Avoiding DOT Lighting Violations

Avoiding DOT lighting violations isn’t very hard. Usually, it just takes a few minutes a week to ensure you’re in compliance!

Truck drivers should strive be in compliance with the the FMCSA lighting regulations at all times because lighting violations cause almost 70% of all roadside inspections.

We often say that lighting violations are “Gateway Violations” because law enforcement typically sees these as a gateway for further inspection of drivers and their truck.

They are also one of the most common DOT violations received by truck drivers each year.

A truck or trailer with a light out is like an open invitation to be pulled over and inspected!

Keeping your lights in good working order will not only will it save you time and money, but will also allow you to focus on what really matters: driving safely! Helping to maintain good CSA scores doesn’t hurt either, of course!

Check out our short video to learn more about the DOT lighting regulations and how to avoid these critical DOT violations:

Why Avoid Lighting Violations?

DOT Lighting violations (DOT lighting requirements for trucks are covered under FMCSA 393.11 ) are a leading cause of roadside inspections.

Bad roadside inspections lead to high CSA BASIC scores for your fleet and violation points on a driver CSA score.

High CSA BASIC scores lead to compliance reveiws (DOT audit).

A DOT audit can lead to a conditional safety rating.

A Conditional Safety Rating leads to fewer loads, less profit and higher insurance premiums!

Setting The Stage

This guide provides some tips to help drivers avoid getting pulled over for an inspection by local law enforcement officers, the DOT or state police. Check out this cool chart that helps explain what’s required here!

As part of our trucking compliance services, we can complete a quick “Virtual Lighting Inspection” for each of your trucks (and trailers) as needed in order to ensure compliance.

DOT lighting regulations require keeping the following lights and lamps in proper working order:

• Headlights
• Brake lights
• Turn signals
• Other lights

If an officer finds out you have broken any DOT lighting regulations during the inspection process, they may issue a warning or cite you with a violation for doing so.

In order to avoid lighting violations during a DOT vehicle maintenance inspection, drivers should adhere to the following guidelines:

Make sure your truck’s lighting system is always clean and free of debris.

This will prevent dirt from collecting within the fixtures which could cause them not to perform properly when needed most (i.e., day/night).

Avoiding DOT Lighting Violations: Headlamps and Other Major Lights

Drivers should make sure that their headlights are on whenever they engage in night driving.

Daytime running lights (DRLs) may be turned off when operating between sunrise and sunset; however, it is not necessary for trucks or buses to turn them off while they’re parked.

It’s also important that you know where your license plate lamps are located – these can’t be obstructed by stickers or other objects placed over them.

They also must be visible from at least 50 feet when lit.

Drivers should always inspect all lighting equipment during a pre-trip inspection and especially during inclement weather conditions (rain, snow).

It’s important to note that if you do encounter any problems with one or more pieces of DOT-approved equipment within your fleet, it may be necessary for you to repair them immediately.

Doing so will help keep everyone safe while they’re operating commercial motor vehicles on public roads throughout the US. This includes not only having enough lights but ensuring these are properly aligned and functional as well.

A simple pre-trip light check ensures all required lamps work properly so other drivers can see them clearly from both sides, the front and the rear.

If the DOT officer finds a problem with your vehicle’s major lights (headlamps, tail lamps, turn signals), you typically must fix them before continuing down the road.

DOT headlight regulations require that all headlights be in working order and visible from at least 500 feet away.

In 2023, the FMCSA will be splitting the Vehicle Maintenance CSA BASIC score into 2 parts: VM: Driver Observed and VM. Learn more about these and other upcoming changes to the FMCSA CSA program here!

Avoiding Lighting Violations: Other Lights and Reflective Sheeting

Other common DOT light violations include:

• Lack of reflective sheeting
• Brake light outages
• Running headlight beams without auxiliary lamps (running with only parking lights)

These failures will result in either warnings or violations (and whether or not the officer had his donuts that morning) depending on severity.

Headlights are not the only DOT-required lights that DOT officers will inspect.

On the back of your truck you’ll find red taillights and red stoplights required by DOT light regulations as well—these also must be seen from 500 feet away.

You can tell if your DOT brake lights are working properly because they should come on when you step on your brakes. If not, either one or both might need replacing!

It’s easy enough for a DOT officer to check whether all trailer marker lamps work during a Level 2 or Level 1 DOT inspection; these small yellow lamps mark the rear end of every moving commercial vehicle under DOT regulations, so DOT officers will be checking to see that yours are in working order.

Remember that all of your lighting systems will be inspected during your annual DOT inspection as well!

Trailer marker lamps should also come on when your turn signals or parking lights (also known as auxiliary lighting) are activated—this is another quick way you can tell if they’re not functioning properly before getting stopped by DOT personnel!

Keep these simple guidelines about avoiding DOT lighting violations in mind next time you drive down the road so you don’t run into any problems—if all your required DOT lighting functions are working properly, there is less that DOT officers can use against you!

If you’re not following the DOT lighting regulations then YOU’RE putting yourself at risk! Let us take care of ALL your DOT needs. We make it easy! Avoid fines, penalties & stay compliant with our affordable trucking compliance services. Call or go online now. 1-855-211-5550 or www.MySafetyManager.com.