I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1511 
To reduce the number of preventable deaths and injuries caused by underride 
crashes, to improve motor carrier and passenger motor vehicle safety, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 5, 2019 
Mr. COHEN (for himself and Mr. DESAULNIER) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To reduce the number of preventable deaths and injuries 
caused by underride crashes, to improve motor carrier 
and passenger motor vehicle safety, and for other pur-
poses. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Stop Underrides Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 
(1) underride crashes involving passenger motor 
vehicles striking and traveling underneath a truck or 
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trailer are a significant public health and safety 
threat; 
(2) the National Highway Traffic Safety Ad-
ministration has reported that hundreds of prevent-
able fatalities and life-threatening injuries have oc-
curred as a result of underride crashes; 
(3) the National Transportation Safety Board 
has recommended the installation of rear, side, and 
front underride guards on tractor-trailers and rear 
and side underride guards on single unit trucks to 
improve passenger motor vehicle safety; and 
(4) this Act is introduced in the memory of the 
thousands of victims of underride crashes, includ-
ing— 
(A) Roya Christine Sadigh, AnnaLeah 
Karth, Mary Lydia Karth, Roderick Cota, 
Moonjohn Kim, Corey Moore, Gregg Williams, 
Guy Champ Crawford, Carl Hall, Michael 
Higginbotham, 
Sandra 
Maddamma, 
David 
Mathis, Mary Katherine Mathis, James Moon-
ey, 
Christopher 
Weigl, 
Bill 
Zink, 
David 
Magnan, Jasen Swift, Samuel Sierra, Brittany 
McHargue, Christopher Samuel Padilla, Riley 
Hein, Erin Alexander, Jordan Hensley, and Ed-
ward Hall; 
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(B) those whose catastrophic injuries dra-
matically changed their lives, including Julie 
Magnan, Nancy Meuleners, Joshua Rojas, Maiv 
Yang, Anita Plantage Bomgaars, and Michael 
B. Hawkins; and 
(C) those whose precious lives were cut far 
too short as a result of preventable underride 
crashes. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are— 
(1) to reduce the number of preventable deaths 
and injuries caused by underride crashes; and 
(2) to improve motor carrier and passenger 
motor vehicle safety. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 30102(a) of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
striking ‘‘chapter—’’ and inserting ‘‘chapter:’’; 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), (3), 
(4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (12), and (13) 
as paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (5), (7), (8), (9), (10), 
(11), (12), (15), (20), and (22), respectively; 
(3) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so re-
designated) the following: 
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‘‘(17) ‘semi-trailer’ means a trailer, other than 
a pole trailer, which is designed to rest upon, or be 
carried by, a motor vehicle. 
‘‘(18) ‘side underride guard’ means a device in-
stalled on or near the side of a motor vehicle that 
prevents or limits the distance that the front end of 
a vehicle striking the side of the vehicle with the de-
vice will slide under the side of the impacted vehicle. 
‘‘(19) ‘single unit truck’ means a truck (exclud-
ing any attached trailer).’’; 
(7) by inserting after paragraph (20) (as so re-
designated) the following: 
‘‘(21) ‘trailer’ means a vehicle, with or without 
motive power, that is designed— 
‘‘(A) to carry persons or property; and 
‘‘(B) to be drawn by a motor vehicle.’’; and 
(8) by inserting ‘‘The term’’ after the para-
graph designation in each of paragraphs (1) through 
(22) (as so redesignated). 
SEC. 4. UNDERRIDE GUARD RULEMAKING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 301 of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘§ 30129. Underride guards 
‘‘(a) REAR UNDERRIDE GUARDS.— 
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary 
shall issue a final rule to require the installation of 
rear underride guards that meet the performance 
standards described in paragraph (3) on— 
‘‘(A) any trailer with a gross vehicle weight 
rating of 10,000 pounds or more that is manu-
factured on or after the effective date of the 
rule; 
‘‘(B) any semi-trailer with a gross vehicle 
weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more that is 
manufactured on or after the effective date of 
the rule; and 
‘‘(C) any single unit truck— 
‘‘(i) the bottom of the carriage of 
which is greater than 22 inches above the 
ground; 
‘‘(ii) with a gross vehicle weight rating 
of 10,000 pounds or more; and 
‘‘(iii) that is manufactured on or after 
the effective date of the rule. 
