Requirements for Vehicle Signage

If you have a vehicle that falls into a certain category, then you may be required to have a certain type of signage on your vehicle whenever you are driving. Semi trucks, slow-moving vehicles and vehicles carrying hazardous or dangerous cargo have to advertise what they are both for their own safety as well as for the safety of other drivers on the road.

Slow-moving Vehicle

• If you have a vehicle that does not reach above a certain speed (usually 25 miles an hour or so), then you are required to put a slow-moving vehicle sign on it to warn other drivers. Some common examples of slow-moving vehicles are combines and other heavy farm equipment, bulldozers, steamrollers and lawn tractors. The sign is an orange triangle, and it must be placed on the rear of the vehicle within plain sight of other drivers. These signs usually must be reflective.

Turning Signs

• It is required for vehicles that make wide turns to have that information displayed on the back of the vehicles where other drivers can see it. Semi trucks most commonly have this information on the back right side of their trailers, informing drivers behind the truck that it will make wide right turns. Drivers who see this sign should know not to pull up next to a semi truck when it is turning right, because the driver and his vehicle might get struck or crushed by the much larger and more cumbersome semi during the turn.

Load Signs

• If you are carrying a certain type of load, it is important that you have the proper signage. For instance, if you are carrying a wide load (one that will hang off the sides of the trailer you are carrying it on), then you need to have an appropriate "Wide Load" sign to inform other drivers. Additionally if you are hauling volatile chemicals or dangerous materials, then you need to have those signs displayed. Signs that label the chemicals as flammable, poisonous, explosive and the like need to be posted where drivers can see them from your rear.