Notice2026-11059
Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Application for Exemption From Truck-Lite Co. LLC
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
June 3, 2026
Effective
May 29, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Abstract
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announces its decision to grant Truck-Lite Co. LLC's (Truck-Lite) application for a limited 5-year exemption to allow motor carriers to install Truck-Lite and/or sister company ECCO auxiliary amber brake- activated pulsating lamps on the rear of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in addition to the steady-burning brake lamps required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). The Agency has determined that granting the exemption would likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level of safety provided by the regulation.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 106 (Wednesday, June 3, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 3, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33287-33290]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-11059]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
[Docket No. FMCSA-2026-0199]
Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Application
for Exemption From Truck-Lite Co. LLC
AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Department
of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of final disposition; grant of application for
exemption.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
announces its decision to grant Truck-Lite Co. LLC's (Truck-Lite)
application for a limited 5-year exemption to allow motor carriers to
install Truck-Lite and/or sister company ECCO auxiliary amber brake-
activated pulsating lamps on the rear of commercial motor vehicles
(CMVs) in addition to the steady-burning brake lamps required by the
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). The Agency has
determined that granting the exemption would likely achieve a level of
safety equivalent to or greater than the level of safety provided by
the regulation.
DATES: The exemption is effective May 29, 2026 and expires June 3,
2031.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jos[eacute] R. Cestero, Mechanical
Engineer, FMCSA Vehicle and Roadside Operations Division, Office of
Carrier, Driver and Vehicle Safety Standards; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f8b5bba8abaeb89c978cd69f978e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3d707e6d6e6b7d595249135a524b">[email protected]</span></a>. If you
have any questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket,
contact Docket Services, telephone (202) 366-9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Public Participation
Viewing Comments and Documents
To view any documents mentioned as being available in the docket,
go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FMCSA-2026-0199/document">https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FMCSA-2026-0199/document</a> and
choose the document to review. To view comments, click this notice,
then click ``Document Comments.'' If you do not have access to the
internet, you may
[[Page 33288]]
view the docket online by visiting Dockets Operations on the ground
floor of the DOT West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, W58-213,
Washington, DC 20590-0001, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays. To be sure someone is there to help
you, please call (202) 366-9317 or (202) 366-9826 before visiting
Dockets Operations.
II. Legal Basis
FMCSA has authority under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315(b) to grant
exemptions from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs).
FMCSA must publish a notice of each exemption request in the Federal
Register (49 CFR 381.315(a)). The Agency must provide the public an
opportunity to inspect the information relevant to the application,
including the applicant's safety analysis. The Agency must provide an
opportunity for public comment on the request.
The Agency reviews applications, safety analyses, and public
comments submitted and determines whether granting the exemption would
likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the
level that would be achieved absent such exemption, pursuant to the
standard set forth in 49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(1). The Agency must publish
its decision in the Federal Register (49 CFR 381.315(b)). If granted,
the notice will identify the regulatory provision(s) from which the
exempted parties will be exempt, the effective period, and all terms
and conditions of the exemption (49 CFR 381.315(c)(1)). If the
exemption is denied, the notice will explain the reason for the denial
(49 CFR 381.315(c)(2)). The exemption may be renewed (49 CFR
381.300(b)).
III. Background
Current Regulatory Requirements
FMCSA requires in 49 CFR 393.25(e) that all exterior lamps (both
required lamps and any additional lamps) shall be steady-burning with
the exception of turn signal lamps; hazard warning signal lamps; school
bus warning lamps; amber warning lamps or flashing warning lamps on tow
trucks and commercial motor vehicles transporting oversized loads; and
warning lamps on emergency and service vehicles authorized by State or
local authorities.
Applicant's Request
Truck-Lite's application for exemption was described in detail in a
Federal Register notice published on February 18, 2026 (91 FR 7621) and
will not be repeated as the facts have not changed.
IV. Public Comments
FMCSA received eighteen comments in response to the Truck-Lite
application for exemption. Thirteen commenters supported the request,
while five opposed it or raised concerns.
Supporters included Summit Fleet Services/DFW Reefer, Maverick
Transportation, LLC, PITT OHIO, the American Trucking Associations
(ATA), and several other fleet operators and individuals. These
commenters stated that brake-activated pulsating lamps improve rear
conspicuity and enhance safety by increasing driver awareness and
reducing the likelihood of rear-end collisions. Summit Fleet Services/
DFW Reefer and Brad Umphress referenced operational experience
indicating reductions in rear-end crashes following the installation of
pulsating or flashing rear lighting systems. Maverick Transportation,
LLC, Tim Gates, and ATA cited research suggesting that modulated
lighting is more attention-getting than steady-burning lamps and can
improve driver reaction time, particularly in conditions involving low
visibility, adverse weather, or high levels of driver distraction.