‘‘(2) RETRO-FIT
REQUIREMENTS.—Not later 
than 2 years after the date of enactment of this sec-
tion, the Secretary shall issue a final rule requiring 
the installation of rear underride guards that meet 
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the performance standards described in paragraph 
(3) on— 
‘‘(A) any trailer with a gross vehicle weight 
rating of 10,000 pounds or more that is manu-
factured before the effective date of the rule 
under paragraph (1); 
‘‘(B) any semi-trailer with a gross vehicle 
weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more that is 
manufactured before the effective date of the 
rule under paragraph (1); and 
‘‘(C) any single unit truck— 
‘‘(i) the bottom of the carriage of 
which is greater than 22 inches above the 
ground; 
‘‘(ii) with a gross vehicle weight rating 
of 10,000 pounds or more; and 
‘‘(iii) that is manufactured before the 
effective date of the rule under paragraph 
(1). 
‘‘(3) 
PERFORMANCE
STANDARDS.—A 
rear 
underride guard shall be considered to meet the per-
formance standard referred to in paragraphs (1) and 
(2) if the rear underride guard is able to prevent in-
trusion from the body or frame of a vehicle de-
scribed in paragraph (1) or (2), as applicable, into 
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the passenger compartment of a passenger motor ve-
hicle that contacts the guard while traveling at 35 
miles per hour, as verified through crash testing 
while attached to a trailer, after— 
‘‘(A) an impact in which the passenger ve-
hicle impacts the center of the rear of the trail-
er, semi-trailer, or single unit truck; 
‘‘(B) an impact in which 50 percent the 
width of the passenger vehicle overlaps the rear 
of the trailer, semi-trailer, or single unit truck; 
and 
‘‘(C) an impact in which 30 percent of the 
width of the passenger vehicle overlaps the rear 
of the trailer, semi-trailer, or single unit truck. 
‘‘(4) COMPLIANCE DATES.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), compliance with each of the 
rules issued by the Secretary under paragraphs 
(1) and (2) shall be required beginning 1 year 
after the date on which the final rule is pub-
lished in the Federal Register. 
‘‘(B) PHASE-IN.—The Secretary may per-
mit a phase-in period (not to exceed 2 years) 
for the installation of rear underride guards on 
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trailers, semi-trailers, and single unit trucks de-
scribed in paragraph (2). 
‘‘(b) SIDE UNDERRIDE GUARDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary 
shall issue a final rule requiring the installation of 
side underride guards that meet the performance 
standards described in paragraph (3) on— 
‘‘(A) any trailer with a gross vehicle weight 
rating of 10,000 pounds or more that is manu-
factured on or after the effective date of the 
rule; 
‘‘(B) any semi-trailer with a gross vehicle 
weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more that is 
manufactured on or after the effective date of 
the rule; and 
‘‘(C) any single unit truck— 
‘‘(i) the bottom of the carriage of 
which is greater than 22 inches above the 
ground; 
‘‘(ii) with a gross vehicle weight rating 
of 10,000 pounds or more; and 
‘‘(iii) that is manufactured on or after 
the effective date of the rule. 
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‘‘(2) RETRO-FIT
REQUIREMENTS.—Not later 
than 2 years after the date of enactment of this sec-
tion, the Secretary shall issue a final rule requiring 
the installation of side underride guards that meet 
the performance standards described in paragraph 
(3) on— 
‘‘(A) any trailer with a gross vehicle weight 
rating of 10,000 pounds or more that is manu-
factured before the effective date of the rule re-
quired by paragraph (1); 
‘‘(B) any semi-trailer with a gross vehicle 
weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more that is 
manufactured before the effective date of the 
rule required by paragraph (1); and 
‘‘(C) any single unit truck— 
‘‘(i) the bottom of the carriage of 
which is greater than 22 inches above the 
ground; 
‘‘(ii) with a gross vehicle weight rating 
of 10,000 pounds or more; and 
‘‘(iii) that is manufactured before the 
effective date of the rule required by para-
graph (1). 
‘‘(3) 
PERFORMANCE
STANDARDS.—A 
side 
underride guard shall be considered to meet the per-
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formance standards referred to in paragraphs (1) 
and (2) if the side underride guard is able to prevent 
intrusion from the body or frame of a vehicle de-
scribed in paragraph (1) or (2), as applicable, into 
the passenger compartment of a passenger motor ve-
hicle that contacts the guard while traveling 35 
miles per hour at any angle between 10 degrees and 
90 degrees. 
‘‘(4) COMPLIANCE DATES.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), compliance with each of the 
rules issued by the Secretary under paragraphs 
(1) and (2) shall be required beginning on the 
date that is 1 year after the respective issuance 
date of each rule. 
