What is the difference between truck clearance lights and front position lamps?

Truck clearance lights are attached on vehicles to shine in both directions, white towards the front or red towards the rear. They should be fitted as high as possible on the vehicle. In Europe, front position lamps are only permitted at the front of the vehicle as a white light directed forward. The maximum height of these lights is 1500 mm.

Applications for truck clearance lights

Our truck clearance lights indicate the width and/or height of vehicles in the dark. They draw the attention of other drivers to the outline of the vehicle, which is why they are also known as outline marker lamps. When installed on trailers, they are called trailer marker LED lights. Even from far away, these lights alert other drivers that a large vehicle is approaching such as a truck, trailer or semi. This allows other drivers to adapt as needed to different traffic situations even at night, improving safety for everyone on the road. All newer vehicles use modern LED technology, which is long-lasting and requires less electricity.

Legal regulations for standard and LED truck clearance lights

In Europe, LED truck clearance lights have to be white in the front and red in the rear. They are switched on together with all other vehicle lights. The regulations for trailer marker LED lights may vary depending on the country or state, with some legislation requiring amber lights toward the front for example.

• Truck marker lights are permitted for trucks with a width between 1.8 and 2.09 m
• They are required for vehicles with a width of 2.10 m or more
• They are not permitted for vehicle widths of less than 1.80 m.
• Trailer marker LED lights are not required for towing vehicles and trailers used in agriculture and forestry.
• Outline marker lights have to be placed more than 200 mm from front position lights or tail lights.
• Truck clearance lights can only be fitted on the front or rear of the vehicle.
• European regulation ECE-R48 Section 6.13 contains further details about the placement, attachment and permitted number of truck clearance lights. In any case, end-outline marker lamps should be installed as high as possible on the outermost edge of the chassis.
• Two stalk marker lights should be fitted on the front and two on the rear. An additional two end-outline marker lamps are permitted on each end of the vehicle.