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Arresting_Quack
September 13th, 2005, 01:29
I haven't seen much on this, I don't know if it's because people don't realize the impact it is going to have or if it's because of information overload.

Any way on August 15, 2005 a notice of final rule making was made that takes effect 09/14/2005.

I did a summary and discovered at least 39 significant changes to Part 390 General Rules and Definitions, 392 Operation of a CMV, and 393 Parts and accessories.

The rule making affects lighting, tires, brakes, frames, and windows.

You can view the Federal Register published 08/15/2005 at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html Click on "Retrive a FR Page" on the left side of the page and type in 48008 you can scroll through the pages one at a time by using "Next Page" don't stop until you hit page 48055.

Since the information is public I don't mind sharing my notes:

1. Section §390.5-Definition of Driveaway-Towaway Operation

The definition was revised to clarify when a vehicle was exempt from portions of Parts 393 and 396..

2. Part §392.33-Obscured Laps or Reflectors

Part was amended to temporarily exempt motor carrier from the conspicuity treatment on header boards when tarps or other portion of the load may obscure the conspicuity treatment maybe obscured due to load height.

3. Part §393.1-Scope of the Rules of this Part

Adds reference to other sections of the FMCSR regarding light weight vehicles used in combination when the GCWR exceeds 10,001 pounds or more in interstate transportation.

4. Part §393.5-Defintions

Adding definitions of air brake system, air-over-hydraulic brake subsystem, auxiliary driving lamp, boat trailer, brake power assist unit, brake power unit, electric brake system, emergency brake, front fog lamp, hydraulic brake system, intermodal shipping (cargo) containers, multi-piece windshield, split service brake system, tow-bar, trailer kingpin, vacuum brake system, and windshield.

Revising definitions for chassis, clearance lamp, container chassis, heater, heavy hauler trailer, parking brake system, side marker lamps (intermediate), and side marker lamp

The definition of bus is removed in favor of definition of bus under Part 390.5

5. Part §393.9- Lamps Operable

Section is revised to clarify that additional lamps added by the motor carrier or driver that are not required by Part 393.11 is not in violation if the lamps installed by the carrier or driver do not operate or are obscured.

6. Part §393.11- Lighting Devices and Reflectors

Title is revised to “Lamps and reflective devices” to maintain consistency between the title for subpart B and §393.11. Part is revised to mandate that vehicles built on or after December 25, 1968 meet the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) No 108 (vehicle lighting) in effect at the time of manufacture. Currently Part §393.11 requires vehicles manufactured on or after March 7, 1989 meet FMVSS No 108 standards.

7. Part §393.17 – Lamps and Reflectors Driveaway-Towaway Operations

Section was amended to correctly reference Part §393.11

8. Part §393.23 Requirements for Turn Signaling Systems

The FMCSA adopts NHTSA standards in FMVSS No 108

9. Part §393.20 - Clearance Lamps to Indicate Extreme Width and Height

Section is removed as the location and color is already listed in Part §393.11 under footnote 15 to Table 1

10. Part §393.23 - Lighting Devices to be electric

Language was modernized; the title was changed to “Power Supply for Lamps” reference to liquid burning lamps was removed

11. Part §393.24 – Requirements for Headlamps and Auxiliary Road Lighting
Lamps

Directly references SAE standards J581 Auxiliary Upper Beam Lamps July 2004 and J583 Front Fog Lamps August 2004

12. Part §393.25 – Requirements for Lamps Other than Headlamps

Section was revised in its entirety

13. Part §393.26 - Requirements for Reflectors

Section was revised in its entirety

14. Parts §393.27, §393.28, §393.29, §393.31, §393.32, §393.33 – Regulations on Electrical Wiring

§393.27 removed, §393.28 titled “Wiring Systems”, §393.29, §393.31, §393.32, and §393.33 removed. FMCSA incorporates by reference SAE J1292 – Automobile, Truck, Truck-Tractor, Trailer, and Motor Coach Wiring. October 1981

