1926.601(b): General Requirements for Jobsite Motor Vehicles
Employers must keep service, emergency and parking brakes working on jobsite vehicles and provide headlights and taillights when needed, brake lights, and an audible warning device. Vehicles with blocked rear views need a reverse alarm or observer, cabs need windshields and powered wipers, haulage vehicles need cab shields, tools must be secured when riding with workers, and seats must be secure and adequate.
Key takeaways
- 1926.601(b) 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 $228,311 in current penalties.
- 2 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: MI (32), SC (9), NJ (9).
- Related part: 1926.601(b)(4) (39 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1926.601(b) ("General requirements") is one requirement inside 1926.601 Motor vehicles, an OSHA construction standard (Part 1926, Subpart O). It includes 20 sub-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
(b) General requirements. 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. Read all of 1926.601.
Injuries linked to this rule
2 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1926.601(b).
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 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1926.601(b), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Does a truck with a cab containing an intergral falling object protective structure that was manufactured to meet the ISO 3449 standard conform to 29 CFR 1926.601(b)(6)? (2010-04-30)
- Permissible methods of operating trucks in reverse on construction sites. (2010-03-02)
- Whether 1926.601 is applicable to personnel and burden carriers used in construction. (2006-06-01)
- Alternatives to common back-up alarms on construction motor vehicles; use of other effective technology or observers/signal persons. (2004-09-27)
- Equipment reverse signal alarms must be audible above surrounding noise level. (2004-05-27)
- Requirements for providing seatbelts for drivers whose size precludes their using seatbelts. (2004-02-04)
- Clarification as to whether operators of mobile cranes with operator cabs are subject to seat belt requirements. (2004-01-27)
- Use of cab shields on haulage vehicles with 4 ft separation between cab and dump truck body. (2001-02-28)
- Requirements for back-up alarms on construction vehicles. (1998-11-03)
- Passenger seat belts not required on school buses (1994-01-19)
- Reverse signal alarms for motor vehicles. (1993-07-12)
- Noise and potential hazard of backup alarms on equipment at construction sites. (1991-10-29)
- End dump trucks on jobsites or public highways (1991-10-01)
- Requirements for back up alarms. (1982-06-25)
- Regulations for back-up alarms. (1980-07-11)
- Enforcement of 29 CFR 1926.601(b)(10). (1978-03-17)
- Response to request for permanent variance from 1926.601(b)(8). (1975-06-25)
Related parts of this rule
- 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(b)(6)
- 1926.601(b)(8)
- 1926.601(b)(10)
- 1926.601(b)(11)
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
What brake systems must vehicles have?
A service brake system, an emergency brake system and a parking brake system, kept in operable condition.
When are headlights required?
Whenever visibility conditions warrant additional light, at least two headlights and two taillights.
What about vehicles carrying workers?
They must have seats firmly secured and adequate for the number of employees carried.
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 2026-10-19
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.