1200 New Jersey Ave., SE

 Washington, D.C. 20590

February 21, 2013

FHWA:HSST:NArtimovich:sfs:x61331:2/14/13

File: s://directory folder/HSST/CC65H_Scorpion_ArrowBoard.docx

cc: HSST: NArtimovich

In Reply Refer To:

HSST/ CC-65H

Mr. Geoff Maus

Director of Engineering

TrafFix Devices, Inc.

160 Ave. La Pata

San Clemente, California 93673

Dear Mr. Maus:

This letter is in response to your request for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to 

review a roadside safety system for eligibility for reimbursement under the Federal-aid highway 

program. 

Name of system: Scorpion Trailer Attenuator with Arrow/Display Panel

Type of system: Truck Mounted Attenuator (TMA)

Test Level: NCHRP Report 350 Test Level 3

Testing conducted by: KARCO

Date of request: December 6, 2012

Date initially acknowledged: December 12, 2012

Date of completed package: December 6, 2012

Decision:

The following device is eligible, with details provided in the form which is attached as an 

integral part of this letter:

• Scorpion Trailer TMA with integral Arrow/Display Panel

Based on a review of crash test results submitted by the manufacturer certifying the device 

described herein meets the crash test and evaluation criteria of the National Cooperative 

Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 350, the device is eligible for reimbursement 

under the Federal-aid highway program. Eligibility for reimbursement under the Federal-aid 

highway program does not establish approval or endorsement by the FHWA for any particular 

purpose or use.

The FHWA, the Department of Transportation, and the United States Government do not 

endorse products or services and the issuance of a reimbursement eligibility letter is not an 

endorsement of any product or service.
2

Requirements

Roadside safety devices should meet the guidelines contained in the NCHRP Report 350 or the 

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ Manual for Assessing 

Safety Hardware (MASH). 

Findings

Full-scale crash testing according to NCHRP Report 350 was conducted on the Scorpion TMA 

and TMA Trailer and documented in these FHWA letters:

Number Date Test Level Description

CC-65 07/14/00 TL-2 Scorpion A 10,000 TMA

TL-3 Scorpion C 10,000 Truck Mounted Attenuator

CC-65A 12/08/00 TL-3 Design change (to steel diaphragms and hinges)

CC-65B 03/16/07 TL-3 Scorpion Trailer Attenuator

CC-65C 03/03/08 TL-3 Scorpion TMA & Trailer – infinite weight truck

CC-65D 03/03/08 TL-2 Scorpion TL-2 Trailer TMA

CC-65E 02/13/09 TL-3 Modified Scorpion – reduced weight

CC-65F 04/20/11 TL-2 TMA on lightweight shadow vehicle

CC-65G 04/20/11 TL-2 Full acceptance of Trailer TMA via crash testing

In order to evaluate the performance of the Scorpion Trailer TMA with the arrow/display panel 

attached, you conducted a developmental test with a device using production aluminum tube 

frames, but without the internal aluminum honeycomb filled cartridges. The arrow panel and 

frame was in place during the test, and the video shows that the arrow panel remained rigidly 

attached to the trailer frame and showed no potential for impacting the test vehicle or penetrating 

the occupant compartment. 

Therefore, the system described and detailed in the attached form is eligible for reimbursement 

and may be installed under the range of conditions tested. 

Please note the following standard provisions that apply to FHWA eligibility letters:

• This finding of eligibility is limited to crash characteristics and does not cover the 

structural features of the systems, nor conformity with the Manual on Uniform Traffic 

Control Devices. 

• Any changes that may influence the crash characteristics of the system will require a new 

reimbursement eligibility letter. 

• Should the FHWA discover that the qualification testing was flawed, that in-service 

performance reveals safety problems, or that the system is significantly different from the 

version that was crash tested, we reserve the right to modify or revoke this letter. 

• You will be expected to supply potential users with sufficient information on design and 

installation requirements to ensure proper performance. 
3

• You will be expected to certify to potential users that the hardware furnished has the 

same chemistry, mechanical properties, and geometry as that submitted for review, and 

that it will meet the crash test requirements of the NCHRP Report 350. 

• To prevent misunderstanding by others, this letter of eligibility is designated as number 

CC-65H and shall not be reproduced except in full. This letter and the test 

documentation upon which it is based are public information. All such letters and 

documentation may be reviewed at our office upon request. 

• This letter shall not be construed as authorization or consent by the FHWA to use, 

manufacture, or sell any patented system for which the applicant is not the patent holder. 

The FHWA is neither prepared nor required to become involved in issues concerning 

patent law. Patent issues, if any, are to be resolved by the applicant.

• The Scorpion TMAs are patented products and considered proprietary. If proprietary 

systems are specified by a highway agency for use on Federal-aid projects: (a) they must 

be supplied through competitive bidding with equally suitable unpatented items; (b) the 

highway agency must certify that they are essential for synchronization with the existing 

highway facilities or that no equally suitable alternative exists; or (c) they must be used 

for research or for a distinctive type of construction on relatively short sections of road 

for experimental purposes. Our regulations concerning proprietary products are 

contained in Title 23, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 635.411. 

Sincerely yours,

Michael S. Griffith

Director, Office of Safety Technologies

Office of Safety

Enclosures