OOSC, Part II, Item 9. Lighting Devices - Projecting Loads

The current out of service criteria states: When lights are required to be on: Lamps on projecting loads - there is not at least one operative steady burning lamp on the rear of loads projecting more than 4 feet (1.2 m) beyond the vehicle body, visible from 500 feet (152.4 m). 393.11 Footnote 9 states: "Any motor vehicle transporting a load which extends more than 102 mm (4 inches) beyond the overall width of the motor vehicle shall be equipped with the following lamps in addition to other required lamps when operated during the hours when headlamps are required to be used." (1) The foremost edge of that portion of the load which projects beyond the side of the vehicle shall be marked (at its outermost extremity) with an amber lamp visible from the front and side. (2) The rearmost edge of that portion of the load which projects beyond the side of the vehicle shall be marked (at its outermost extremity) with a red lamp visible from the rear and side. On multiple occasions an inspection has been completed where the operation was occurring at night, during hours of darkness when lights would be required, with load projecting over 4 inches off the side and not illuminated or marked with lamps as required. Specifically, I stopped a CMV operating with an 11 ft 3-inch-wide load, with the furthest extremity projecting 17 inches off each side on a two-lane road where the projecting portion of the cargo would be in the opposing lane of traffic, with no lamps. The current out of service criteria does not address this condition as it clearly states it only applies when the cargo projects to the rear.

Overdemensional loads which project beyond the body of a unit that are not properly illuminated during hours of darkness pose an imminent hazard to other motor vehicles who may be unable to see the projecting portion of the load.

Add a new section to the out of service criteria under "when lights are required to be on" which addresses loads projecting more than 4 inches off the side of a unit and not illuminated as required.