South Carolina Administrative Code

38-393.30. Battery installation. Every storage battery on every vehicle, unless located in the engine compartment, shall be covered by a fixed part of the motor vehicle or protected by a removable cover or enclosure. Removable covers or enclosures shall be substantial and shall b…

38-393.31. Overload protective devices. (a) The current to all low tension circuits shall pass through overload protective devices except that this requirement shall not be applicable to battery to starting motor or battery to generator circuits, ignition and engine control circu…

38-393.32. Detachable electrical connections. Electrical wiring between towing and towed vehicles shall be contained in a cable or cables or entirely within another substantially constructed protective device. All such electrical wiring shall be mechani- cally and electrically ad…

38-393.33. Wiring, installation. Electrical wiring shall be systematically arranged and installed in a workmanlike manner. All detachable wiring, except temporary wiring connections for driveaway towaway operations, shall be attached to posts or terminals by means of suitable cab…

38-393.40. Required brake systems. (a) General. A truck, truck tractor, or a combination of motor vehicles must have brakes adequate to control the movement of, and to stop and hold, the vehicle or combination of vehicles. (b) Specific systems required. (1) A truck, truck tractor…

38-393.41. Parking brake system. (a) Every commercial motor vehicle manufactured on and after March 7, 1990, except an agricultur- al commodity trailer, converter dolly, heavy hauler or pulpwood trailer, shall at all times be equipped with a parking brake system adequate to hold …

38-393.42. Brakes required on all wheels. (a) Every commercial motor vehicle shall be equipped with brakes acting on all wheels. (b) Exception. (1) Trucks or truck tractors having three or more axles (i) Need not have brakes on the front wheels if the vehicle was manufactured bef…

38-393.43. Breakaway and emergency braking. (a) Every motor vehicle, if used to tow a trailer equipped with brakes, shall be equipped with means for providing that in case of breakaway of such trailer the service brakes on the towing vehicle will be sufficiently operative to stop…

38-393.45. Brake tubing and hose, adequacy. (a) General requirements. Brake tubing and brake hose must (1) Be designed and constructed in a manner that insures proper, adequate, and continued functioning of the tubing or hose; (2) Be installed in a manner that insures proper cont…

38-393.46. Brake tubing and hose connections. All connections for air, vacuum, or hydraulic braking systems shall: (a) Be adequate in material and construction to insure proper continued functioning; (b) Be designed, constructed, and installed so as to insure, when properly conne…

38-393.47. Brake lining. The brake lining on every motor vehicle shall be so constructed and installed as not to be subject to excessive fading and grabbing and shall be adequate in thickness, means of attachment, and physical characteristics to provide for safe and reliable stop…

38-393.48. Brakes to be operative. (a) General rule. Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c), all brakes with which a motor vehicle is equipped must at all times be capable of operating. (b) Devices to reduce or remove front wheel braking effort. A motor vehicle may be equip…

38-393.49. Single valve to operate all brakes. Every motor vehicle, the date of manufacture of which is subsequent to June 30, 1953, which is equipped with power brakes, shall have the braking system so arranged that one application valve shall when applied operate all the servic…

38-393.5. Definitions. As used in 38-382, the following words and terms are construed to mean: Aggregate working load limit. The summation of the working load limits or restraining capacity of all devices used to secure an article of cargo on a vehicle. Anchor Point. Part of the …

38-393.50. Reservoirs required. (a) General. Every commercial motor vehicle using air or vacuum for breaking shall be equipped with reserve capacity or a reservoir sufficient to ensure a full service brake application with the engine stopped without depleting the air pressure or …

38-393.51. Warning devices and gauges. (a) General. In the manner and to the extent specified in paragraphs (b), (c), (d), and (e), a truck, or truck tractor must be equipped with a signal that provides a warning to the driver when a failure occurs in the vehicle’s service brake …

38-393.52. Brake performance. (a) Upon application of its service brakes, a motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles must under any condition of loading in which it is found on a public highway, be capable of (1) Developing a braking force at least equal to the percentage o…

38-393.53. Automatic brake adjusters and brake adjustment indicators. (a) Automatic brake adjusters (hydraulic brake systems). Each commercial motor vehicle manufac- tured on or after October 20, 1993, and equipped with a hydraulic brake system, shall meet the automatic brake adj…

38-393.60. Glazing in specified openings. (a) Glazing material. Glazing material used in windshields, windows, and doors on a motor vehicle manufactured on or after December25, 1968, shall at a minimum meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 205…

38-393.61. Window construction. 38-393.62. Window obstructions. Subpart E: Fuel Systems 38-393.65. All fuel systems. 38-393.67. Liquid fuel tanks. 38-393.69. Liquefied petroleum gas systems. Subpart F: Coupling Devices and Towing Methods

38-393.62. Window obstructions. Windows, if otherwise capable of complying with Regulation 38-393.61 (a) and (b), shall not be obstructed by bars or other such means located either inside or outside such windows such as would hinder the escape of occupants unless such bars or oth…

38-393.65. All fuel systems. (a) Application of the rules. The rules apply to systems for containing and supplying fuel for the operation of motor vehicles or for the operation of auxiliary equipment installed on, or used in connection with, motor vehicles. (b) Location. Each fue…

38-393.67. Liquid fuel tanks. (a) Application of the rules. (1) A liquid fuel tank manufactured on or after January 1, 1973, and a side mounted gasoline tank must conform to all the rules. (2) [Reserved] (3) A diesel fuel tank manufactured before January 1, 1973, and mounted on a…

38-393.69. Liquefied petroleum gas systems. (a) A fuel system that uses liquefied petroleum gas as a fuel for the operation of a motor vehicle or for the operation of auxiliary equipment installed on, or used in connection with, a motor vehicle must conform to the ‘‘Standards for…

