PENNSYLVANIA
LAW
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations
(Title 49, Parts 350-399) places guidelines on
all vehicles engaged in interstate
traffic. Under certain circumstances, a
commercial vehicle (tractor trailer, big rig, 18
wheeler) might be involved in only intrastate
travel through Pennsylvania.
The following commercial motor vehicle safety
regulations govern intrastate travel in
Pennsylvania.
Truck Injuries .com has provided the full text
of these laws as a PDF document, the below table
of content is intended to assist you in locating
specific information within the PDF.
Full Text: INTRASTATE
MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY REQUIREMENTS 
PENNSYLVANIA LAW
CHAPTER 231. INTRASTATE MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY
REQUIREMENTS
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
A.
GENERAL … 231.1
231.1.
General information and requirements.
231.2. Scope.
231.3. Definitions.
231.4. Other terms.
231.5. Vehicles used for purposes other than as
defined.
231.6. Motor carrier to require observance of
driver regulations.
B. QUALIFICATIONS OF DRIVERS … 231.21
231.21.
Scope of this part; additional qualifications;
duties of carrier-drivers.
231.22. General exemptions.
231.23. Definitions.
231.24. Familiarity with rules.
231.25. Aiding or abetting violations.
C. DRIVING OF MOTOR VEHICLES … 231.101
231.101.
Scope of this part.
231.102. Applicable operating rules.
231.103. Ill or fatigued operator.
231.104. Narcotics, amphetamines and other
dangerous substances.
231.105. Intoxicating beverage.
231.106. Schedules to conform with speed limits.
231.107. Equipment, inspection and use.
231.108. Emergency equipment, inspection and
use.
231.109. Safe loading.
231.110. Corrective lenses to be worn.
231.111. Hearing aid to be worn.
D. PARTS AND ACCESSORIES NECESSARY FOR SAFE
OPERATION
231.191.
Additional equipment and accessories.
LIGHTING DEVICES, REFLECTORS AND ELECTRICAL
EQUIPMENT
231.201. Lamps operable.
231.202. Lamps and reflectors, small buses and
trucks.
231.203. Lamps and reflectors, large buses and
trucks.
231.204. Lamps and reflectors, truck tractors.
231.205. Lamps and reflectors, large
semitrailers and full trailers.
231.206. Lamps and reflectors, small
semitrailers and full trailers.
231.207. Lamps and reflectors, pole trailers.
231.208. Lamps and reflectors, combinations in
driveaway-towaway operation.
231.209. Lamps of motor carrier vehicles with
projecting loads.
231.210. Requirements for turn signaling
systems.
231.211. Clearance lamps to indicate extreme
width and height.
231.212. Combination of lighting devices and
reflectors.
231.213. Lighting devices to be electric.
231.214. Requirements for head lamps and
auxiliary road lighting lamps.
231.215. Requirement for lamps other than
headlamps.
231.216. Requirements for reflectors.
231.217. Wiring specifications.
231.218. Wiring to be protected.
231.219. Grounds.
231.220. Battery installation.
231.221. Overload protective devices.
231.222. Detachable electrical connections.
231.223. Wiring, installation.
BRAKES
231.231. Required brake systems.
231.232. Parking brake system.
231.233. Brakes required on all wheels.
231.234. Breakaway and emergency braking.
231.235. Front brake lines, protection.
231.236. Brake tubing and hose, adequacy.
231.237. Brake tubing and hose connections.
231.238. Brake lining.
231.239. Brakes to be operative.
231.240. Single valve to operate all brakes.
231.241. Reservoirs required.
231.242. Warning devices and gauges.
231.243. Brake performance.
GLAZING AND WINDOW CONSTRUCTION
231.251. Glazing in specified openings.
231.252. Window construction.
231.253. Window obstructions.
231.254. Windows, markings.
FUEL SYSTEMS
231.261. All fuel systems.
231.262. Liquid fuel tanks.
231.263. Liquified petroleum gas systems.
COUPLING DEVICES AND TOWING METHODS
231.271. Coupling devices and towing methods,
except for driveaway-towaway operations.
231.272. Coupling devices and towing methods,
driveaway-towaway operations.