Oakley Transport Inc., PITT OHIO, Case Farms Ohio, and Steve Enos
emphasized increased visibility and improved driver awareness in real-
world operations. ATA also encouraged FMCSA to work with industry
stakeholders to develop recommended practices regarding lamp
characteristics such as color, placement, intensity, and operating
patterns.
Commenters opposing the exemption or raising concerns included
Citizens for Transportation Safety, the Transportation Safety Policy
Institute (TSPI), AWM Associates, LLC, and two individuals. Citizens
for Transportation Safety stated that the use of amber brake-activated
lighting conflicts with established color conventions in which red
signals braking and amber signals caution, noting that widespread use
of amber lighting in escort vehicles, service vehicles, and
construction zones reinforces amber as a non-braking signal. TSPI
raised concerns regarding compliance with 49 CFR 393.11 and the
incorporation of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108,
noting that the petition did not explicitly request relief from
applicable rear lamp color requirements and may be inconsistent with
existing regulatory color standards. Patrick Hunt and AWM Associates,
LLC expressed concerns regarding glare, visual discomfort, and
distraction, particularly under nighttime or stop-and-go traffic
conditions, and the intensity of high-output LED lighting systems. One
individual also warned that high-intensity LED lighting may cause
momentary blindness or visual impairment in close-range traffic
conditions.
Other commenters, including Mark Sabol and the ATA, provided
additional observations regarding implementation and consistency. These
commenters suggested that exemptions should be applied consistently
across manufacturers and that further development of performance
standards or recommended practices--such as brightness, placement, and
operating characteristics--may be beneficial to support safe and
uniform deployment of pulsating rear lighting technologies.
V. FMCSA Decision
FMCSA has evaluated Truck-Lite's exemption application materials
along with the comments received. The Agency has determined that
granting a temporary exemption to allow motor carriers to install
Truck-Lite and/or ECCO (both owned by Clarience Technologies) auxiliary
amber brake-activated pulsating lamps on the rear of CMVs in addition
to the steady-burning brake lamps required by the FMCSRs at location or
locations specified in Section VI.B., would likely achieve a level of
safety equivalent to or greater than the level of safety achieved
without the exemption.
Rear-end crashes generally account for approximately 30 percent of
all crashes. These types of crashes often result from a failure to
respond (or delays in responding) to a stopped or decelerating lead
vehicle. Data between 2010 and 2016 show that large trucks are
consistently three times more likely than other vehicles to be struck
in the rear in two-vehicle fatal crashes.<SUP>1 2</SUP>
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\1\ U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (2012), Traffic Safety Facts--2010 Data; Large
Trucks, Report No. DOT HS 811 628, Washington, DC (June 2012).
\2\ U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (2018), Traffic Safety Facts--2016 Data; Large
Trucks, Report No. DOT HS 812 497, Washington, DC (May 2018).
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Research conducted by both FMCSA and NHTSA explored alternative
rear signaling systems to address this issue. Specifically, FMCSA
conducted research and development on Enhanced Rear Signaling (ERS)
systems, which showed the ability of flashing lamps to draw visual
attention. However, FMCSA ultimately decided not to pursue formal field
operational testing of the prototype system due to concerns about
implementation costs and fleets' willingness to invest in the
technology. Nonetheless, the preliminary research showed that the ERS
system performed
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well at detecting and signaling rear-end crash threats and drawing the
gaze of following-vehicle drivers to the forward roadway which, if
implemented, could potentially reduce the number and frequency of rear-
end crashes into the rear of CMVs.
Separately, NHTSA has performed a series of research studies
intended to develop and evaluate rear signaling applications designed
to draw drivers' visual attention to the forward roadway.\3\ The
research demonstrated that people rated flashing all lights
simultaneously or alternately flashing as attention-getting, even at
levels of brightness within the current regulated limits.
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\3\ U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (2009), Traffic Safety Facts--Vehicle Safety
Research Notes, Assessing the Attention-Gettingness of Brake
Signals: Evaluation of Optimized Candidate Enhanced Braking Signals,
Report No. DOT HS 811 129, Washington, DC (May 2009).
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In addition, NHTSA has conducted research on the effectiveness of
rear turn signal color on the likelihood of being involved in a rear-
end crash.\4\ FMVSS No. 108 allows rear turn signals to be either red
or amber in color. The study showed that amber signals show a 5.3
percent effectiveness in reducing involvement in two-vehicle crashes
where a lead vehicle is struck from the rear in the act of turning
left, turning right, merging into traffic, changing lanes, or entering/
leaving a parking space. The advantage of amber rear turn signals was
shown to be statistically significant.
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\4\ U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (2009), Evaluation of Enhanced Brake Lights
Using Surrogate Safety Metrics, Report No. DOT HS 811 127,
Washington, DC (April 2009).
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FMCSA acknowledges the concerns raised by Citizens for
Transportation Safety, the Transportation Safety Policy Institute
(TSPI), Patrick Hunt, AWM Associates, LLC, and other commenters,
regarding the use of amber lighting to convey braking events, potential
driver confusion, compliance with 49 CFR 393.11, and the potential for
glare or distraction.
