Commercial Insurance Blog

“New” Inspection Requirement on Trailers used in Business

If you have a trailer, defined by mass.gov as: "Any vehicle or object on wheels that has no motor power of its own, but is drawn by, or used in combination with, a motor vehicle" and that vehicle is used to make money, regulations now state that the vehicle must have its own brakes regardless of the vehicle size.
Source: https://www.mass.gov/doc/540-cmr-4-annual-safety-and-combined-safety-and-emissions-inspection-of-all-motor-vehicles/download

Local towing companies have reported an uptick in vehicles towing trailers being pulled over by the police. So, if your business is using a trailer without brakes, it may be time to consider installing them. However, in some cases, it can be more economical for businesses' to simply buy a new trailer. Either way, complying with these "new" regulations is a good idea for your business.