What Emergency Equipment Must a Commercial Truck Carry?

Under 49 CFR 393.95, each truck, truck tractor and bus must carry a properly rated, charged and securely mounted fire extinguisher and warning devices for stopped vehicles. Non-placarded power units need one 5 B:C extinguisher or two 4 B:C units, placarded hazmat units need 10 B:C, and warning devices are three reflective triangles or at least six fusees.

Fire extinguishers (49 CFR 393.95(a)).

• A power unit transporting placarded hazardous materials needs an extinguisher with a UL rating of 10 B:C or more.
• Other power units need one extinguisher rated 5 B:C or more, or two extinguishers each rated 4 B:C or more.
• Each extinguisher must be labeled with its UL rating.
• It must have a visual indicator showing whether it is fully charged.
• It must be filled, readily accessible and securely mounted against sliding, rolling or vertical movement.
• It must use an agent that does not need protection from freezing.
• The fire extinguisher rule does not apply to the driven unit in a driveaway-towaway operation.

Warning devices for stopped vehicles (393.95(f)). One of these options:

• Three bidirectional emergency reflective triangles meeting Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 125.
• At least six fusees, plus any additional fusees needed to meet 49 CFR 392.22.

Other warning devices may be used in addition to, but not instead of, the required devices.

Flame-device restrictions (393.95(g)). Fusees and other flame-producing signals may not be carried on vehicles transporting Division 1.1, 1.2 or 1.3 explosives, on cargo tank vehicles used for Division 2.1 flammable gas or Class 3 flammable liquid (loaded or empty), or on vehicles using compressed gas as fuel.

Inspection link. Emergency equipment is one of the items a driver must be satisfied is in good working order before driving under 49 CFR 392.7(a), and it is listed on the driver vehicle inspection report under 49 CFR 396.11.

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