1926.601: Motor Vehicles on Construction Sites
Employers must equip off-highway jobsite vehicles with working service, emergency and parking brakes, headlights and taillights when visibility requires, brake lights, and an audible warning device. Vehicles with an obstructed rear view need a reverse alarm or an observer, cabs need windshields and powered wipers, and haulage vehicles loaded by cranes or loaders need a cab shield or canopy.
Key takeaways
- 1926.601 is part of OSHA's construction standards (29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart O).
- OSHA cited it 92 times in the last 3 years, in 80 inspections, with $227,561 in current penalties.
- 2 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: MI (32), SC (9), NJ (9).
- Most-cited part: 1926.601(b) General requirements (92 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.601, "Motor vehicles", is an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart O). It has 22 numbered paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
Show the full text of 1926.601 (22 paragraphs)
(a) Coverage. Motor vehicles as covered by this part are those vehicles that operate within an off-highway jobsite, not open to public traffic. The requirements of this section do not apply to equipment for which rules are prescribed in § 1926.602. Open (a)
(b) General requirements. Open (b) 92 citations
(1) All vehicles shall have a service brake system, an emergency brake system, and a parking brake system. These systems may use common components, and shall be maintained in operable condition. 2 citations
(2) 1 citations
(i) Whenever visibility conditions warrant additional light, all vehicles, or combinations of vehicles, in use shall be equipped with at least two headlights and two taillights in operable condition.
(ii) All vehicles, or combination of vehicles, shall have brake lights in operable condition regardless of light conditions. 1 citations
(3) All vehicles shall be equipped with an adequate audible warning device at the operator's station and in an operable condition. Open (b)(3) 8 citations
(4) No employer shall use any motor vehicle equipment having an obstructed view to the rear unless: Open (b)(4) 39 citations
(i) The vehicle has a reverse signal alarm audible above the surrounding noise level or: Open (b)(4)(i) 13 citations
(ii) The vehicle is backed up only when an observer signals that it is safe to do so. Open (b)(4)(ii) 5 citations
(5) All vehicles with cabs shall be equipped with windshields and powered wipers. Cracked and broken glass shall be replaced. Vehicles operating in areas or under conditions that cause fogging or frosting of the windshields shall be equipped with operable defogging or defrosting devices. Open (b)(5) 10 citations
(6) All haulage vehicles, whose pay load is loaded by means of cranes, power shovels, loaders, or similar equipment, shall have a cab shield and/or canopy adequate to protect the operator from shifting or falling materials. Open (b)(6)
(7) Tools and material shall be secured to prevent movement when transported in the same compartment with employees.
(8) Vehicles used to transport employees shall have seats firmly secured and adequate for the number of employees to be carried. Open (b)(8)
(9) Seat belts and anchorages meeting the requirements of 49 CFR part 571 (Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) shall be installed in all motor vehicles. Open (b)(9) 2 citations
(10) Trucks with dump bodies shall be equipped with positive means of support, permanently attached, and capable of being locked in position to prevent accidental lowering of the body while maintenance or inspection work is being done. Open (b)(10)
(11) Operating levers controlling hoisting or dumping devices on haulage bodies shall be equipped with a latch or other device which will prevent accidental starting or tripping of the mechanism. Open (b)(11)
(12) Trip handles for tailgates of dump trucks shall be so arranged that, in dumping, the operator will be in the clear.
(13) 1 citations
(i) All rubber-tired motor vehicle equipment manufactured on or after May 1, 1972, shall be equipped with fenders. All rubber-tired motor vehicle equipment manufactured before May 1, 1972, shall be equipped with fenders not later than May 1, 1973. 1 citations
(ii) Mud flaps may be used in lieu of fenders whenever motor vehicle equipment is not designed for fenders.
(14) All vehicles in use shall be checked at the beginning of each shift to assure that the following parts, equipment, and accessories are in safe operating condition and free of apparent damage that could cause failure while in use: service brakes, including trailer brake connections; parking system (hand brake); emergency stopping system (brakes); tires; horn; steering mechanism; coupling devices; seat belts; operating controls; and safety devices. All defects shall be corrected before the vehicle is placed in service. These requirements also apply to equipment such as lights, reflectors, windshield wipers, defrosters, fire extinguishers, etc., where such equipment is necessary. Open (b)(14) 29 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15.
Export the list: 80 inspections cited 1926.601 in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moInjuries linked to this rule
2 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.601.
At 10:00 a.m. on December 9, 2024, an employee working as a truck driver for a trucking company was delivering caliche for back-fill to a work site. The site was a graded, rolled and compacted well drilling patch site. The truck-trailer became stuck so a…
Full case list with employer, penalty, filters and download is part of OSHA Data (Purple Belt).
Unlock with Purple BeltWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 28 |
| 2025 | 36 |
| 2026 | 21 |
Top states: MI (32), SC (9), NJ (9), NY (6), IL (6)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| HUTCH PAVING INC | WHITMORE LAKE, MI | $35,000 |
| 109926 - SHAFER CONTRACTING CO INC | BURNSVILLE, MN | $25,000 |
| RUIDOSO, VILLAGE OF, STREETS DEPARTMENT | RUIDOSO, NM | $16,554 |
| A.L. HELMCAMP INC. | KENNARD, TX | $14,895 |
| CASTLEGATE BUILDING CORPORATION | PUNTA GORDA, FL | $11,292 |
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OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1926.601.
Most-cited parts of this rule
- 1926.601(b) General requirements 92 citations
- 1926.601(b)(4) 39 citations
- 1926.601(b)(14) 29 citations
- 1926.601(b)(4)(i) 13 citations
- 1926.601(b)(5) 10 citations
- 1926.601(b)(3) 8 citations
- 1926.601(b)(4)(ii) 5 citations
- 1926.601(b)(9) 2 citations
- 1926.601(a) Coverage
- 1926.601(b)(6)
- 1926.601(b)(8)
- 1926.601(b)(10)
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Frequently asked questions
Which vehicles does 1926.601 cover?
Vehicles that operate within an off-highway jobsite not open to public traffic, other than equipment covered by 1926.602.
What if a vehicle's rear view is obstructed?
It needs a reverse signal alarm audible above surrounding noise, or it may be backed up only when an observer signals it is safe.
Must cracked glass be replaced?
Yes. Cracked and broken glass shall be replaced.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1926.601 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-11-06
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.