Trailer Inspection Requirements

BRAKES: (TCA 55-9-204) (FMCSR 393.42;393.43)

  1. Trailers with a gross weight of 3,000 lbs. or more are required to have brakes on ALL WHEELS.
  2. Trailers with a gross weight of 1,500 to 3,000 lbs. are required to have brakes on ONE axle.
  3. Trailers with a gross weight of less than 1,500 lbs. need NOT be equipped with brakes.

 

BRAKE LININGS: (FMCSR 393.47)

  1. Brake lining shall be replaced if thickness is 5/16 inches or less at center of shoe.
  2. Check linings or pads to be firmly attached to the shoe and not saturated with oil, grease or brake fluid.
  3. Linings or pads saturated with oil, grease or brake fluid that can not be cleaned must be replaced.

 

BRAKE DRUMS: (FMCSR 393.47)

Drums will be rejected if there are cracks other than short hairline heat cracks.

 

BREAK-AWAY EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM: (TCA 55-9-204) (FMCSR 393.207)

Trailers equipped with brakes are required to have an emergency break-away braking device.

 

SPRING ASSEMBLY: (FMCSR 393.207)

  1. Spring assemblies shall not have any broken leaves.
  2. Spring hangers shall not be broken or loose.

 

AXLE ASSEMBLY: (FMCSR 393.207)

  1. U-bolts shall not be cracked, broken or loose.
  2. All suspension assemblies shall be secured.

 

TIRES: (FMCSR 393.75)

Tires shall have a tread groove pattern depth of at least 2/32 of an inch when measured at any point on a major tread groove. Tires shall not:

  1. Be mounted or inflated so they come into contact with any part of the vehicle.
  2. Be flat or have any leaks.
  3. Have any bulges.
  4. Have any cuts that expose cord.
  5. Be cracked or damaged.
  6. Shall not be marked “For Farm Use Only”, “Off Highway Use Only”, etc.

 

WHEEL/RIM (FMCSR 393.205)

  1. Wheels and rims must be in good shape with no cracks.
  2. Stud holes must be round.

 

WHEEL FASTENERS/LUG BOLTS: (FMCSR 393.205 (c))

 No loose, broken, missing or stripped lug bolts.

 

COUPLING DEVICES: (FMCSR 393.70)

  1. Shall be adequate to support and maintain control of towed vehicle.
  2. Shall not have cracks or excessive wear.

 

SAFETY CHAINS: (TCA 55-7-114) (FMCSR 393.71 (h) 10;11)

  1. Must be adequate to maintain attachment if attachment device fails.
  2. Two chains required to be crossed under hitch.

 

FRAME CONSTRUCTION: (TCA 55-9-405)

  1. Frame or equivalent shall be of such design and strength as to correspond, at least, to standard practice for trucks of same general load characteristics which are used for highway travel.
  2. Any business, corporation or person that modifies the original trailer frame shall be responsible for the performance of workmanship and materials resulting from such modifications.
  3. All welding MUST be electric weld.
  4. Frame, cross members and body mounts shall not be cracked, broken, bent or rusted to a depth as to substantially weaken the frame.
  5. Cross members shall not be loose or missing.
  6. Body mount shall not be missing, have missing bolts or rivets deteriorated or missing.  

 

FENDER / MUDGUARDS: (TCA 55-9-212)

 Trailers with an excess of 3,000 lbs. gross weight shall have either mudguards or fenders. 

 

LIGHTING AND REFLECTORS: (TCA 55-9-405) (FMCSR 393.11)

All lamps listed below, except hazard lamps, are to be inspected with all other auxiliary lamps on and with brakes applied:

  • Tail lamps, not less than two, located on the rear, lens red in color and clearly visible.
  • Stop lamps not less than two, located on rear, lens red in color and clearly visible.
  • Turn signal lamps, not less than two, located on rear, lens amber or red in color and clearly visible.
  • Reflectors, not less than two, located on rear, red in color, at the same height, and clearly visible. Four side reflectors, one located on each corner, front amber in color and rear red in color, and clearly visible.

NOTE: Trailers over 32.8 feet in length require intermediate reflectors. 

 

The Following applies only to trailers 80 inches in width or greater:

  1. Side marker lamps, two on each side as close to corners and as high as practical, front amber in color and rear red in color and clearly visible.
  2. Clearance lamps, two on front, one located on each side, amber in color, two on rear, located on each side and facing the rear, red in color, and all clearly visible.
  3. Identification lamps, three, located on rear, as high and near center as practical, red in color, and clearly visible.

 

TRAILER LENGTH/HEIGHT/WIDTH: (TCA 55-7-201, 202)

  1. Trailer length shall not exceed 48 feet from point of attachment, except those trailers hauling livestock or automobiles, which should not exceed 52 feet in length.
  2. Trailer HEIGHT shall not exceed 13 feet, 6 inches.
  3. Trailer WIDTH shall not exceed 8 feet, 6 inches.