‘‘(B) PHASE-IN.—The Secretary may per-
mit a phase-in period, not to exceed 3 years, for 
the installation of side underride guards on 
trailers, semi-trailers, and single unit trucks de-
scribed in paragraph (2). 
‘‘(c) FRONT UNDERRIDE GUARDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this section, the Sec-
retary shall issue a final rule requiring the installa-
tion of front underride guards on— 
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‘‘(B) any semi-trailer with a gross vehicle 
weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more that is 
manufactured before the effective date of the 
rule under paragraph (1); and 
‘‘(C) any single unit truck— 
‘‘(i) the bottom of the carriage of 
which is greater than 22 inches above the 
ground; 
‘‘(ii) with a gross vehicle weight rating 
of 10,000 pounds or more; and 
‘‘(iii) that is manufactured before the 
effective date of the rule under paragraph 
(1). 
‘‘(3) COMPLIANCE DATES.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), compliance with each of the 
rules issued by the Secretary under paragraphs 
(1) and (2) shall be required beginning on the 
date that is 1 year after the respective issuance 
date of each rule. 
‘‘(B) PHASE-IN.—The Secretary may per-
mit a phase-in period (not to exceed 3 years) 
for the installation of front underride guards on 
vehicles described in paragraph (2). 
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‘‘(4) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this section, the Secretary 
shall— 
‘‘(A) complete research on equipping the 
vehicles described in paragraphs (1) and (2) 
with a front underride guard to prevent trucks 
from overriding the passenger vehicle; and 
‘‘(B) submit to the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Sen-
ate and the Committees on Transportation and 
Infrastructure and Energy and Commerce of 
the House of Representatives a report on the 
research described in subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(d) INSPECTION AND REPAIR REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) POST-ACCIDENT INSPECTIONS.—To ensure 
that all trailers, semi-trailers, and single unit trucks 
are maintained in safe and proper operating condi-
tion at all times, the Secretary shall require that any 
trailer, semi-trailer, or single unit truck involved in 
an accident (as defined in section 390.5 of title 49, 
Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regula-
tion)) undergo and pass an inspection described in 
appendix G to subchapter B of chapter III of title 
49, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regu-
lations), to certify that all components of the trailer, 
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semi-trailer, or single unit truck, as applicable, are 
in safe and proper operating condition. 
‘‘(2) PRE-TRIP
INSPECTIONS.—The Secretary 
shall require drivers— 
‘‘(A) to conduct a pre-trip inspection of the 
comprehensive underride protection system re-
quired under this section on their trailer, semi- 
trailer, or single unit truck— 
‘‘(i) to identify— 
‘‘(I) any metal perforated by rust 
or corrosion that compromises struc-
tural integrity; 
‘‘(II) cracked welds; 
‘‘(III) 
cracked 
or 
fractured 
vertical members; 
‘‘(IV) cuts and tears in any 
underride guard; and 
‘‘(V) missing fasteners and loose 
fasteners; and 
‘‘(ii) to ensure the dimensional integ-
rity of those guards; 
‘‘(B) to include the results of the inspec-
tion described in subparagraph (A) in the driver 
vehicle inspection report; and 
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‘‘(C) to complete any necessary repairs to, 
or replacement of, the underride protection sys-
tem before the vehicle is operated.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The chapter analysis 
for chapter 301 of title 49, United States Code, is amend-
ed by striking the item relating to section 30128 and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘30128. Vehicle rollover prevention and crash mitigation. 
‘‘30129. Underride guards.’’. 
