Trucking news and briefs for Friday, Jan. 27, 2023:
Encore Building Products, which operates a fleet of 24 trucks out of Springdale, Arkansas, is petitioning the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for an exemption from the requirement that lighting devices be steady burning.
The company wants to install a module manufactured by Intellistop that pulses the rear clearance, identification, and brake lamps from low-level lighting intensity to high-level lighting intensity four times in two seconds when the brakes are applied.
FMCSA in October denied an exemption request from Intellistop itself for an industry-wide exemption that would allow the module on all trucks. The agency noted, however, that individual carriers could still seek an exemption for using the system.
In Encore’s request, the company said the pulsating lights would “enhance rear signal systems” and “may significantly increase visibility and reduce the frequency of rear-end crashes.” Encore cited previous research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that has shown pulsating brake lights appear “to significantly increase visibility of motor vehicles when decelerating and stopping, which should lead to significant reductions in rear impact crashes.”
FMCSA is accepting public comments on Encore’s request for 30 days at www.regulations.gov by searching Docket No. FMCSA-2022-0242 beginning Friday, Jan. 27.
FMCSA in 2020 granted a waiver to the National Tank Truck Carriers to allow fleets to install a red or amber brake-activated pulsating lamp in the upper center position or in an upper dual outboard position on the back of tanker trailers, in addition to the steady-burning brake lamps required by federal regulations. The waiver granted to NTTC allows any carrier using tankers to install the lights. The waiver is effective immediately and is good through Oct. 8, 2025.