FMCSA notes that the auxiliary lamps described in the application
are not intended to replace the required rear stop lamps, which remain
steady-burning and red in color, but rather to supplement those lamps.
While the auxiliary lamps are not required under 49 CFR 393.11, when
they are activated by the service brake system, they are subject to the
steady-burning requirement under 49 CFR 393.25(e), which applies to
both required and additional exterior lamps. As such, an exemption is
appropriate when a motor carrier seeks to use a non-steady-burning lamp
that is otherwise regulated under this provision.
FMCSA further notes that the auxiliary lamps operate for a limited
duration--pulsating for up to four seconds upon brake application
before transitioning to a steady-burning red signal. The Agency finds
that, because the required red brake lamps remain the primary braking
signal, the use of an auxiliary amber pulsating lamp in addition to
those required lamps does not alter the fundamental meaning of the
braking signal conveyed to following drivers.
In conclusion, FMCSA is not aware of any evidence indicating that
the use of auxiliary brake-activated pulsating lamps--when operated
under previously granted exemptions and in compliance with the
applicable terms and conditions of those exemptions--has resulted in
adverse safety impacts. Considering the available research, prior
exemptions involving similar technologies, the supplemental nature of
the auxiliary lamps, and the information provided in the application,
FMCSA concludes that the installation of Truck-Lite and/or ECCO
auxiliary amber brake-activated pulsating lamps on the rear of CMVs in
addition to the steady-burning brake lamps required by the FMCSRs is
likely to achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater
than, the level of safety achieved without the exemption.
VI. Exemption
A. Applicability of Exemption
During the exemption period, motor carriers operating CMVs may
install and use Truck-Lite and/or ECCO auxiliary amber brake-activated
pulsating lamps in addition to the steady-burning brake lamps required
by FMCSRs at locations specified in VI.B.
B. Terms and Conditions
1. This exemption applies only to motor carriers operating CMVs
equipped with Truck-Lite and/or ECCO auxiliary amber brake-activated
pulsating lamps under the terms and conditions herein.
2. Motor carriers operating under this exemption may use Truck-Lite
and/or ECCO auxiliary brake-activated pulsating lamps in the following
configurations on CMVs:
a. Upper Pair: Two auxiliary brake-activated pulsating lamps
centered about the trailer's centerline, positioned 6-12 inches from
the centerline of the outermost identification (ID) lamps, and
collinear with the three-ID-lamp cluster.
b. Single Lower Lamp: One auxiliary brake-activated pulsating lamp
centrally located on or below the rear sill, collinear with the stop/
tail/turn lamps.
c. Upper Pair + Single Lower Lamp: Both the upper pair (as
described in (1)) and a single auxiliary brake-activated pulsating lamp
(as described in (2)).
d. Lower Pair: Two auxiliary brake-activated pulsating lamps
centered about the trailer's centerline, located on or below the rear
sill.
e. Upper Pair + Lower Pair: Both the upper pair (as described in
(1)) and the lower pair (as described in (4)).
3. The Truck-Lite and/or ECCO auxiliary brake-activated pulsating
lamps used under this exemption must:
a. Be amber in color and function as a Class II strobe (pulsate)
for up to four seconds when the brake is applied.
b. Transition to a steady red for the duration of the brake circuit
activation.
c. Remain off when the brake circuit is inactive.
d. Be in addition to the steady-burning brake lamps required by the
FMCSRs.
4. Truck-Lite is required to provide a list of the USDOT numbers of
the motor carriers using Truck-Lite and/or ECCO auxiliary brake-
activated pulsating lamps to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#96dbd5c6c5c0d6f2f9e2b8f1f9e0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fcb1bfacafaabc989388d29b938a">[email protected]</span></a> on an annual basis beginning
12 months after the effective date of this notice.
5. Truck-Lite must meet with FMCSA on request to answer questions
regarding reporting requirements provided under the exemption.
C. Preemption
In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315(d), as implemented by 49 CFR
381.600, during the period this exemption is in effect, no State shall
enforce any law or regulation applicable to interstate commerce that
conflicts with or is inconsistent with this exemption with respect to a
firm or person operating under the exemption. States may, but are not
required to, adopt the same exemption with respect to operations in
intrastate commerce.
VII. Termination
FMCSA does not believe the motor carriers covered by this exemption
will experience any deterioration of their safety record. However, the
exemption will be revoked if: (1) Truck-Lite, ECCO, or motor carriers
using Truck-Lite or ECCO pulsating lamps under the exemption fail to
comply with the terms and conditions of the exemption; (2) the
exemption has resulted in a lower level of safety than was maintained
before it was granted; or (3) continuation of the exemption would not
be consistent with
[[Page 33290]]
the goals and objectives of Title 49, chapter 313 or section 31136.
Derek D. Barrs,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2026-11059 Filed 6-2-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P
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This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.