Just have to ask about lights - Truckers' Trucking Forum | Message Board

MrSmith · #1 10.12.2007

I havent been driving long. Just graduated. but I have learned alot about trucking. And I have gained respect for the truckers out there. Yet there are just as many foolish truck drivers as 4 wheels.

But anywho. I have a question for anyone that knows the truth.

Trailers have License plate lights, clearance lights , brake light and maybe even some decorative lights for the look. but for the life of me, I cant figure out. why these BIG #$$ trucks that most the time we reverse to unload, alley dock, parrallel & offset have no reverse lights. Yeah, I know. we cant see them anyway. but wouldnt it let the person behind us that popped out of no place see them.

I believe Averett has reverse cameras in there trucks, but still no reverse lights.

Ducks · #2 10.12.2007

Hey, I learned something new! (Again.) I never knew trucks/trailers didn't have back-up lights. I'm curious why, too.

Burky · #3 10.12.2007

The purpose of backup lights is to provide lighting for the person backing up, not to warn othere drivers. Sinc the low power of a backup light would not provide any usable lighting to the driver of the truck, due to the roughly 65 foot of distance, there is no requirement for backup lights on a trailer.

I might point out that if you come up behind a trailer, and miss the multiple red backup lights, the usually in operation four way flashers, and the various clearance lights on the rear and whatever side you can see, then two small white lights are not going to do you much good either. If that is the case, you have a severe case of "Mr Magoo" syndrome, and should see a qualified eye doctor.

(And please, for all our sakes, have someone else drive you to the Doctors' appointment!!)

And I might add that I rarely find a car coming up between my trailer and a loading dock....LOL!

Roadmedic · #4 10.12.2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burky

The purpose of backup lights is to provide lighting for the person backing up, not to warn othere drivers. Sinc the low power of a backup light would not provide any usable lighting to the driver of the truck, due to the roughly 65 foot of distance, there is no requirement for backup lights on a trailer.

I might point out that if you come up behind a trailer, and miss the multiple red backup lights, the usually in operation four way flashers, and the various clearance lights on the rear and whatever side you can see, then two small white lights are not going to do you much good either. If that is the case, you have a severe case of "Mr Magoo" syndrome, and should see a qualified eye doctor.

(And please, for all our sakes, have someone else drive you to the Doctors' appointment!!)

And I might add that I rarely find a car coming up between my trailer and a loading dock....LOL!

I have noticed that many of the trucks backing up anymore do not activate the 4 ways. I have seen this in truckstops and at docks.

Burky · #5 10.12.2007

Not everyone does. When I am the only vehicle moving at the backside of a building, backing up to a silo, there's no one to warn, so I don;t put mine on. If I have a possibility of someone or another vehicle interacting with me while backing, then on they go. Again, at night especially, if you can't see the rest of my lights, one or two more will not make a difference.

bluevolvo · #6 11.09.2007

I have been a driver for several construction companines for most of my driving time and have found a few usefull things to add to a tractor unit. I have a flood light attached to the back of my cab that is on a toggle switch for backing up to trailers at night and is also very usefull for tire repaires ect in the dark. I have also seen flood lights attached to dump trailes for night jobs such as paving and grinding jobs. I understand for alot of people that dont have there own trucks trailers this may be a problem modifying your trucks and or trailers.

myminpins · #7 11.09.2007

We always use our four-ways when backing up since we don't have a backing up beeper like some trucks do. We also have manual white backup lights on the sides of the tractor to help illuminate behind us if need be. We did NOT put on our four-ways once in a truck stop and got reprimanded for it by a few other truckers.

Using your 4-ways any time there is ANYONE around is always a good idea.

jlkklj777 · #8 11.13.2007

Some trucks actually have spot lights mounted to the side of the wind fairings on the tractor that do in fact shoot back alongside the trailers. Very helpful in dark customer parking lots.

Brickman · #9 11.15.2007

I wish back up alarms would be outlawed on OTR trucks. Nothing like being woke up at 1 AM by some clown trying to back in that has no clue how to back up and does the forward reverse thing for about 5 minutes to ensure that every body sleeping around him is sufficiently awake so that it takes an hr or more to go back to sleep.
If you feel the need to have one on your truck please feel free to be polite enough to put a kill switch on it so that it is not being used in a truck stop where others are sleeping.

2xR · #10 11.18.2007

I've operated some roll-off trailers and tanks that had rearward facing work lights. Prior to backing in the dark I would get out and flip the switch and light up the night. I liked it. Much better seeing where you're backing as opposed to going into a black hole.

Turning the four-ways on actually flash a little extra light onto your task. They help a lot.

Add some rain to the darkness and the challenge is even greater. 2xR wants "docking lights".

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