Trucking Laws · Nationwide · October 27, 2026

Another Carrier Asks FMCSA to Let Its Trucks Use Pulsing Brake Lights, and Truckers Can Comment

By Big Rig Daily Staff

Truckers who have been rear-ended on the highway may want to follow this one. Another motor carrier is asking the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for permission to use pulsing brake lights, Land Line reported Monday, Oct. 26.

What the carrier wants

R.B. Stewart Petroleum Products requested an exemption from 49 CFR 393.25(e), which requires all exterior lamps, except turn signals, to be steady-burning.

If granted, the company could run trucks with a module made by Intellistop. When the brakes are applied, the module pulses the rear clearance, identification and brake lamps from low to high intensity four times in two seconds, then returns them to steady-burning while the brakes stay on, Land Line reported.

In its application, R.B. Stewart said the module would "enhance the visibility of its CMVs and improve the ability of following drivers to recognize braking events." The company said it would add protection against rear-end collisions, particularly for its cargo tank trailers.

Thirteen carriers already have exemptions

Thirteen motor carriers currently hold exemptions from the steady-burning rule, and six of those specifically mention the Intellistop module, according to Land Line.

In October 2022, FMCSA denied Intellistop's request for an industry-wide exemption, calling it "too broad," and has reviewed carrier requests case by case since. Intellistop asked again in April. That petition drew 34 comments, including support from the American Trucking Associations. FMCSA has not announced a decision.

Big Rig Daily covered a related request earlier: FMCSA and pulsing amber rear lights. In another FMCSA exemption, the agency let truck drivers at 231 railroads extend the 14-hour rule to 17 hours to respond to unplanned events on the main track.

How to comment

FMCSA began accepting comments on R.B. Stewart's request on Oct. 26. Comments must be received on or before Nov. 25, according to the Federal Register notice. Go to Regulations.gov and enter docket number FMCSA-2026-3730.

Rear lights are part of every walkaround. The pre-trip inspection checklist covers what to check. More rule news is in Trucking Laws.

A question for readers

Would flashing brake lights on trailers make the cars behind you pay more attention, or just annoy them?

Save this story for later

Save this to Pinterest