# 2026-03255: Rear Impact Guards No Longer Need Pesky Certification Labels

2026-03255, Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Certification and Labeling Requirements for Rear Impact Protection Guards, is a Federal Register rule from Transportation Department, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration published 2026-02-19, effective 2026-03-23 (as of 2026-06-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-03255
- As of: 2026-06-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-03255
- Title: Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Certification and Labeling Requirements for Rear Impact Protection Guards
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Transportation Department; Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 7874
- Published: 2026-02-19
- Effective: 2026-03-23
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: 2126-AC81
- Last updated: 2026-06-11

## In one line

Rear Impact Guards No Longer Need Pesky Certification Labels

## Summary

Starting March 23, 2026, motor carriers won’t have to worry about keeping certification labels on rear impact guards readable or even present. The rule removes the need for permanent labels proving the guards meet safety standards, cutting down on hassle without lowering safety. This change helps carriers save time and avoid problems with worn-off labels, with no extra costs or safety risks.

## Abstract

FMCSA amends the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) to rescind the requirement that the rear impact guard be permanently marked or labeled with a certification from the impact guard manufacturer as required by the applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) promulgated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The certification label or marking provides motor carriers purchasing new trailers or new impact guards to replace damaged devices with a means to determine whether the equipment is certified as meeting the FMVSS. However, the labeling or marking requirement has proven problematic for motor carriers when the label or marking becomes illegible or wears off during the service life of the trailer or guard. This final rule eliminates an unintended regulatory burden on motor carriers without compromising safety, as it does not affect the applicable FMVSS. The final rule also rescinds a guidance document pertaining to illegible, incomplete, or missing rear impact guard certification labels.

## Effects PRIA read

- Carriers no longer need permanent labels: benefit, low. Starting March 23, 2026, motor carriers are no longer required by FMCSA to keep a permanent manufacturer certification label or marking on rear impact guards (49 CFR 393.86(a)(6) is rescinded). This removes the basis for citations during Federal and State inspections for missing or illegible certif…
- Safety standards at manufacture remain: benefit, low. The rule does not change NHTSA's Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) requirements that apply at the time of manufacture and sale (including FMVSS No. 223). FMCSA states the rescission of the permanent labeling requirement in the FMCSR does not remove the FMVSS labeling requirement nor red…

## Related documents

- [2026-08144](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-08144): Administrative Rulemaking, Guidance, and Enforcement Procedures, 2026-04-27
- [2026-20734](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20734): Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Application for Exemption From Aurora Operations, Inc (USDOT #341156), 2026-10-09
- [2026-20649](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20649): Qualification of Drivers; Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance; Application for Exemption, 2026-10-08
- [2026-20524](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20524): Agency Information Collection Activities; New Information Collection: Hours of Service of Drivers; Pilot Program To Allow Commercial Driver…, 2026-10-07
- [2026-20476](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20476): Agency Information Collection Activities; New Information Collection: Hours of Service of Drivers: Pilot Program To Allow Commercial Driver…, 2026-10-06
- [2026-20325](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20325): Clarification to the Applicability of Emergency Exemptions; Response to Petitions for Reconsideration, 2026-10-05

## Sources
- [2026-03255 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/19/2026-03255/parts-and-accessories-necessary-for-safe-operation-certification-and-labeling-requirements-for-rear)
- [2026-03255 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-02-19/pdf/2026-03255.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-03251, Amendment of Class C Airspace; South Bend, Michiana Regional Airport, South Ben…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-03251)
- [Next: 2026-03256, Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Brakes on Portable Conveyors](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-03256)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-03255 (as of 2026-06-11).