https://www.trucking.org/news-insights/ata-applauds-house-appropriations-approving-pro-trucking-policies

Washington - Today, the American Trucking Associations' Automobile Carriers Conference applauded the introduction of legislation to remove red tape related to duplicative warning flags for stinger-steered automobile transporters, which will increase efficiency and lower costs without impacting safety.

The bipartisan, bicameral bill was introduced by Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Gary Peters (D-MI) and Representative Tom Barrett (R-MI). Representative Barrett also successfully included the bill in the BUILD America 250 Act, which passed the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee last month.

"The vehicles we transport, by their very nature, meet federal conspicuity requirements in both daytime and nighttime," said Brian Suhre, executive vice president of Cassens Transport. "Vehicle manufacturers also prohibit us from attaching any items to the vehicles during transport. This solves multiple problems and preserves highway safety, so it's a win-win,"

"Years of real-world data point to one commonsense conclusion: removing the warning flag requirement for stinger-steered automobile transporters does not compromise safety," said Mike Matousek, director of ATA's Automobile Carriers Conference. "Modern vehicles already have reflective safety features, such as taillights and headlights, so warning flags are entirely redundant. When FMCSA granted a 5-year waiver from the warning flag requirement in 2019, there were no impacts to safety, which is why the agency extended the waiver for an additional five years in 2024. We thank Rep. Barrett and Sens. Fischer and Peters for their bipartisan leadership to find a permanent solution, reduce costs, prevent damage to finished motor vehicles, and enhance the efficiency of the automotive supply chain."

"The FMCSA twice waived the warning flag requirement for stinger-steered automobile transporters, citing that cars already feature reflective devices and that trailers are equipped with proper lighting and conspicuity treatments," said Alex Rosen, ATA's SVP of legislative affairs. "We thank Sens. Fischer and Peters and Rep. Barrett for advancing a commonsense fix that allows carriers to move vehicles more efficiently without causing damage or compromising safety. Rep. Barrett's successful inclusion of this provision in the BUILD America 250 Act underscores the bipartisan momentum to finally eliminate this superfluous requirement."

In 2015, the FAST Act extended the allowable rear overhang for stinger-steered automobile transporters from 4' to 6'; however, federal regulations require that any cargo extending more than 4' beyond the rear of a trailer must have a warning flag affixed to the cargo itself.

In 2017, ATA's Automobile Carriers Conference petitioned the U.S. Department of Transportation for a waiver, making the case that their cargo-vehicles-already have reflective markings. Additionally, vehicle manufacturers generally prohibit carriers from affixing anything on the vehicles to prevent damage.

In 2019, DOT granted a 5-year waiver, which was renewed in 2024. There is no evidence that the waiver has had an adverse impact on safety, and no opposition comments were filed in response to the waiver's renewal in 2024.

The legislation introduced by Senators Fischer and Peters and Representative Barrett would make this waiver permanent.