Vehicle Lighting Requirements

TRUCKS, BUSES, MPVs

FEDERAL LIGHTING EQUIPMENT LOCATION REQUIREMENTS

IMPORTANT NOTE: Every lamp, reflex reflector, and conspicuity treatment (device) 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 vehicle 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 TRUCKS, BUSES & MPVs

DESCRIPTION MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS
Area Equipment (SAE Lens Coding) Functional
Purpose
Quantity Color Location Height mm (in.)
from the ground
1 Headlamps – Lower Beam (H, HR)
Attention: US: “DOT” lettering required on lens
Attention: US & Canada: light source code required on lens
Forward road illumination Minimum 2 White On the front – symmetrical – as far apart as practicable
(If 4 lamp system – outboard or above upper beams)
560-1370 (22-54)
Headlamps – Upper Beam (H, HR)
Attention: US: “DOT” lettering required on lens
Attention: US & Canada: light source code required on lens
Forward road illumination Minimum 2 White On the front – symmetrical
( If 4 lamp system – inboard or below lower beams )
560-1370 (22-54)
Parking Lamps-Attention: Required only on vehicles less than 2032mm wide (P) Indicate parked vehicle Minimum 2 White or Yellow Front – symmetrical – as far apart as practicable 380-1530 (15-60)
Daytime Running Lamps
Attention: for Canada required, for US optional.
(Y2)
Attention: for US, “DRL” lettering required on lens if device is not headlamp
Indicate in-use vehicle Minimum 2 White or Yellow Front – symmetrical – as far apart as practicable 380 (15) minimum Maximum depends on type of DRL
Front Turn Signal/Hazard Warning Lamps (l) Indicate direction of turn / identify disabled vehicle Minimum 2 Yellow Front – symmetrical – as far apart as practicable 380-2110 (15-83)
2 Front Clearance Lamps
Attention: Required for vehicles 2032mm wide or wider
(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
3 Front Identification Lamps (ID) (P2 or P3) Indicate presence of a wide vehicle Exactly 3 Yellow on the front – center – horizontally spaced 150 mm (6 in.) to 300 mm (12 in.) apart As high as practicable or on top of cab
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) Front and Rear side marker lamps / side Minimum 2 Yellow At front – symmetrical – as far forward as practicable – facing sideward 380-1530 (15-60)
5a Rear Side Marker Lamps ** (P2, PC* or P3, PC2*)
*photometrically certified at installation angle
reflex reflector indicate vehicle’s presence and length Minimum 2 Red Each side at rear – as far back as practicable 380 (15) minimum
5b Rear Side Reflex
Reflectors
**
** not required on Truck Tractors
(A) Minimum 2 Red Each side at rear – as far back as practicable – facing sideward 380-1530 (15-60)
6 Rear Clearance Lamps
Attention:
Required for vehicles 2032mm wide or wider, but not required on Truck Tractors
(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 rear ID lamps are at the top
7 Rear Identification Lamps
(ID)
Attention:
Required for vehicles 2032mm wide or wider, but not required on Truck Tractors
(P2 or P3 ) Indicate presence of a wide vehicle Exactly 3 Red Rear – center – horizontally spaced 150 mm (6 in.) to 300 mm (12 in.) apart, facing rearward in Canada : at the top – maybe lower if door header narrower than 25mm
in USA: as high as practicable
8 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/Hazard Warning Lamps ( I) Indicate direction of turn/ identifies disabled veh. Minimum 2 Red or Yellow On the rear – symmetrical – as far apart as practicable 380-2110 (15-83)
Rear Reflex Reflectors (A) Show vehicle’s presence and width Minimum 2 Red On the rear – symmetrical – as far apart as practicable – facing rearward 380-1530 (15-60)
9 Backup Lamp (R) Illuminate ground behind the vehicle and alert road users Minimum 1 White Rear No requirement
10 License Plate Lamp(s) (L) Illuminates license plate Minimum 1 White On the rear – above or at the sides of license plate No requirement
11 Center High Mounted Stop Lamp
Attention:
Required for vehicles less than 2032mm wide and 4536kg
(U3) Indicates braking Minimum 1 Red On the rear – centerline of the vehicle 860 (34) minimum

ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT FOR SPECIFIC VEHICLES

VEHICLES 9.1 m (30 ft.) LONG OR LONGER

DESCRIPTION MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS
Area Equipment (SAE Lens Coding) Functional
Purpose
Quantity Color Location Height mm (in.)
from the ground
12a Intermediate Side Marker Lamps (P2 or PC) Indicate presence of a long vehicle Minimum 2 Yellow Each side near center 380 (15) minimum
12b Intermediate Side Reflex Reflectors (A) Indicate presence of a long vehicle Minimum 2 Yellow Each side near center – facing sideward 380-1530 (15-60)

TRUCK TRACTORS

DESCRIPTION MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS
Area Conspicuity Treatment DOT Code Quantity Color Location Height Options
13 Rear Upper Body Marking DOT-C, DOT-C2, DOT-C3, or DOT-C4 Exactly 2 pairs of 300mm long strips White Rear upper corners of cab – facing rearward As high as practicable excluding fairings
14 Rear Marking DOT-C, DOT-C2, DOT-C3, or DOT-C4 Exactly 2 sections of min. 600mm each Red/White Rear – facing rearward – on fenders, on mud flaps brackets, or within 300mm below of the top of mud flaps As horizontal as practicable and not higher than 1525 mm from the ground If mud flaps not used – on the cab or frame mounted brackets
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) and Section 108 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations (Canada).

State or Provincial regulations, where they may apply, have not been included.

Have questions about vehicle lighting requirements?

If you have any questions, please contact us.