Even from a distance, the lights tell you that an approaching vehicle is a commercial motor vehicle. If there’s a hill, even a small one, between you and the oncoming truck, you’ll see the amber clearance lights first — two at the front corners of the box or trailer, then the familiar five atop the cab arranged with a grouping of three in the middle and one on each side. In close range, the clearance lights on the side of the vehicle can help you tell if it’s a straight truck, a tractor-trailer, or a tractor pulling doubles.
Table 1 of Federal Motor Carrier Regulations subpart 393. 11 details the lighting and reflective device requirements for commercial motor vehicles manufactured after Dec. 25, 1968. Those regulations spell out the light colors and patterns that are familiar to every truck driver.
Some drivers and truck owners, however, go much further than the minimum legal requirements. Some people put in extra clearance lights, which make a line of lights that look like a solid line from a distance.
Some people like lights that show where parts of the truck are, like the bottom of the sleeper or the top of the bumper. Some like to highlight features, for example, positioning amber lights so they reflect off a chrome air filter housing.
Imagination is the limit, so long as lighting choices don’t violate the regulations. For example, red lights on the front end of a truck could confuse motorists, and would be illegal.
In fact, there’s a name for those magical numbers of lights that far exceed legal requirements. They’re called “chicken lights.” The term is sometimes used to poke fun at a driver who, in the opinion of someone else, uses an excessive number of lights. Other drivers, however, proudly refer to their own lighting schemes by the term.
While we’re on the subject of extra lights, let’s address a common CB myth often repeated by drivers without actual knowledge. As the fable goes, no matter how many lights are installed on the truck, they must all be working. Supposedly, someone knows someone who heard from someone else who had 250 lights on their trailer (well into “Rooster Cruiser” territory) and got ticketed because one of the bulbs had blown out.
It’s hogwash. As long as there are enough working lights to meet the requirements of 49 CFR 393.11, no laws have been broken.
There is, however, a downside to adding extra lighting: Each new lamp requires adding another connection to the wiring. Whether the connection is made by cutting and splicing wires or by using connection devices designed for this purpose, every new connection is susceptible to corrosion. If done right and checked frequently, however, problems can be avoided.
In recent years, LED (light-emitting diode) lamps have swarmed the market. Invented in 1962, the first LEDs gave off only low-intensity infrared light. Developments since then have resulted in a variety of colors and intensities, including some suitable for replacement headlight lamps.
The earliest use of LEDs for truck lighting, however, came in the form of LED tail and brake lights to replace the sealed-beam incandescent lamps used for tractors and trailers. The new LED models were brighter, quicker to activate, used far less electricity and lasted much longer than the old-style lights.
They were also expensive, 10 or more times the cost of an incandescent lamp, and theft was common. Drivers were often dismayed to discover four empty receptacles where tail and brake lamps were formerly located. Installations soon included the use of special screws or bolts designed to prevent theft.
These days, LED lamps are standard equipment on most vehicles. However, the use of LEDs has gone far beyond brake and tail lights. Nearly any light on the vehicle, including the headlamps, can now be powered by LEDs.
LEDs now come in a dazzling variety of colors, including units that contain diodes of different colors, allowing the owner to change the appearance of the truck at will. Red and amber lights used on the highway can become green, blue or another color when the truck is parked. Lights mounted underneath tractors and trailers light up the ground, adding to the effect.
Many of the truck competitions held at truck shows or as standalone events now include a light show. Some even present separate awards for best “legal” and “non-legal” displays. These are highly anticipated and usually well attended. If a little rain results in wet pavement, so much the better.
Even better, technology has made it possible to program LED lights to act in ways never before possible. Lights can change color, flash in predetermined patterns or in sequence at the direction of the driver. The lights competition at most shows features rows of trucks lit up like Christmas trees, only bigger and brighter. Displays are limited only by the owners’ imagination – and budget.
