Why do big trucks have amber running lights on their roofs?

Why do big trucks like the Ford F-450 and above have amber running lights on their roofs, while smaller trucks do not?


{ 13 comments }

Charlotte_Beaupain April 15, 2010 at 11:35 pm

so they can be seen.

"Conquistador" April 16, 2010 at 12:23 am

So they can feel like truckdrivers.

katie l April 16, 2010 at 1:03 am

dfasf

people are idiots April 16, 2010 at 1:51 am

So that the people trying to jump over the vehicle (at night) can see that it’s tall and that they’re not gonna make it over.

William H April 16, 2010 at 2:19 am

so you can see them better

charmaine M April 16, 2010 at 2:45 am

because in the night time those lights help other people on the next side of the road so they wont crash

Bassett April 16, 2010 at 2:47 am

Those trucks are designed for off road use and they usually use those lights to get a better view of the road, to hunt and even to drive through the rain. Nowadays it’s just for looks — most of the time.

Seth B April 16, 2010 at 3:40 am

I think that this is because most people go off road with bigger trucks and they need to see more than a normal truck on the road.

just me April 16, 2010 at 4:15 am

the lights are called marker lights or clearance light and on a big rig dot mandates that they are there. they are for you to be able to see if you can clear an object in height.

suzb49 April 16, 2010 at 4:29 am

They are called clearance lights and they are to see if the vehicle will clear an over pass or other object, but they also help to identify the vehicle as a semi or a pick up. On semi’s the trailers are usually taller then the trucks so this identifies the unit as being a box trailer instead of a flatbead.

baldie April 16, 2010 at 4:51 am

those are clearance lights. you can put them on any truck.

Kevin_57 April 16, 2010 at 4:57 am

There are all kinds of regulations for lighting on large vehicles. Trailers over a certain width have to have 3 lights in the back not including the brake and turn signals, over a certain length they need to have lights on the side too.
Trucks over a certain GVW need to have the lights on top you asked about. All of these rules are for safety. Other drivers can see these trucks at night.

b20civicofadown April 16, 2010 at 5:10 am

because they are a bigger class of pickup versus 1/2 ton pick ups and such. On standard beds I believe they are an option. Dualies come standard with them front and rear (5 amber roof, 5 red rear usually 3 in middle and 1 on each bed flare)

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