Truck-Lite secures FMCSA brake lamp exemption

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently granted Truck-Lite a five-year exemption allowing motor carriers to install its auxiliary amber brake-activated pulsating lamps on the rear of commercial motor vehicles. The decision, effective through June 3, 2031, permits the use of Truck-Lite and sister company ECCO’s lighting systems to supplement the steady-burning red brake lamps required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.

The agency determined the technology likely achieves a level of safety equivalent to or greater than existing regulations, according to a notice posted in the Federal Register on June 3. The move is the agency’s latest attempt to address a critical safety gap made worse by distracted driving using pulsating brake lamp technology. FMCSA data indicates large trucks are three times more likely than other vehicles to be struck in the rear in fatal crashes—and tank trailers, which must stop at railroad crossings, are among the most vulnerable vehicles.

Operational and technical requirements:

• Pulsating logic: The auxiliary lamps must be amber and function as a Class II strobe, pulsating for up to r seconds upon brake application before transitioning to a steady red signal for the duration of the braking event.
• Approved mounting: Fleets can use several configurations, including an upper pair centered near the identification lamps, a single lower lamp on or below the rear sill, or a combination of both.
Safety rationale: Research by both FMCSA and NHTSA has shown that pulsating or modulated lighting is more effective at capturing the attention of following drivers than steady-burning lamps, potentially reducing the frequency of rear-end collisions caused by distraction or poor visibility.

Industry Context: Building on proven safety precedents

This decision for Truck-Lite is the latest in a series of similar exemptions granted by the agency, reflecting a growing regulatory consensus on the safety benefits of enhanced rear signaling.

• Groendyke Transport: Groendyke secured the industry’s first pulsating brake lamp exemption in April 2019. The carrier’s internal data provided a strong foundation for future waivers, showing that 632 tank trailers equipped with auxiliary amber pulsating lamps experienced 33.7% fewer rear-end collisions compared to trailers using only standard red lamps. As of 2023, Groendyke had equipped 93% of its fleet with the technology.
• National Tank Truck Carriers: In November 2025, FMCSA renewed a five-year exemption for NTTC members through Oct. 8, 2030. This waiver allows tank trailer operators to use either red or amber auxiliary pulsating lamps in upper-center or dual-outboard positions. Member fleets, including Gemini Motor Transport and ADM Trucking, reported improved visibility and fewer accidents following implementation.
• Grote Industries: Grote’s exemption for amber brake-activated auxiliary pulsating lamps was also renewed in November 2025 and is effective through Dec. 2, 2030. Major fleets like Amazon and Schneider National supported this renewal, citing significant reductions in rear-end collisions after equipping their vehicles with Grote’s lighting systems.

In granting the Truck-Lite exemption, FMCSA explicitly noted that it is unaware of any adverse safety impacts resulting from these previously granted exemptions and concluded that the supplemental nature of these lamps maintains the fundamental meaning of the primary braking signal while enhancing overall roadway safety.