FMCSA finalizes rule

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has made permanent the existing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) that trailers with antilock brake systems be equipped with an external malfunction indicator lamp.

The existing indicator lamp requirement was originally scheduled to sunset on March 1, 2009.

However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration published a final rule on August 25, 2009, that made permanent the requirement in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSSs) that manufacturers equip trailers with ABS and an external antilock malfunction indicator lamp.

This direct final rule makes the FMCSRs consistent with the August 2009 NHTSA final rule.

The rule becomes effective November 22, unless an adverse comment or notice of intent to submit an adverse comment is filed on or before October 21.