MISCELLANEOUS PARTS AND ACCESSORIES
231.281. Tires.
231.282. Sleeper berths.
231.283. Heaters.
231.284. Windshield wipers.
231.285. Defrosting device.
231.286. Rear-vision mirrors.
231.287. Horn.
231.288. Speedometer.
231.289. Exhaust system location.
231.290. Floors.
231.291. Rear-end protection.
231.292. Flags on projecting loads.
231.293. Television receivers.
231.294. Buses, driveshaft protection.
231.295. Buses, standee line or bar.
231.296. Buses, aisle seats prohibited.
231.297. Buses, marking emergency doors.
231.298. Seats, seat belt assemblies and seat
belt assembly anchorages.
231.299. Vehicle interior noise levels.
EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT
231.301. Emergency equipment on all power units.
PROTECTION AGAINST SHIFTING OR FALLING CARGO
231.311. General rules for protection against
shifting or falling cargo.
231.312. Securement systems.
231.313. Blocking and bracing.
231.314. Front-end structure.
E. HOURS OF SERVICE OF DRIVERS … 231.331
231.331.
Definitions.
DRIVERS SERVICE TIME
231.341. Maximum driving and on-duty time.
231.342. Travel time.
231.343. Driver’s record of duty status.
231.344. Adverse driving conditions.
231.345. Emergency conditions.
231.346. Relief from regulations.
231.347. Drivers declared out-of-service.
F. INSPECTION, REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE …
231.361
231.361.
Inspection, repair and maintenance.
231.362. Lubrication.
231.363. Unsafe operations forbidden.
231.364. Inspection of motor carrier vehicles in
operation.
231.365. Driver vehicle inspection reports.
231.366. Driver inspection.
231.367. Driveaway-towaway operations,
inspections.
G. TRANSPORTATION OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS;
DRIVING AND PARKING RULES … 231.381
231.381.
Application of the rules in the subchapter.
231.382. Compliance with Federal motor carrier
safety regulations.
231.383. State and local laws, ordinances and
regulations.
231.384. Attendance and surveillance of motor
vehicles.
231.385. Parking.
231.386. Routes.
231.387. Fires.
231.388. Smoking.
231.389. Fueling.
231.390. Tires.
231.391. Instructions and documents.
231.392. Marking of vehicles operated by private
carriers.
H. STATEMENTS OF POLICY … 231.411
231.411.
Adoption of interpretations of Federal Motor
Carrier Safety Regulations, Federal Highway
Administration, United States Department of
Transportation.
§ 231.411. Adoption of interpretations of
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations,
Federal Highway Administration, United States
Department of Transportation.
(a) Adoption of interpretations. The Department
adopts, as statements of policy, interpretations
of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations,
Parts 390—397 published at 42 Fed. Reg. 60078
(1977) and Part 396 published at 45 Fed. Reg.
46425 (1980).
(b) Exception. The interpretation relating to
Part 390 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Regulations is deleted.
I. DRIVER OUT-OF-SERVICE CRITERIA … 231.431
§
231.431. Application.
In determining whether a driver of a motor
carrier vehicle will be placed out-of-service
under 75 Pa.C.S. § 4704(c) (relating to
inspection by police or Commonwealth personnel),
State Police and qualified Commonwealth employes
will use the criteria set forth in this
subchapter.
Cross References
This section cited in 67 Pa. Code § 231.347
(relating to drivers declared out-of-service).
§ 231.432. Adoption of Federal standards.
(a) The driver out-of-service criteria contained
in Appendix A of the Federal Highway
Administration’s National Uniform
Driver-Vehicle Inspection Manual are
incorporated by reference under 45 Pa.C.S. §
727(9) (relating to matter not required to be
published), upon approval of the Legislative
Reference Bureau.
(b) The National Uniform Driver-Vehicle
Inspection Manual may be obtained by contacting:
Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier
Safety Division, Center for Highway Safety, 215
Transportation and Safety Building, Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania 17120, (717) 787-7445.
Cross References
This section cited in 67 Pa. Code § 231.347
(relating to drivers declared out-of-service).
J. VEHICLE OUT-OF-SERVICE CRITERIA …
231.451
231.451.
Application.
231.452. Adoption of Federal standards.
231.453. Additional standards. |