HEAVY DUTY LIGHTING

Heavy-Duty Lighting For Peterbilt Trucks

Heavy-duty lighting on a Class 8 Peterbilt must meet DOT and FMCSA visibility standards while surviving the heat, vibration, and weather exposure that come with serious commercial trucking. From headlights and marker lights to DOT-compliant clearance lights, backup lights, and auxiliary work lights, every lighting component on a Peterbilt has a job to do — and when a light fails, it creates both a compliance risk and a safety issue. We stock a full range of heavy-duty lighting for Peterbilt trucks, from OEM-equivalent replacements to LED upgrades that deliver longer service life and improved output.

Frequently asked questions about heavy-duty lighting

What lighting is required by DOT regulations on a Class 8 commercial truck?

FMCSA 49 CFR Part 393 specifies required lighting for commercial vehicles, including: two headlights (high and low beam), front and rear turn signals, brake lights, taillights, clearance lights (identifying the outer edges of the vehicle), identification lights (three amber lights across the front and rear of the cab roof), marker lights along the sides for vehicles over 80" wide, and backup lights. All lights must be functional, properly aimed (for headlights), and displaying the correct color for their position. Missing or non-functional required lighting is a common roadside violation and can result in an out-of-service order.

Should I upgrade my Peterbilt to LED lighting?

LED lighting is a worthwhile upgrade for most Peterbilt trucks for several reasons: LED lights last significantly longer than incandescent bulbs (often 50,000+ hours vs. 1,000–2,000 hours for incandescent), draw less current (reducing alternator load), and produce brighter, more visible output. For fleets focused on reducing lighting maintenance labor and roadside violations from burned-out bulbs, LED upgrades across marker, clearance, and tail lighting positions deliver a fast return on investment. LED headlights are also available and provide improved forward illumination for night driving.

How do I diagnose an intermittent lighting problem on a Peterbilt?

Intermittent lighting failures on a Peterbilt are most commonly caused by corroded or loose connectors, chafed wiring at points where harnesses pass through body panels or along the frame, or a failing ground connection. Start by checking all connectors in the affected circuit for green or white corrosion inside the connector body — even light corrosion on the pins increases resistance enough to cause intermittent operation. Clean and re-grease connectors with dielectric grease, verify the circuit's ground strap connections at the cab or chassis, and inspect the wiring harness along the frame rail for any abrasion damage before suspecting the light fixture itself.

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