Carried warning devices — Montana Permit Test

Every truck of one-ton capacity or larger, passenger bus and truck tractor must carry at least three flares, three red electric lanterns, or three portable red reflectors.

A big truck broken down at night needs warnings spread out behind it, and one flare is not enough.

Every truck of one-ton capacity or larger, passenger bus and truck tractor must be equipped with at least three flares, or three red electric lanterns, or three portable red reflectors.

Those flares, lanterns and reflectors must be visible from at least 600 feet at night in normal conditions.

A warning seen only up close gives a truck at highway speed no room to stop.

All must be capable of being seen at a distance of not less than 600 feet under normal atmospheric conditions at night.

Warning reflectors must have at least 24 square inches of reflective surface.

A tiny reflector catches too little light to be seen in time from a moving truck.

Reflectors used must display a minimum of 24 square inches of reflective surface and at least three red fuses (if red reflectors or red lanterns are not carried) and two red cloth flags at least 12 inches square with standards to support and display such flags.

Vehicles carrying explosives, flammable liquids or compressed gases, or using compressed gas as fuel, may not carry any warning device that signals by flame.

A burning flare next to a leaking fuel tanker can set off a fire or blast.

Note: Vehicles transporting explosives, flammable liquids, compressed gases, or using compressed gases as a fuel may not carry any warning device, which produces a signal by flame.

Instead of flares, lanterns or reflectors, a vehicle may carry three emergency reflective triangles meeting USDOT standard 125.

Triangles fold flat in a truck and warn traffic without an open flame.

As an alternative to the equipment required above, three emergency reflective triangles conforming to USDOT Motor Vehicles Safety Standard 125 may be carried.

At least how many flares, red lanterns or red reflectors must a truck of one-ton capacity carry?

3 devices. A big truck broken down at night needs warnings spread out behind it, and one flare is not enough. Montana Driver Manual, p.17: “Every truck of one-ton capacity or larger, passenger bus and truck tractor must be equipped with at least three flares, or three red electric lanterns, or three portable red reflectors.”