15. Part §393.40 – Required Brakes

Revised in its entirety

16. Part §393.41 – Parking Brake System

Revised to incorporate FMVSS standard Nos 105 and 121 for parking brakes on all vehicles manufactured on or after December 7, 1988. Currently only vehicles manufactured on or after March 7, 1990 are required to comply with FMVSS standard Nos 105 and 121

17. Part §393.42 – Brakes Required on all Wheels

Section revised to clarify exemptions and other braking issues

18. Part §393.43 – Brakeaway and Emergency Braking

The section has been clarified on the number of brakes that must apply if a trailer separated from the tractor. The section clarifies that maxi-canisters are required on both trailer axles. For trailers with more than 2 axles, only two axles must have brakes that automatically apply. The section clarifies tractor protection valves and the requirement the tractor protection valve or similar operate when the power unit’s air pressure is between 20 and 45 psi.

19. Part §393.45 & §393.46 Brake Tubing and Hose

Part §393.45 was revised to include all brake tubing and hoses, Part §393.46 was removed. Additional details added regarding hose and tube flexibility.

20. Part §393.47 Brake Lining

Section is revised to include brake chambers, slack adjusters, linings and pads, drum and rotors. Brake service brake chambers and spring brake chambers on each end of axle must be the same (used to only apply to steering axles), The effective length of the slack adjusters is required to be the same length (used to apply only to steer axles), other brake performance measures and requirements added.

21. Part §393.48 Brakes to be Operative

Section clarified

22. Part §393.50 Reservoirs Required

Section clarified

23. Part §393.51 Warning Devices and Gauges

Better guidance on the applicability to older vehicles.

24. Part §393.61, §393.62, §393.63, and §393.92 Window Construction and
Emergency Exit

Part 393.61 being revised to cover only truck and truck tractor window construction Window construction for buses will be in Part §393.62. Parts §393.63 and §393.92 were removed and put in §393.62

25. Part §393.67 Liquid Fuel Tanks

Rule revised to include fuel tanks used to fuel auxiliary equipment

26. Part §393.68 Compressed Natural Gas Fuel Containers

New section created to address alternately fueled vehicles

27. Coupling Devices and Towing Methods, Except for Driveaway-Towaway
Operations

Language changed to allow safety chains to be mounted as close as practical to the longitudinal axis of the trailer

28. Part §393.75 Tires

Rule clarified

29. Part §393.78 Windshield Wipers

Section amended to cross reference FMVSS No 104

30. Part §393.79 Windshield Defrosting

Section revised to cross reference FMVSS No 103

31. Part §393.82 Speedometer

Accuracy tolerance added to regulation, exception for Driveaway-Towaway removed

32. Part §393.87 Flags on Projecting Loads

Section revised to make requirements consistent with “American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ (AASHTO) Guide for Maximum Dimensions and Weights of Motor Vehicles and for the Operation of Nondivisible Load Oversize and Overweight Vehicles, GSW-3 1991.”

33. Part §393.94 Vehicle Interior Noise Level

Rule was simplified

34. Part §393.95 Emergency Equipment on All Power Units

Obsolete references removed, fire extinguisher mounting clarified, removed reference to UL ratings replaced with reference to EPA regulations Subpart G of 40 CFR Part §82

35. Part §393.201 Frames

Section previously omitted trailer frames, language “bus, truck, and truck-tractor” being replaced with “commercial motor vehicle.” Additional language changed regarding welding on frames.

36. Part §393.207 Suspension Systems

Section is revised to prohibit device capable of dumping of air individually from either of the two axles suspension systems on a semitrailer equipped with air-suspended “spread” or “split” tandem axles. Does not include devices used to lift one set of axles.

37. Part §393.209 Steering Wheel Systems

Amends errors to correct maximum steering wheel lash for several sized steering wheels. Lash for different sized steering wheels not listed was added. Amended to include the term ball and socket joint.

Just a quick snap shot of the changes made that take effect on 09/14/2005.

Be safe.