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FMVSS 108 Lamp Color & Placement Chart

Which lamps and reflectors a truck or trailer carries, what color each must be, and where it generally goes, with pointers to FMVSS 108 and 49 CFR 393.11 for exact counts, heights and spacing.

Ref FA-0069FMVSS 10849 CFR 571.10849 CFR 393.11

Draft, open for review. Check every value against the governing standard and the manufacturer’s data before use.

What it is

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108 (49 CFR 571.108) sets the lamps, reflective devices and associated equipment new vehicles must have, including color, location and photometric performance. FMCSA's 49 CFR 393.11 applies those requirements to commercial motor vehicles in operation and adds rules for retroreflective conspicuity sheeting. Replacement lamps sold for on-road use must meet the same requirements as the originals. This chart summarizes color and general location; exact quantities, mounting heights, spacing and the vehicle categories that need each item are in Table I and Table II of FMVSS 108 and the tables in 49 CFR 393.11.

How to identify

A compliant lamp's lens or housing carries a DOT marking and SAE function codes (for example, codes for stop, tail, turn, clearance or side marker functions). Lamps marked for off-road, work or auxiliary use, or with no DOT marking, are not replacements for required lamps. Clearance and identification lamps are required on vehicles 80 inches (2032 mm) or more in overall width.

Lamp and reflector colors

Device	Color	General location
Headlamps	White	Front
Front turn signal / hazard	Amber	Front, left and right
Rear turn signal / hazard	Red or amber	Rear, left and right
Tail lamps	Red	Rear
Stop lamps	Red	Rear
High-mounted stop lamp (where required)	Red	Rear centerline, high
Backup lamp	White	Rear
License plate lamp	White	Above or beside the rear plate
Front clearance lamps	Amber	Front, at widest points, high
Rear clearance lamps	Red	Rear, at widest points, high
Front identification lamps (three)	Amber	Front centerline, high, grouped
Rear identification lamps (three)	Red	Rear centerline, high, grouped
Front side marker lamps and reflectors	Amber	Sides, toward the front
Rear side marker lamps and reflectors	Red	Sides, toward the rear
Intermediate side marker lamps and reflectors (vehicles 30 ft or longer)	Amber	Sides, near the middle
Rear reflex reflectors	Red	Rear
Conspicuity sheeting (where required)	Red/white pattern and white	Sides and rear of trailers; rear upper corners — see 49 CFR 393.11

Key points

Amber faces forward and along the front of the sides; red faces rearward and along the rear of the sides. White is limited to headlamps, backup and plate lamps (and white elements of conspicuity sheeting).
Combination lamps (stop/tail/turn) are acceptable when each function is marked and meets its own requirement.
LED replacements must carry the same DOT/SAE function marks as the lamp they replace.
Requirements differ for trucks, truck-tractors, trailers and buses, and by width and length. Confirm the vehicle category before advising on what is required.
Required lamps must work at all times the vehicle is in operation. Inoperative required lamps are a common roadside violation.

Common mistakes

Selling a red lamp for a front side marker or clearance position.
Replacing a DOT-marked lamp with an off-road or "work light" product.
Using a clear lens marked for a colored function without checking that it emits the required color.
Assuming the requirements for a pickup apply to a trailer over 80 inches wide.

Governing standards: FMVSS No. 108, 49 CFR 571.108 (lamps, reflective devices and associated equipment); 49 CFR 393.11 (lamps and reflective devices on commercial motor vehicles). SAE lighting standards referenced in FMVSS 108.

Reference only. Verify against the current governing code or standard, the manufacturer's data and the project documents before use. Apps for Distributors disclaims liability arising from reliance on this reference.

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