Trailer Inspection Requirements

BRAKES (T.C.A. 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

  1. Brake lining shall be replaced if thickness is less than 1/4 inch (air) or 1/16 inch (hydraulic and electric) when measured at the center of the brake lining.
  2. Check lining or pads to be firmly attached to the shoe and not saturated with oil, grease or brake fluid.
  3. Lining or pads saturated with oil, grease or brake fluid that cannot be cleaned must be replaced.

BRAKE DRUMS

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

BREAKAWAY EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM
(T.C.A. 55-9-204) FMCSR 393.43

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

SPRING ASSEMBLY (FMCSR 393.207)

  1. No leaf spring shall be cracked, broken or missing nor shifted out of position.
  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 secure.

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 that they come in 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. Shall not be marked "For Farm Use Only", "Off Highway Use Only", etc.

WHEEL/RIMS (FMCSR 393.205 (a)

  1. Wheels and rims must be in good shape with no cracks.
  2. Stud holes must not be elongated.

WHEEL FASTNERS/LUG BOLTS (FMCSR 393.205)

No loose, broken, missing or ineffective.

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 (T.C.A. 55-7-114) (FMCSR 393.70 (7) (8) i, ii, ili)

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

FRAME CONSTRUCTION (FMCSR 393.201)

  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. Frame, cross members and body mounts shall not be cracked, broken or bent as to substantially weaken frame.
  4. Cross members shall not be loose or missing.
  5. Body mount shall not be missing or have missing bolts, rivets deteriorated or missing.

FENDERS/MUDGUARDS (T.C.A. 55-9-212)

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

LIGHTING AND REFLECTORS (T.C.A. 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:

  1. Tail lamps, not less than two, located on rear - red, and clearly visible.
  2. Stop lamps, not less than two, located on rear - red, and clearly visible.
  3. Turn signal lamps, not less than two, located on rear - amber or red, and clearly visible.
  4. Reflectors, two red - on rear, at the same height, clearly visible. Four side reflectors, one on each corner - front amber and rear red, clearly visible. Trailers over 30 feet in length require intermediate reflectors.

    ***THE FOLLOWING APPLIES ONLY TO TRAILERS 80 INCHES IN WIDTH OR GREATER:
  5. Side marker lamps, two on each side as close to corners and as high as practical, front - amber, rear - red, clearly visible.
  6. Clearance lamps, two on front, one each side - amber, two on rear - facing rear - red, all clearly visible.
  7. Identification lamps, three red on rear, as high and near center as practical and clearly visible.

RETRO-REFLECTIVE SHEETING 393.13

TRAILER LENGTH/HEIGHT/WIDTH (T.C.A. 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. **SEE NOTE.
  2. Trailer height shall not exceed 13 feet 6 inches.
  3. Trailer width shall not exceed 8 feet 6 inches.

**NOTE: Trailers may be 50 feet from the point of attachment to the rear of the trailer PROVIDED the distance from the point of attachment to the center point of the rear axle/axles does not exceed 41 feet.