ok so the big debate/ rant

There isn't a regulation of "all lights must work." That is a "rule of thumb", not a regulation. Only the required lights must work. Extra lights that don't work may invite more scrutiny at a weigh station. When you are bobtail the required tractor lights must work or it's a violation. I suspect whether you are hooked to a trailer or not is of no relevance. It isn't that hard to look up the regulations instead of asking for multiple interpretations, some of which may be wrong. Nobody gets out of a ticket by saying "some guy on the internet told me it was OK."

 

So if anyone sees you have something wrong with your truck they should just keep their mouth shut because “you already know it”?
Alrighty then.
And if you can’t afford to fix your truck to meet DOT requirements maybe you should rethink your business plan.
As for me, I appreciate anything someone points out that may be a problem, even if I already know it.

 

Violation

 

From the table on 393.11
Item on the vehicle: Tail lamps.
Quantity: 2
Color: Red
Location: Rear
Position: One lamp on each side of the vertical centerline at the same height and as far apart as practicable

So for your issue he is correct, The caveat is if only 2 tail lights work, it must be on both sides of the vehicle. You can't have 2 working on the right but none working on the left side for example.

 

Some will over look the light inoperative, however, they will probably not issue you a CVSA sticker. Been on that boat before here in Commiefornia, had 1 high beam not working, gave me a warning, he didn’t put it in the report but got no CVSA sticker.

 

I'm not a real truck driver, so take my comment fwiw, but I think this is the best advice you've received. I'm sure there's a youtube video out there that will show you how to troubleshoot and/or fix a tail light.

 

It’s a violation. A warning, not an out of service as long as you’re hooked to a trailer. By the same token an inoperable rear trailer light is OOS criteria

 

For all the folks who have said "its just a light, it's an easy fix" - my truck is going back in the shop for the 4 time since mid December for the same tail light. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, there's no rhyme or reason for it. This morning it was working when I checked my kingpin, by the time I was thumping the passenger side tires it was out, after the pump down it was back on.

Most times, yes, it's a quick fix (relatively), but sometimes it's much more involved than I want either TA or Loves involved in.

 

Sounds like time to just replace all the rear sill harness and pigtails and call it a day, be easier than tracing a single rubbed wire sometimes, and cheaper once you figure labor in too