Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation: Spare Fuses

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is establishing a new rule requiring commercial trucks and buses to carry spare fuses as part of their safety equipment. This regulation ensures that vehicles can quickly repair electrical problems on the road, reducing breakdowns and improving safety for drivers and other motorists.

Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation: Liquid-Burning Flares

This federal regulation sets safety standards for liquid-burning flares that truck drivers and emergency responders use to warn other vehicles about disabled trucks or accidents on highways. The rule ensures these flares work properly and are maintained in good condition so they can effectively alert other drivers and prevent collisions.

Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation: Brakes on Portable Conveyors

This regulation requires portable conveyor belts used in transportation to have properly functioning brakes to prevent accidents and injuries. The rule ensures that equipment used to load and unload trucks meets safety standards set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation: License Plate Lamps

This federal regulation sets safety standards for the lights that illuminate license plates on commercial trucks and vehicles. The rule ensures these lights work properly so law enforcement and other drivers can clearly read license plate numbers, which is important for public safety and vehicle tracking.

Qualifications of Drivers; Vision Standards Grandfathering Provision

This federal rule allows truck drivers who currently have vision problems to continue working under existing standards rather than meeting new, stricter vision requirements. The regulation grandfathers in current drivers, meaning they can keep their jobs even if they wouldn't qualify under updated eye-sight standards going forward.

Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation: Fuel Tank Overfill Restriction

This federal regulation requires commercial trucks to have safety devices that prevent fuel tanks from being overfilled, which can cause dangerous fuel leaks and spills. The rule ensures that truck drivers and the public are protected from fuel-related accidents and environmental contamination.

Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation: Tire Load Markings

This regulation requires trucks and commercial vehicles to have clear markings on their tires showing the maximum weight they can safely carry. These markings help ensure that vehicles aren't overloaded, which protects drivers, passengers, and other people on the road from accidents caused by tire failure.

Removal of Obsolete References to ``Water Carriers''

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is cleaning up its rulebook by removing outdated references to "water carriers" that no longer apply to modern trucking regulations. This housekeeping change simplifies federal transportation rules and eliminates confusion caused by references to transportation methods the agency no longer oversees.

Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation: Certification and Labeling Requirements for Rear Impact Protection Guards

This regulation requires truck manufacturers and parts makers to certify and properly label safety guards on the back of large trucks to prevent smaller vehicles from sliding underneath during rear-end collisions. The new standards aim to reduce serious injuries and deaths in accidents involving trucks.

Electronic Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports

This regulation requires truck drivers and companies to file vehicle inspection reports electronically instead of on paper. This change makes it easier to track vehicle safety problems and helps prevent accidents by catching maintenance issues faster.

Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation: Auxiliary Fuel Tanks

This regulation sets safety standards for auxiliary fuel tanks used in commercial trucks and large vehicles. It ensures that extra fuel storage systems are properly designed, installed, and maintained so they don't leak, rupture, or cause fires during normal driving or accidents.

Commercial Driver's License Standards; Requirements and Penalties: Applicability to the Exception for Certain Military Personnel

This federal rule clarifies which military truck drivers can operate commercial vehicles without obtaining a standard commercial driver's license (CDL). The regulation updates existing exceptions for certain military personnel, determining what rules and penalties apply to those who qualify for this military exemption.