{"id":3554,"date":"2022-11-07T02:46:37","date_gmt":"2022-11-07T02:46:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ledask.com\/?p=3554"},"modified":"2022-11-07T06:49:55","modified_gmt":"2022-11-07T06:49:55","slug":"clearance-lights-vs-marker-lights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ledask.com\/clearance-lights-vs-marker-lights\/","title":{"rendered":"Clearance Lights vs. Marker Lights: Width and Identification Lamps for Large Commercial Vehicles"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Not only do clearance and marker lamps enhance a large vehicle’s visibility, but they also help determine its size. Both are visual signatures, meaning they don’t require a specific skillset, language, or ability to read to identify. But the two have different functions, and we will compare clearance lights vs. marker lights to explain each type’s purpose. Take a look!<\/p>\n\n\n

What Are Clearance Lights?<\/h2>\n\n\n

Clearance lights are the red or amber lights on the front and rear of wide trucks, buses, trailers, etc. And their purpose is to notify motorists and pedestrians of the presence of a wide vehicle. As per the federal motor vehicle safety standards<\/a>, any large vehicle (80 inches or wider) should have these lights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some trucks can have these lights on the roof or left and right sides. The position of these lights might depend on local laws, so you need to check them to determine the best location to install them. But most state laws in the US are in line with the federal regulations, which require front and rear installation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A big semi-truck with clearance lights. Notice how you can know the truck and trailer’s widths just by looking at these lamps.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each broad vehicle must have two clearance lamps on the sides of the front and rear ends to show their width. Rear clearance lamps must be red. But the front ones can have yellow or amber-colored bulbs.<\/p>\n\n\n

What Are Marker Lights?<\/h2>\n\n\n

Marker lights indicate a vehicle’s overall length, shape, and direction of travel. Also known as identification lights<\/a>, marker lamps are usually in sets of six (three for the front and rear). And like clearance lights, the front lamps should have amber bulbs or emit an amber color, while the rear lights should be red.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A semi-truck with amber clearance and marker lights on its head. Notice the amber clearance lights on the trailer.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The configuration of marker lights should have each fixture no further than 12 inches apart and no closer than 6 inches to each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n

Clearance Lights vs. Marker Lights<\/h2>\n\n\n

The clearance marker light combination has several differences in the following categories.<\/p>\n\n\n

Colors<\/h3>\n\n\n

The rear side marker light set must have red bulbs, and the front ones should be amber. On the other hand, the color of rear clearance lamps can only be red, but the front set can be amber or yellow. All these bulbs should have a clear or colored case in red, yellow, or amber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A truck with clearance and marker lights transporting freight in winter<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

Usage<\/h3>\n\n\n

Wide vehicles such as trucks, semi-trucks, buses, and utility vehicles should have both these lights. Clearance lights act as warning lights to notify pedestrians and other motorists of the wide commercial vehicle coming towards them. And they show the vehicle’s width visually because they sit far outside on the corners along the vehicle’s front and rear ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A yellow school bus with marker and clearance lamps. Note the amber side marker light.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, center marker lights generally illuminate the vehicle to indicate its direction of travel, shape, and size. Also, they can signify the presence of a wide truck, bus, etc., to oncoming vehicles. But they do not highlight the width because they don’t sit at the sides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clearance lamps must be on throughout, but you can use center marker lights when necessary during the day or night.<\/p>\n\n\n

Regulations<\/h3>\n\n\n

As you can see above, clearance lights are more functional than marker lamps. Therefore, there are more federal regulations on them. And they are mandatory in commercial vehicles<\/a>. But marker lamps have light regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Generally, vehicles less than 80 inches wide should have the following automotive lamp types.<\/p>\n\n\n\n