DOT Truck (Tractor Trailer) marking requirements were set up by the FMCSA to help improve visibility in low light conditions and reduce the probability of fatal motor vehicle crashes into the sides or back of stopped or parked trucks and tractor trailers at night or in poor visibility conditions.
Safety regulations for all modes of major transportation are set by The Department of Transportation (DOT). DOT reflective tape, also known as DOT conspicuity tape, plays an important role in keeping drivers safe on the road. It is used on large vehicles and trailers to make them more visible.
Why Use DOT Reflective Tape?
Research has shown that using DOT tape on large trailers reduces the incidence of accidents involving tractor-trailers. The reflective tape makes the trailers much more visible, which allows other drivers to make adjustments to their speed and distance in a timely manner. At night, a trailer without DOT tape is practically invisible.
What Makes DOT Tape Reflective?
DOT tape is a striped reflective tape that comes in two patterns. Red and white striped DOT tape is used on the bottoms and back of a trailer. On the other hand, silver and white DOT tape is used on the upper rear of a trailer.
The reflectiveness of the tape comes from the embedded encapsulated catadioptric glass beads in the transparent layer of the tape.
Which vehicles are required to have US DOT-C2-compliant conspicuity applied?
Each trailer with an overall width of 2032 mm or more and with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of over 10,000 lbs., except trailers designed exclusively for living or office use must have compliant conspicuity.
Each truck tractor must be equipped with retroreflective sheeting, reflex reflectors, or a combination of retroreflective sheeting and reflex reflectors.
