beacon light on semi tractor question

glennster · May 17, 2012

been seeing quite a few semi tractor hauling shipping containers that have a small yellow beacon strobe light mounted on top of the drivers side mirror. they run these flashing lights during the day. is this a new thing? on our tow trucks we can only run the beacon strobes and rollers either at accident scenes or when towing on the wheel lift.

massey333 · May 17, 2012

I think you are talking Yard tractors-trucks,because most of them are not tagged.

glennster · May 17, 2012

they are regular tractor trailer trucks, they are on a state highway that runs in front of my shop. some day cab tractors, some otr's with sleepers. different company trucks also.

rustyfarmall · May 17, 2012

Maybe it is for new drivers, so they will know which side is the drivers side? :lol:

Don't know really. I'm like you, I thought the flashing lights were for emergency use only.

john in la · May 17, 2012

Are they all hauling shipping containers????

Just guessing but maybe the shipping yard requires the lights and they are just to lazy to turn them off when they hit the highway.

BTW.... Old Roadway joke was......
Why does a Roadway truck only have one seat.
So the driver knows what side to get in.

Mark-Ia · May 17, 2012

Are the containers oversized, overwidth??

Anonymous-0 · May 17, 2012

We have trucks in this aera that run them on both mirrors. These truck are hauling large over size loads. They also have state police escort.

Ralph Bauer · May 17, 2012

Well, here in OK they have those yellow becons/strobes on top of school busses, that haul people/kids. Maybe those trucks are hauling ????? in the containers? (Autsch, not a very nice comment, since I am "one" ("????") too, but the little devil on my shoulder made me do it....)

Lights or not, I hope that they do not haul people..too many die that way, horrible way to go, no one deserves it, regardless.

ericlb · May 17, 2012

we have them on our semi too, here there for hauling oversize loads, both of our dozers for example have 12 foot wide blades on them and weigh round 100,000 lbs by themselves,the truck tractor and lowboy trailer add another 40,000 lbs, to that , front and rear escort vehicles are required as well as permits and designated route paperwork in order to move these anywhere, unless those containers have something in them that makes the truck weigh over 80,000 lb total , or over 80 feet long overall, i dont know why they would run them

glennster · May 18, 2012

here is a picture of one of the trucks that just went by the shop. nothing special, but if you look close on the top of the mirror, there is a small beacon strobe that is flashing. half a dozen or so of these have gone by already today.

<a href="http://s121.photobucket.com/albums/o234/glennster_01/?action=view&current=DCP03560.jpg" target="_blank">

DCP03560.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket

</a>
Untitled URL Link

willie in mn · May 18, 2012

I agree with John in his reply. Probably required use at the ship port or rail yard. I do know they are required on the flight line at airports. Just to lazy to turn off when they hit the streets.
Tin can in photo looks to be the standard size.
Willie

John730D · May 19, 2012

I don't know for sure, but when they are shipping DDG's out of the ethanol plant, they are usually 90-100K lbs and don't have to stop @ scales, fixed or portable. Most of the loads are going to China. They are a big buyer of Distiller's grain. The light ID's the special loads. I understand they don't get DOT'd unles they have obvious violations.

John730D · May 19, 2012

I forgot to add that the trailers are 102 inches wide and they are allowed to run roads not approved for 102 trailers.

Ozlander · May 21, 2012

(quoted from post at 08:31:14 05/18/12) here is a picture of one of the trucks that just went by the shop. nothing special, but if you look close on the top of the mirror, there is a small beacon strobe that is flashing. half a dozen or so of these have gone by already today.

<a href="http://s121.photobucket.com/albums/o234/glennster_01/?action=view&current=DCP03560.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o234/glennster_01/DCP03560.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Untitled URL Link

I looked at that picture for a long time and never saw a blinking light.

glennster · May 22, 2012

its mounted on the top of the drivers door mirror. you can barely make out the black base of the beacon. sorry the picture isnt that good.

spacecadet9 · May 28, 2012

(quoted from post at 17:23:41 05/21/12)
I looked at that picture for a long time and never saw a blinking light.

Great "observation power", but I believe it went over every bodies head ;-) I was ROFL.

tim(in) · Jun 22, 2012

roflmao

mkirsch · Jun 28, 2012

I've seen them on dump trucks. They turn them on when they enter the construction area, and turn them off when they get on the road.

If the DOT catches them with the light flashing on the road, ticket.
If the DOT catches them with the light off on the site, ticket.

beacon light on semi tractor question

glennster

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