CSA 2010 motivates us all to be more diligent in little things that did not seem to matter much before. Diane and I recently "remodeled" our windshield by moving transponders and stickers to legal areas.
It's been a while but I seem to recall that when we got our EZ-Pass and PrePass transponders in the mail, they came with instructions saying to mount them on the top center of the windshield. We did so without giving it another thought since nearly every transponder we see on a truck is similarly mounted.
Then we re-read our FMCSA book and discover these paragraphs:
"(e) Prohibition on obstructions to the driver’s field of view
—(1) Devices mounted at the top of the windshield. Antennas, transponders, and similar devices must not be mounted more than 152 mm (6 inches) below the upper edge of the windshield. These devices must be located outside the area swept by the windshield wipers, and outside the driver’s sight lines to the road and highway signs and signals.
"(e)(2) Decals and stickers mounted on the windshield. Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) inspection decals, and stickers and/or decals required under Federal or State laws may be placed at the bottom or sides of the windshield provided such decals or stickers do not extend more than 115 mm (41/2 inches) from the bottom of the windshield and are located outside the area swept by the windshield wipers, and outside the driver’s sight lines to the road and highway signs or signals."
Seeing that, we moved the oil-change sticker, a gate-entry sticker and transponders. The stickers went to the bottom. The transponders went to the top right of the windshield, less than six inches from the top and outside the area swept by the wipers. We moved a FedEx-installed panic button antenna off the windshield onto the door post.
Double-sided tape made by 3M works well to re-secure the devices. If you find yourself starting to pry a device off the glass, try twisting it instead. You are less likely to scratch the glass or damage the device.
We have been through several inspections of different levels with this truck and have never been cited or warned about windshield obstructions.
Nevertheless...well, never mind. You already know.
It's been a while but I seem to recall that when we got our EZ-Pass and PrePass transponders in the mail, they came with instructions saying to mount them on the top center of the windshield. We did so without giving it another thought since nearly every transponder we see on a truck is similarly mounted.
Then we re-read our FMCSA book and discover these paragraphs:
"(e) Prohibition on obstructions to the driver’s field of view
—(1) Devices mounted at the top of the windshield. Antennas, transponders, and similar devices must not be mounted more than 152 mm (6 inches) below the upper edge of the windshield. These devices must be located outside the area swept by the windshield wipers, and outside the driver’s sight lines to the road and highway signs and signals.
"(e)(2) Decals and stickers mounted on the windshield. Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) inspection decals, and stickers and/or decals required under Federal or State laws may be placed at the bottom or sides of the windshield provided such decals or stickers do not extend more than 115 mm (41/2 inches) from the bottom of the windshield and are located outside the area swept by the windshield wipers, and outside the driver’s sight lines to the road and highway signs or signals."
Seeing that, we moved the oil-change sticker, a gate-entry sticker and transponders. The stickers went to the bottom. The transponders went to the top right of the windshield, less than six inches from the top and outside the area swept by the wipers. We moved a FedEx-installed panic button antenna off the windshield onto the door post.
Double-sided tape made by 3M works well to re-secure the devices. If you find yourself starting to pry a device off the glass, try twisting it instead. You are less likely to scratch the glass or damage the device.
We have been through several inspections of different levels with this truck and have never been cited or warned about windshield obstructions.
Nevertheless...well, never mind. You already know.
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