Reflective tape madness
 

I got written up today for the second time in 2 months due to lack of reflective tape on the rig. The first time it happened in Michigan when the cop didn't like my mudflap hangars. Now I got stopped in South Dakota and the cop surprised me by saying I need "at least 24 feet of reflective tape on each side of the trailer." My trailer came from the plant with all the required tape but after the Conestoga was installed it was no longer visible. So now I have to add tape to the bottom of the frame and the front and the rear sides of my step. I got a 'warning' only (Level 2 'walk-around' inspection) and it carried no points since CSA 2010 is not in effect yet. What I'm wondering is why Cop #1 from Michigan who gave me a warning for having no tape on the mudflap hangars never said a word about the sides of the trailer? I mean, he noticed the absence of 2 feet of reflective tape on the mudflaps but failed to notice the absence of 24 feet of tape on the trailer?! Or did he do it on purpose so I can be stopped again and given another ticket?

I didn't think that you needed mud flaps or reflective tape on the mud flaps unless you were bobtailing.. :smokin:

That's what I was thinking.. :smokin:

I got written up for no reflective tape on my mupflaps too and my lawyer got it dismissed because I was not bobtailing, plus my mudflaps have reflective writing on them........ and maybe the reflective tape on the trailer isn't a USDOT thing, maybe it was just required in THAT state?

393.11 thru 393.13 covers reflective devices. Doesn't matter if you're bobtailing or not. I would really like to see a ticket that was dis-missed for required equipment.

Tracer....sometimes cops miss things, he was giving you a break or he might have figured the trailer was ok. There was another guy here that got busted for tape on the trailer a while back. I think he was hauling the Big Dog motorcycles.

No, there was a reference to the Federal Safety Regulations ... the green book? After that incident I started paying close attention to other RollTights and Conestogas on the road and some of them do have reflective tape at the bottom of the frame. As for the reflective tape on the mudflap hangars I too think it's a b/s requirement. I drove my truck from April 2007 to July 2010 without them PULLING A TRAILER and no one got hurt. It was only in July 2010 that a far-sighted Michigan DOT cop stopped me 3 miles from IN border on I-69 and decided I had a violation.

Well, the law is the law, and it doesn't really matter, if you think it's stupid. (A lot of times it is). BTW Warning, or not, it's going to be on your CSA record....

He is correct, It will be on there...... and I know the EXACT cop in Michigan you are talking about. I drove out of the Wal-Mart in Coldwater for a few years and had several run in's with the officer. There used to be a female bear too that worked that area from the 10mm to the state line. They love picking on the Canadian trucks :)

That's where you're mistaken. CSA is not in effect yet. I asked the officer if maybe I should opt for the $175 fine instead of the warning, and he said I wasn't getting any points. It's still just a warning. I bought the tape, installed it and emailed a copy of the receipt to Landstar and that's that.

The time when he stopped me he actually had a female officer with him. While he walked around the truck, she kept standing in front of the truck with her hand on the gun holster. It was like a scene from the "CSI: Miami".

No, it's not. But the data is being collected, from a previous 3 years. Don't know about Canada, but here we already have a score. Don't believe me, ask Landstar safety.

I think the officer was speaking of points against your driver's license. Different matter than CSA-related violations. And it's my understanding that when CSA goes fully live, violations will count retroactively into the past for a certain length of time.

It is my understanding that the violations or warnings stay with the driver for 3 years and the carrier for 30 months. The points will diminish with each year. A 10 point violation will count as 30 points the first year, 20 points the second year and 10 points the last year.

How did the trailer pass Landstars inspection without the tape?

No thats where you are mistaken. You will get points on your CSA for that and they will be on there for three years.

Wait until you have to buy that much reflective tape, stuff must be made of gold.

Gold stars for everyone.

That's what I'd like to know too, especially since this was my first Landstar - pre-hire - inspection and the cost came out of my pocket. DOT says the mechanic checked the Box "Okay" for reflective sheeting when in fact it wasn't "okay". The inspection was done by a ... CAT dealer who is now offering all kinds of repairs for both trucks and trailers but just until recently they only worked with CAT engines. I didn't choose them - I was told to go there by Recruiting.

I have bought a FIFTY FOOT roll of this DOT approved reflective sheeting at a truck repair shop for 75 bucks. You have to know where to look.

Isn't the first time that someone missed something on an inspection. Of course if the inspection was done with your sides open it would pass.

I don't know why we're doing these inspections. Half of the time these "certified" mechanics have no idea what they're supposed to check. The bottomline is if you get stopped for a walk-around inspection at a scale house, DOT will always find something if they're in the "right mood".

Talk to your safety dept. I'm sure they don't want inspections that aren't complete. Imagine if you were hit from the side at night with the tape covered. Not only you but the inspector also would have a large problem. Required equipment is the easiest thing to comply with.
The last few months there has been a push on reflective devices.

I wear a piece on my forehead while driving at night.

You need it on your ***** when climbing out of the truck in the dark.

I can't argue with that from a safety standpoint, hell I can't even argue that from a fashion standpoint.

Actually had a driver that was hit by another truck as he was getting out of his. Said he never saw the light on the door or the driver. A liitle reflective tape might go a long way.

You're exactly right, while my post was made in jest (for the most part), a little reflective tape would help while walking across a truck stop parking lot, day or night. Some of these jerk offs have to see how many gears they can go through while running through the lot.

This was a case of two fools meeting at night. If a truck is pulling in along side of you don't open the door and get out. And if you see a door open stop.

50% of the trailer sides must be taped: 2 foot sections, 4foot sections or whetever they must be equally spaced, jes next time yo see that Michigan cop point out to him about the side tape not being visible maybe he'll give you another ticket.

I don't want another ticket, thank you very much. Plus I am not allowed to stop on the side of an interstate.. company policy. But I'll tell you what ... Post here your truck number and company you're pulling for and I'll make sure that Michigan cop has your info. Next time you're passing MI, he'll be happy to give YOU a thorough walk-around inspection. Based on your comments, your truck is in perfect compliance with DOT regulations, so there's no risk. But hey - maybe you'll get lucky and he'll give YOU a ticket. It'll be a win-win.

You know how to solve this WHOLE problem don't you???


Stop driving a truck and go ride a desk LOL

Until then, we should just cover our trailers in reflective tape and bringht neon orange paint..... oh wait, Schneider beat us to it LOL