Ask X3What does 49 CFR 172.516 (Visibility and display of placards) require?
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As Ask X3, your fleet-compliance assistant, here is what 49 CFR 172.516 requires for motor-carrier owners:
* Visibility: Each placard on a motor vehicle must be clearly visible from the direction it faces (except when blocked by another coupled vehicle, though this can be met by placards on freight containers or portable tanks).
* Front Placarding: Front placarding on a motor vehicle may be placed on the front of the truck-tractor instead of, or in addition to, the front of the attached cargo body.
* Attachment and Placement:
* Placards must be securely attached, affixed, or placed in a holder.
* They must be clear of items like ladders, pipes, doors, and tarpaulins.
* As much as practicable, place them where dirt and water from the vehicle's wheels will not be directed onto them.
* They must be at least 3 inches away from any markings (like advertising) that could reduce their effectiveness.
* The attachment method must not obscure any part of the placard's surface, other than its borders (unless using an approved holder from appendix C).
* Display Orientation: Words or authorized identification numbers on the placard must be printed horizontally and read from left to right.
* Maintenance: As the carrier, you must maintain placards so that their format, legibility, color, and visibility are not substantially reduced by damage, deterioration, dirt, or other matter.
* Background: Placards must be affixed to a contrasting color background, or feature a contrasting dotted or solid line outer border.
* Hinges: Placards or placard holders may be hinged as long as the required format, color, and legibility are maintained.