Not sure if the reflective tape on your semi-trailers is in the right place? Here’s what you need to know about Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) requirements for reflective tape (also known as conspicuity tape) on semi-trailers.
The Rules
Semi-trailers and trailers that have an overall width of 2,032 mm (80”) or more, and a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 4,536 kg (10,001 lbs) or more must have DOT-C2 certified reflective tape installed on the sides and rear. The only exception to this regulation is for pole trailers and trailers designed exclusively for living or office use.
The reflective tape’s presence and condition is checked during North American Standard’s Level I, Level II and Level V inspections. Failure can lead to an Out of Service violation until it’s corrected or fixed.
The Reason
Those red and white strips aren’t applied to improve the looks of the trailer but to reduce the risk of crashes and potential fatalities.
According to a 2001 study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), reflective tape significantly reduced side and rear impacts into trailers by 29% in dark but lighted conditions, and by 41% in dark/not-lighted conditions.
The report also noted that in dark conditions, it reduced side and rear impacts that resulted in fatalities or injuries to drivers of any vehicle by 44%.
According to the Executive Summary, “When all heavy trailers have conspicuity tape, the tape will be saving an estimated 191 to 350 lives per year, preventing approximately 3,100 to 5,000 injuries per year, and preventing approximately 7,800 crashes per year, relative to a hypothetical fleet in which none of the trailers have the tape.”
The Tape Specifications
As noted above, the reflective tape must meet DOT-C2 certification. Two-inch wide red and white alternating tape is required on the rear and sides of trailers, with a 6/6 (6″ red and 6″ white) or a 7/11 (7″ white and 11″ red) pattern permissible. (Additional colors like yellow or white can be added to increase recognition.)
But it’s not sufficient to just have the tape on the trailer to be compliant. The tape must be in good condition, free of damage and dirt, properly aligned, and installed according to DOT requirements.
The Tape Placement
There are two areas on the trailer that must have reflective tape: the sides and the rear.
Placement on the trailer sides
- Place the reflective tape as horizontally as practicable and beginning and ending as close to the front and rear as practicable.
- The tape is not required to be continuous. However, the total of all segments must equal at least half (50%) of the length of the trailer, with the spaces between the segments of the strip distributed as evenly as practicable.
- In terms of vertical positioning, the centerline for each strip must be between 375 mm (15”) and 1,525 mm (60”) above the road surface when measured with the trailer empty or unladen, or as close as practicable to this area.
Placement on the lower rear area of the trailer
- Each strip of reflective tape must 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 must be between 375 mm (15”) and 1,525 mm (60”) above the road surface when measured with the trailer empty or unladen, or as close as practicable to this area.
Placement on the upper rear area of the trailer
Two pairs of white strips of reflective tape—each pair measuring 300 mm (12”) 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 conspicuity treatments 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.
Reflective Logo Tape
Inserting your company logo into DOT-C2 reflective tape is allowed under federal regulations. There is mandated “window” of approximately 1 1/2×3 ¾ that the logo must fit into. The logo must be red and white and be respectively on the red and white sections. Please note that swapping red and white logos onto the opposing color is not legal. Also printing black logos onto the red and white sections is also illegal. These options of color variations are widely promoted and produced by offshore reflective tape companies, and all buyers need to be aware of the potential liability of installing non-compliant reflective logo tape on their trailers.
For more details on FMCSA’s Conspicuity Requirements for Commercial Motor Vehicles, download this PDF.
Now that you know the what, why and where of reflective tape for semi-trailers, check out our selection of premium DOT approved reflective tape. All rolls are the industry standard 2”x150’ long, and can be ordered in a variety of configurations such as full roll, kiss cut, 11”-7”, or 6”-6”, with metallic and heat-sealed styles available. Contact us today for your specific needs.