(c) RULEMAKINGS.—The Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall amend— 
(1) sections 396.11 and 396.13 of title 49, 
Code of Federal Regulations, in accordance with sec-
tion 30129(d)(2) of title 49, United States Code (as 
added by subsection (a)); 
(2) section 396.17 of title 49, Code of Federal 
Regulations, to include a requirement that motor 
carriers and intermodal equipment providers include 
an inspection of the comprehensive underride protec-
tion system (as defined in section 30102(a) of title 
49, United States Code) of the commercial motor ve-
hicle in a periodic inspection required under section 
396.17 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations; 
(3) section 392.7 of title 49, Code of Federal 
Regulations, to include the comprehensive underride 
protection system (as defined in section 30102(a) of 
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title 49, United States Code) in the list of parts and 
accessories and components required to be in good 
working order under each of subsections (a) and (b) 
of section 392.7 of title 49, Code of Federal Regula-
tions; and 
(4) appendix G to subchapter B of chapter III 
of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations— 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs 6 (relat-
ing to safe loading) through 14 (relating to mo-
torcoach seats) as paragraphs 7 through 15, re-
spectively; and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph 5 (relat-
ing to lighting devices) the following: 
‘‘6. REAR IMPACT GUARDS AND REAR END PRO-
TECTION.—Any trailer or semitrailer required under 
section 393.86 to be equipped with a rear impact 
guard or rear end protection— 
‘‘(A) that does not meet the requirements 
under section 393.86; 
‘‘(B) that— 
‘‘(i) is missing; or 
‘‘(ii) has— 
‘‘(I) any metal perforated by rust 
or corrosion that compromises struc-
tural integrity; 
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‘‘(II) a cracked weld; 
‘‘(III) a cracked or fractured 
vertical member; 
‘‘(IV) a cut or tear in any 
underride guard component; or 
‘‘(V) a missing fastener or a 
loose fastener; or 
‘‘(C) for which the dimensional integrity of 
the guard or protection is compromised.’’. 
SEC. 5. RESEARCH AND PERIODIC REVIEW OF UNDERRIDE 
GUARD STANDARDS. 
(a) REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.—As soon as prac-
ticable, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue a Re-
quest for Proposals for the design of 2 high capacity rear 
underride barrier prototypes of a generic guard (with en-
ergy absorption and without energy absorption) to prevent 
underride crashes and protect motor vehicle passengers 
against severe injury at crash speeds of up to 65 miles 
per hour. 
(b) EVALUATION.—The Secretary shall— 
(1) evaluate the proposals received in response 
to the Request for Proposals issued pursuant to sub-
section (a); and 
(2) update the underride guard standards 
under section 30129 of title 49, United States Code 
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(as added by section 4(a)), as appropriate, to pro-
vide the best underride protection that is techno-
logically feasible. 
(c) PERIODIC REVIEWS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 5 years after 
the underride guard standards are updated pursuant 
to subsection (b)(2), and every 5 years thereafter, 
the Secretary shall— 
(A) conduct a review of underride guard 
standards to evaluate the need for changes in 
response to advancements in technology; and 
(B) update the standards accordingly. 
(2) REPORT.—After each review conducted 
under this section, the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate and the Committees on Trans-
portation and Infrastructure and Energy and Com-
merce of the House of Representatives a report on 
the results of the review. 
SEC. 6. COMMITTEE ON UNDERRIDE PROTECTION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall establish the Committee on Underride Protec-
tion (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Committee’’) to 
oversee the ongoing underride rulemaking process. 
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(b) REPRESENTATION.—The Committee shall be 
composed of— 
(1) 1 representative of truck manufacturers; 
(2) 1 representative of trailer manufacturers; 
(3) 1 roadside inspector; 
(4) 1 motor vehicle engineer, who shall be a 
technician who works on motor vehicle safety im-
provements; 
(5) 1 motor vehicle crash reconstructionist; 
(6) 2 representatives of consumer-oriented traf-
fic safety organizations; 
(7) 1 representative of the truck and auto in-
surance industry; 
(8) 1 law enforcement crash investigator; 
(9) 1 emergency medical service provider; 
(10) 1 public health or injury prevention profes-
sional; and 
(11) at least 4 people whose families have been 
impacted by an underride crash. 
(c) MEETINGS.—The Committee shall meet— 
(1) until the final rules have been issued pursu-
ant to section 30129 of title 49, United States Code 
(as added by section 4(a))— 
(A) monthly, via conference call; and 
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(B) quarterly, in person, at the Depart-
ment of Transportation headquarters; and 
(2) subsequent to the issuance of the final rules 
described in paragraph (1), annually, at the Depart-
ment of Transportation headquarters, to assess the 
status of underride crash protection. 
(d) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Committee shall submit 
an annual report to the appropriate congressional commit-
tees that describes the progress made by the Secretary of 
Transportation in meeting the rulemaking deadlines set 
forth in section 30129 of title 49, United States Code (as 
added by section 4(a)). 
SEC. 7. PUBLICATION OF VICTIMS OF TRUCK UNDERRIDE 
CRASHES. 
The Secretary of Transportation shall— 
(1) publish data on victims of truck underride 
crashes on a publicly accessible website; and 
(2) update the data described in paragraph (1) 
not less frequently than quarterly. 
Æ 
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