideward 380-1530
(15-60)
Front Side Marker Lamps
(P2, PC* OR P3, PC2*)
*photometrically certified at installation angle
Indicate vehicle's presence and length Minimum
2
Yellow Each side at front as far forward as practicable 380 (15) minimum
Front Side Reflex Reflectors
(A) Indicate vehicle's presence and length Minimum
2
Yellow Each side at front as far forward as practicable facing sideward 380-1530
(15-60)

ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT FOR TRAILERS EXCEEDING THE FOLLOWING PARAMETERS
Length 9.1m (30 ft.) or longer

 DESCRIPTION  MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS
Area Equipment SAE Lens Coding Functional Purpose Quantity Colour Location Height mm (in.) from ground
 
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
Intermediate Side Reflex Reflectors
(A) Indicate presence of a long vehicle Minimum
2
Yellow Each side near center facing sideward 380-1530
(15-60)

Width 2032mm (80 in.) or wider

 DESCRIPTION  MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS
Area Equipment SAE Lens Coding Functional Purpose Quantity Colour Location Height mm (in.) from ground
 
Rear Clearance Lamps (P2, PC* OR P3, PC2*)
*photometrically certified at installation angle
Show vehicle's width MAY NOT be combined with 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
Rear Identification (ID) Lamps (P2 or P3) Indicate presence of a wide vehicle Exactly
3
Red On the rear - centre horizontally spaced 150mm (6 in.) to 300mm (12 in.) apart facing rearward At the top - may be lower if door header narrower than 25mm
Front Clearance Lamps (P2, PC* OR P3, PC2*)
*photometrically certified at installation angle
Show vehicle's width Minimum
2
Yellow At widest point symmetrical on the front or near the front facing forward As high as practicable

Width 2032mm (80 in.) or wider AND GVWR 4536 kg (10,000 lb.) or more

 DESCRIPTION  MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS
Area Conspicuity Treatment DOT Coding Quantity Colour Location Height Options
Rear Upper Body Markings DOT-C
DOT-C2
DOT-C3
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 Canada:
Rear lower body and side conspicuity treatment may also be solid white, solid yellow, or white and yellow
Bumper Bar Marking DOT-C
DOT-C2
DOT-C3
DOT-C4
Continuous Red/White On the rear bumper bar's horizontal element full width - facing rearward No requirement
Rear Lower Body Marking DOT-C
DOT-C2
DOT-C3
DOT-C4
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 1525mm from the ground
Side Marking DOT-C
DOT-C2
DOT-C3
DOT-C4
(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 of the vehicle as practicable As horizontal as practicable and as close as practicable to the range of 375 to 1525mm from the ground
NOTE: The edge of red conspicuity tape shall not be closer than 75 mm to the edge of any amber lamp and the edge of white conspicuity tape shall not be closer than 75 mm to the edge of any lamp
 

If you need an alternative format or for more information, please contact us by e-mail at mvs-sa@tc.gc.ca or call toll free 1-800-333-0371 (Ottawa area (613) 998-8616).