The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has finalized a rulemaking that updates two truck rear underride guard standards it said will improve protection for drivers and passengers in light vehicles in the event of a rear underride crash.

The trucking industry is asking federal regulators for clarity about potential enforcement issues surrounding a new rule for annual inspection of rear underride guards on trailers.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued a final rule amending safety regulations to specifically add rear underride impact guards as a required item on the list of annual inspections for motor carriers and roadside inspectors.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued a proposed rule amending federal safety regulations to specifically add rear impact guards as a required item on the list of annual inspections for motor carriers and roadside inspectors.

Legislation that would require the installation of side underride guards on heavy trucks is not based on sufficient science, data or demonstrated overall effectiveness, American Trucking Associations wrote to congressional transportation leaders.

A federal government watchdog study has recommended that federal regulators take steps to collect better data on underride guard crashes and share information with police departments in identifying underride crashes.

In response to a request by two U.S. senators, roadside commercial motor vehicle inspectors later this month will spend a day collecting data on the condition and maintenance of rear trailer underride guards.

Legislation that would require underride guards on sides and front of trucks as a way to improve highway safety was introduced Dec. 12 in the House and Senate.