38-393.7. Matter incorporated by reference. (a) Incorporation by reference. Part 38-393 includes references to certain matter or materials. The text of the materials is not included in the regulations contained in part 38-393. The materials are hereby made a part of the regulatio…

38-393.70. Coupling devices and towing methods, except for driveaway towaway opera- tions. 38-393.71. Coupling devices and towing methods, driveaway towaway operations. Subpart G: Miscellaneous Parts and Accessories 38-393.75. Tires. 38-393.76. Sleeper berths. 38-393.77. Heaters.…

38-393.71. Coupling devices and towing methods, driveaway towaway operations. (a) Number in combination. (1) No more than three saddle mounts may be used in any combination. (2) No more than one tow bar may be used in any combination. (3) When motor vehicles are towed by means of…

38-393.75. Tires. (a) No motor vehicle shall be operated on any tire that (1) has body ply or belt material exposed through the tread or sidewall, (2) has any tread or sidewall separation, (3) is flat or has an audible leak, or (4) has a cut to the extent that the ply or belt mat…

38-393.76. Sleeper berths. (a) Dimensions— (1) Size. A sleeper berth must be at least the following size: Height measured Length meas- Width measured from highest ured on center- on centerline of point of top of Date of installation on motor line of longitudi- transverse axis mat…

38-393.77. Heaters. On every motor vehicle, every heater shall comply with the following requirements: (a) Prohibited types of heaters. The installation or use of the following types of heaters is prohibited: (1) Exhaust heaters. Any type of exhaust heater in which the engine exh…

38-393.78. Windshield wipers. (a) Every truck, and truck tractor, having a windshield, shall be equipped with at least two automatically operating windshield wiper blades, one on each side of the centerline of the windshield, for cleaning rain, snow, or other moisture from the wi…

38-393.79. Defrosting device. Every truck, and truck tractor having a windshield, when operating under conditions such that ice, snow, or frost would be likely to collect on the outside of the windshield or condensation on the inside of the windshield, shall be equipped with a de…

38-393.80. Rear vision mirrors. (a) Every truck, and truck tractor shall be equipped with two rear vision mirrors, one at each side, firmly attached to the outside of the motor vehicle, and so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway to the rear, along both sides…

38-393.81. Horn. Every truck, truck tractor, and every driven motor vehicle in driveaway towaway operations shall be equipped with a horn and actuating elements which shall be in such condition as to give an adequate and reliable warning signal. HISTORY: Amended by State Register…

38-393.82. Speedometer. Every truck and truck tractor, manufactured after January 1, 1996, shall be equipped with a speedometer indicating vehicle speed in miles per hour, which shall be operative with reasonable accuracy; however, this requirement shall not apply to any driven v…

38-393.83. Exhaust systems. (a) Every motor vehicle having a device (other than as part of its cargo) capable of expelling harmful combustion fumes shall have a system to direct the discharge of such fumes. No part shall be located where its location would likely result in burnin…

38-393.84. Floors. The flooring in all motor vehicles shall be substantially constructed, free of unnecessary holes and openings, and shall be maintained so as to minimize the entrance of fumes, exhaust gases, or fire. Floors shall not be permeated with oil or other substances li…

38-393.86. Rear end protection. (a)(1) General requirements for trailers and semitrailers manufactured on or after January 26, 1998. Each trailer and semitrailer with a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 kg (10,000 lbs) or more, and manufactured on or after January 26, 1998, mu…

38-393.87. Flags on projecting loads. Any motor vehicle having a load or vehicle component which extends beyond the sides more than 4 inches or more than 4 feet beyond the rear shall have the extremities of the load marked with a red flag, not less than 12 inches square. HISTORY:…

38-393.88. Television receivers. Any motor vehicle equipped with a television viewer, screen or other means of visually receiving a television broadcast shall have the viewer or screen located in the motor vehicle at a point to the rear of the back of the driver’s seat if such vi…

38-393.9. Lamps operable. 38-393.11. Lighting devices and reflectors. 38-393.13. Retro-reflective sheeting and reflex reflectors, requirements for semitrailers and trailers manufactured before December 1, 1993.

38-393.93. Seats, seat belt assemblies, and seat belt assembly anchorages. (a) [Reserved] (b) Trucks and truck tractors (1) Trucks and truck tractors manufactured on and after January 1, 1965, and before July 1, 1971. Except as provided in paragraph (d), after June 30, 1972, ever…

38-393.95. Emergency equipment on all power units. Subpart I: Protection against Shifting or Falling Cargo

38-396. INSPECTION, REPAIR, AND MAINTENANCE. Editor’s Note HISTORY: Added by State Register Volume 22, Issue No. 6, Part 1, eff June 26, 1998. Amended by State Register Volume 30, Issue No. 4, eff April 28, 2006. Table of Contents 38-396.1. Scope. 38-396.3. Inspection, repair, an…

38-396.1. Scope. General. Every motor carrier, its officers, drivers, agents, representatives, and employees directly concerned with the inspection or maintenance of motor vehicles shall comply and be conversant with the rules of 38-382. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume …

38-396.17. Periodic inspection. (a) Every commercial motor vehicle shall be inspected as required. The inspection shall include, at a minimum, the parts and accessories set forth in appendix G of this regulation. Note: The term commercial motor vehicle includes each vehicle in a …

38-396.19. Inspector qualifications. (a) It shall be the motor carrier’s responsibility to ensure that the individual(s) performing an annual inspection under Regulation 38-396.17 (d) or (e) is qualified as follows: (1) Understands the inspection criteria set forth in 49 CFR part…