Fridge Trucks Dodge Crash Guard Rules: 'It's Harmless,' They Say
Published Date: 11/28/2025
Notice
Summary
ST Engineering Hackney found that some of their 2015-2022 Kidron Refrigerated Van trailers don’t fully meet rear impact guard safety rules. They’ve asked the government to decide if this issue is minor enough to not affect safety. If you have thoughts, you can share them by December 29, 2025—no money or recalls are happening right now.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Manufacturer Seeks Exemption From Remedy
ST Engineering Hackney says about 2,428 model year 2015–2022 Kidron Refrigerated Van trailers (built between November 3, 2014 and January 24, 2022) have rear impact guard labels that omit the guard manufacturer's address, which violates FMVSS No. 223 S5.3(a). STE Hackney petitioned NHTSA (originally February 28, 2022; amended April 16, 2024) asking to be exempted from the legal duties to notify owners and to provide a remedy for that noncompliance; comments are due December 29, 2025.
NHTSA Limits Scope of Any Exemption
NHTSA says that any decision granting STE Hackney an exemption would only relieve the manufacturer of the duties to notify owners and provide a remedy for vehicles STE Hackney no longer controlled when it learned of the problem. NHTSA also says such a decision would not relieve vehicle distributors and dealers of prohibitions on selling or introducing noncompliant vehicles after they have been notified.
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