On the road, LEDs have paid off, too. Incandescent bulbs could blow out at any time, and most drivers carried at least one spare for each type of bulb. With more carriers offering drop-and-hook freight, a driver never knew when the next trailer might have a nonworking light, or several. A blown clearance light could mean a citation at the next scale house, or at least a trip-delaying inspection. LEDs, while not immune to breakdown, are much more reliable.
One area where incandescent bulbs have an edge, however, is in heat generation. In snowy conditions, most incandescent lights stay warm enough to melt accumulated snow from the lens area, often leaving a salty film behind. These headlamps were often warm enough to cause a burn if touched.
Because LEDs emit much less heat, drivers need to periodically clean snow away to keep the headlamp from being obscured. One LED manufacturer is even marketing lamps with a built-in heater. The Truck-Lite Company’s Supper 44 and 60 Series stop/tail/turn lights contain heating elements that activate when the temperature drops below 45 degrees.
With all of the available choices, truck lighting has become a trucking art form. There’s a nightly parade of lights on a highway, or at a truck stop, near you.
Cliff Abbott is an experienced commercial vehicle driver and owner-operator who still holds a CDL in his home state of Alabama. In nearly 40 years in trucking, he’s been an instructor and trainer and has managed safety and recruiting operations for several carriers. Having never lost his love of the road, Cliff has written a book and hundreds of songs and has been writing for The Trucker for more than a decade.
Chicken lights also known as cab lights or auxiliary lights are a common sight on big rigs traveling America’s highways. But where did the quirky name for these extra lights come from? As with many trucker traditions, the origins are a bit murky, but the purpose remains clear. Let’s break down the history and function of these iconic truck accessories.
A Signature Look
Picture a classic 18-wheeler barreling down the interstate. What’s one of the first things you notice? Probably those rows of small, round lights across the top and sides of the cab. Truckers have long added these decorative lights, often in chrome housings, to give their rigs a custom look. The practice echoes back to the golden age of car culture in the 1950s and 60s when hot rodders would trick out their rides with as much chrome and flare as possible.
For truckers, chicken lights are part of achieving that signature big rig style. They’re a way to personalize your home on the road. Of course, form follows function. Those lights aren’t just for show.
Increased Visibility
The main purpose of chicken lights is to make the truck easier to see. This is especially important at night, when truckers log most of their miles. The extra lighting makes it easier for other drivers to see the rig in low light and helps the trucker light up dark loading areas. If a truck breaks down at night and needs to pull over, chicken lights can help light the way.
Because they boost visibility, most chicken lights are white or amber in color. They need to stand out from the red brake lights and signal lamps. Brighter is better for grabbing attention on the road.
Specialized Hauling
Some types of haulers put even more chicken lights on their trucks. For example, cattle haulers put lights in their trailers so they can load and check on animals at night. The many lights also make it easier to keep an eye on the animals during long overnight trips.
Heavy equipment haulers may also add more chicken lights to help navigate while transporting oversized loads in the dark. The lights assist with positioning the trailer and cargo. For these specialized jobs, chicken lights take on even greater functional importance.
Legal Rules
While chicken lights are legal in the United States and Canada, there are some regulations surrounding them. If the lights face forward, they must be amber or white. Rear-facing lights need to be red.
The lights also can’t flash or oscillate. Any additional lighting can’t interfere with the federally mandated lighting system all commercial trucks must have. As long as truckers follow the basic guidelines, they’re free to customize and modify to their heart’s content.
How the Name Originated
So where does the odd name “chicken lights” come from anyway? There are a few different theories floating around out there.
Some say that truckers first used the term in a sarcastic way to refer to people who put too many lights on their trucks. People made fun of the drivers for adding “chicken lights” because their style looked like they were scared of the dark. ”.
Others say it comes from the slang word “chicken,” which means anything flashy or over the top. The name “chicken lights” may have come about as a joke about the crazy chrome and lighting choices some truckers make.
There’s also a possible connection to the old insult of calling someone a “chicken” if they were scared or cowardly. More lights helped nervous drivers feel braver in the dark.
