Utility Trailer Manufacturing announced that its dry vans, refrigerated vans, and flatbeds produced after 2002 can be retrofitted with Utility’s standard 7-inch-deep horizontal rear underride guard (often called an "ICC bumper," a holdover from the simple rear horizontal bars first required by the old Interstate Commerce Commission in 1952.)

Noting that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently proposed to include the rear impact guard on the list of items that need to be examined during a commercial vehicle’s annual inspection, Utility said it strongly recommends replacing any underride guards found defective with its 7-inch-deep horizontal bumper in order to exceed all rear trailer guard safety regulations.

Utility will discount the new bumpers as an incentive to replace the old underride guards.

Utility’s rear impact guard ICC bumper complies with U.S. DOT and Transport Canada regulations. The current 7-inch-deep replacement horizontal rear bumper comes in a variety of configurations, including stainless steel, bolt-on, and a wider dock lock notch reinforcement. The dock lock reinforcement plate also provides 2 inches of additional clearance to help increase dock lock stability and provide extra clearance for some specific docks with limited dock lock clearance.

Utility said the impact guard is also certified by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and has received an IIHS ToughGuard award for safety. ToughGuard recognizes trailers with guards that prevent underride in all three of the institute’s rear underride tests — full-width, 50% overlap and 30% overlap.