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New In The Industry
New NHTSA Rules Mean Stronger ICC Bars,
More Effective Trailer Restraints
When new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) become effective in January of 1998, rear impact guards (ICC bars) on all new semitrailers will be stronger, making the original, rotating-hook DOK-LOK® vehicle restraint more effective than ever.
The new standards, recently approved in a ruling by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), establish strength and positioning requirements that rear impact guards must meet before they can be installed on new semitrailers. Stronger rear impact guards mean trailers will be less likely to be able to separate from the dock even if the truck driver ignores communication signals and attempts to pull out when the vehicle restraint is engaged.
The stronger guards are also less likely to be damaged if a truck backs into a rigid object, such as a fire hydrant, post or stairs. If damage does occur, the Federal Highway Vehicle Administration is likely to require the repair of the guards, ensuring their continued strength and integrity in protecting against unscheduled departure.
Rear impact guards are intended to protect automobiles and their passengers in the event of collision with the rear end of a trailer. The NHTSA rules require certification at the time of manufacture for all new rear impact guards and go into effect January 28, 1998. Many manufactures have already been producing stronger guards in anticipation of the final ruling.
RITE-HITE ® DOK-LOK® restraints feature a patented "impact" design which has become the most widely accepted in the industry. The restraint is automatically and easily positioned by a trailer's rear impact guard. The new guards are required, by design, to withstand forces much greater than the force necessary to position a DOK-LOK ®restraint.
For a free brochure on how the new NHTSA regulations affect vehicle restraints, contact the RITE-HITE Corporation at 1-800-456-0600, or click HERE to send a e-mail request for the brochure. If you send us an e-mail, please reference "NHTSA regulations brochure" in the subject line.