Whatever the exact origin, the name chicken lights stuck and is now a firmly entrenched part of trucker lexicon. The lights themselves are here to stay as well.
Unique Culture
The prevalence of chicken lights gives a hint into the distinctive culture of truckers. Personalizing their rigs allows for self-expression on the road. The open highway becomes a moving canvas to showcase their unique style.
Of course, that personal flair has a very public audience. Elaborate chicken light displays attract the attention of passing motorists. For truckers, their rig is a calling card and a source of pride. Chicken lights let them put their own stamp on that signature mobile image.
Truckers often get deeply attached to their home away from home. That’s especially true for owner-operators. Amping up their truck helps cement that bond. The process allows creativity through customization. For truckers, their rig is both a mobile workplace and an extension of their personality.
Trucker Tradition
Over the decades, chicken lights have become ingrained in trucker tradition. They’re passed down as new generations of drivers enter the workforce. The first upgrade many make is adding a set of chrome chicken lights.
It ties back to that appeal of personalization and a chance to start building your own look. For new truckers, it’s a rite of passage that signals you are now part of the community. The lights reflect your membership in a special fraternity of drivers.
Of course, trucking culture continues to evolve with the times. But chicken lights remain a constant—a signature tradition that links the modern trucking world back to its roots. As long as there are truckers, expect to keep seeing those shiny mini lights dotted across our highways.
So next time you spot a big rig heading your way with chicken lights aglow, you’ll know the story behind the name and significance. Truckers may have their own personal reasons for adding extra lights. But ultimately, the goal is better visibility and a way to put their own stamp on their most prized possession. For these “knights of the highway,” chicken lights are a badge of honor and a crucial part of life on the road.
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FAQ
Why do truckers call their lights chicken lights?
I was told years ago when I first started driving, that the glow from the older lights seemed to calm the chickens down in transport. Thereby making the trip and unloading them easier on them.
Where did chicken lights get their name?
These mystifying lights are sometimes called “chicken lights. “Maybe this is because chicken truckers put them in place in the early 1900s as a useful way to…Nov 28, 2023
What color chicken lights are legal?
It is okay to have “chicken lights,” but they need to be amber when they face forward and red when they face backward.
Why are weigh stations called chicken coops?
Many specialized trucks have more than 5 axles to accommodate more weight. When you ask why weigh stations are called “chicken coops,” it’s because many of them look like chicken coops you’d see on a farm.
Why are chicken lights called Chicken lights?
Chicken lights are called so because truckers consider more lights as better for decoration. These auxiliary lights increase visibility on the road and can help prevent accidents, especially at night or in poor weather conditions.
Why are chicken lights so popular?
Let’s uncover the history, types, benefits, and regulations surrounding these alluring truck accessories, shedding light on why they have become a beloved addition for drivers nationwide. Chicken lights are decorative lights on trucks, evolving from safety to a symbol of pride.
What are chicken lights on a truck?
Chicken lights are auxiliary lights attached to trucks to increase visibility on the road. They aid in avoiding accidents, especially at night or during breakdowns. Additional lights on trucks, including chicken lights, serve as safety measures for drivers and other vehicles by improving visibility in traffic, particularly at night.
What is the history of chicken lights?
The history of chicken lights showcases how they shifted from a functional necessity to decorative lighting. Neon signs like ‘We Deliver’ were mounted on trucks not only to enhance visibility but also to advertise services.
What are chicken lights & how do they work?
These lights are usually placed on the top or sides of the truck and serve the purpose of increasing visibility to other drivers on the road. They are particularly helpful for night driving and in the case of breakdowns. The term “chicken lights” may have originated from the notion that if some lights are good, then more lights are even better.
Why do truck drivers use chicken lights?
Truck drivers use chicken lights to enhance safety, especially at night or in low-light conditions. The purpose of chicken lights is to make the truck more visible to other drivers on the road. These lights are typically placed on the sides or top of the truck for decorative purposes.