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Interpretation Letter 6(09)-11 (I) - Use of Manufacturer's Names and Company Logos on Channelizing Devices

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DOT Logo

U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.
Washington, D.C. 20590

January 3, 2012

In Reply Refer To: HOTO-1

Mr. Ryan Sueoka
Director of Marketing
OTW Safety
P.O. Box 1461
Salt Lake City, UT 84110

Dear Mr. Sueoka:

Thank you for your December 6, 2011, letter requesting an official interpretation of Paragraphs 15 and 16 in Section 6F.63 of the 2009 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which allow the name and telephone number of the highway agency, contractor, or supplier to be displayed on the non-retroreflective surface of channelizing devices provided that the letters and numbers are non-retroreflective and not over 2 inches in height. Specifically, you asked whether these paragraphs also allow the manufacturer's name and company logo to be displayed on channelizing devices.

Paragraph 15 allows identification information to be displayed on channelizing devices so that the highway agency, contractor, or supplier can maintain its inventory and easily identify its equipment when it is placed in the temporary traffic control zone.

Because the identification information does not provide road users with any necessary information, its legibility from a distance or at night is not a consideration. Therefore, Paragraph 16 restricts the height of the letters and numbers used for this purpose to 2 inches and requires the identification information to be non-retroreflective.

Paragraph 15 does not allow the manufacturer's name to be displayed on channelizing devices unless the manufacturer is also the supplier of the device. Paragraph 15 does not allow company logos to be displayed on channelizing devices.

For recordkeeping purposes, we have assigned the following official interpretation number and title: "6(09)-11 (I) - Use of Manufacturer's Names and Company Logos on Channelizing Devices." Please refer to this number in any future correspondence regarding this topic.

Thank you for your interest in improving the clarity of the provisions contained in Part 6 of the MUTCD. Please contact Mr. Ken Wood at ken.wood@dot.gov or 708-283-4340 if you have any further questions concerning this matter.

Sincerely yours,

Original signed by:

Mark R. Kehrli
Director, Office of Transportation Operations