Trucking Regulations

Part 393--Parts & Accessories For Safe Operation

[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 49, Volume 4]

[Revised as of October 1, 2003]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 49CFR393.86]

[Page 1133-1134]

TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION

CHAPTER III--FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION,

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

PART 393--PARTS AND ACCESSORIES NECESSARY FOR SAFE OPERATION--Table of Contents

Subpart G--Miscellaneous Parts and Accessories

Sec. 393.86 Rear impact guards and rear end protection.

(a)(1) General requirements for trailers and semitrailers

manufactured on or after January 26, 1998. Each trailer and semitrailer

with a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 kg (10,000 pounds) or more,

and manufactured on or after January 26, 1998, must be equipped with a

rear impact guard that meets the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle

Safety Standard No. 223 (49 CFR 571.223) in effect at the time the

vehicle was manufactured. When the rear impact guard is installed on the

trailer or semitrailer, the vehicle must, at a minimum, meet the

requirements of FMVSS No. 224 (49 CFR 571.224) in effect at the time the

vehicle was manufactured. The requirements of paragraph (a) of this

section do not apply to pole trailers (as defined in Sec. 390.5 of this

chapter); pulpwood trailers, low chassis vehicles, special purpose

vehicles, wheels back vehicles (as defined in Sec. 393.5); and trailers

towed in driveaway-towaway operations (as defined in Sec. 390.5).

(2) Impact guard width. The outermost surfaces of the horizontal

member of the guard must extend to within 100 mm (4 inches) of the side

extremities of the vehicle. The outermost surface of the horizontal

member shall not extend beyond the side extremity of the vehicle.

(3) Guard height. The vertical distance between the bottom edge of

the horizontal member of the guard and

[Page 1134]

the ground shall not exceed 560 mm (22 inches) at any point across the

full width of the member. Guards with rounded corners may curve upward

within 255 mm (10 inches) of the longitudinal vertical planes that are

tangent to the side extremities of the vehicle.

(4) Guard rear surface. At any height 560 mm (22 inches) or more

above the ground, the rearmost surface of the horizontal member of the

guard must be within 305 mm (12 inches) of the rear extremity of the

vehicle. This paragraph shall not be construed to prohibit the rear

surface of the guard from extending beyond the rear extremity of the

vehicle. Guards with rounded corners may curve forward within 255 mm (10

inches) of the side extremity.

(5) Cross-sectional vertical height. The horizontal member of each

guard must have a cross sectional vertical height of at least 100 mm

(3.94 inches) at any point across the guard width.

(6) Certification and labeling requirements for rear impact

protection guards. Each rear impact guard used to satisfy the

requirements of paragraph (a)(1) of this section must be permanently

marked or labeled as required by FMVSS No. 223 (49 CFR 571.223, S5.3).

The label must be on the forward-facing surface of the horizontal member

of the guard, 305 mm (12 inches) inboard of the right end of the guard.

The certification label must contain the following information:

(i) The impact guard manufacturer's name and address;

(ii) The statement ``Manufactured in ----'' (inserting the month and

year that the guard was manufactured); and,

(iii) The letters ``DOT'', constituting a certification by the guard

manufacturer that the guard conforms to all requirements of FMVSS No.

223.

(b)(1) Requirements for motor vehicles manufactured after December

31, 1952 (except trailers or semitrailers manufactured on or after

January 26, 1998). Each motor vehicle manufactured after December 31,

1952, (except truck tractors, pole trailers, pulpwood trailers, or

vehicles in driveaway-towaway operations) in which the vertical distance

between the rear bottom edge of the body (or the chassis assembly if the

chassis is the rearmost part of the vehicle) and the ground is greater

than 76.2 cm (30 inches) when the motor vehicle is empty, shall be

equipped with a rear impact guard(s). The rear impact guard(s) must be

installed and maintained in such a manner that:

(i) The vertical distance between the bottom of the guard(s) and the

ground does not exceed 76.2 cm (30 inches) when the motor vehicle is

empty;

(ii) The maximum lateral distance between the closest points between

guards, if more than one is used, does not exceed 61 cm (24 inches);

(iii) The outermost surfaces of the horizontal member of the guard

are no more than 45.7 cm (18 inches) from each side extremity of the

motor vehicle;

(iv) The impact guard(s) are no more than 61 cm (24 inches) forward

of the rear extremity of the motor vehicle.

(2) Construction and attachment. The rear impact guard(s) must be

substantially constructed and attached by means of bolts, welding, or

other comparable means.

(3) Vehicle components and structures that may be used to satisfy

the requirements of paragraph (b) of this section. Low chassis vehicles,

special purpose vehicles, or wheels back vehicles constructed and

maintained so that the body, chassis, or other parts of the vehicle

provide the rear end protection comparable to impact guard(s) conforming

to the requirements of paragraph (b)(1) of this section shall be

considered to be in compliance with those requirements.

[64 FR 47708, Sept. 1, 1999, as amended at 67 FR 61824, Oct. 2, 2002]