Trailer Tape Retrofit Approved

Older trailers will have to be retrofitted with reflective tape or reflectors within two years, under a final rule from the Federal Highway Administration.

It is the first time the agency has required trucking companies to retrofit older vehicles to meet standards applied to new vehicles. The order affects trailers manufactured before Dec. 1, 1993, and still in use.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has required trailer makers to equip their products with red and white reflective tape or hard plastic reflector strips since then.

American Trucking Associations did not oppose retrofitting older trailers, but the trucking lobby did ask for more flexibility and more time to install the reflective materials.

“We asked for five years,” said Larry Strawhorn, ATA’s vice president of engineering.

Although it is a final rule, FHWA may seek further comments. The rule will not go into effect until 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register. No publication date has been set, according to an agency spokesman.

For the full story, see the March 29 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.