MI HB5938

Amends the Motor Carrier Safety Act of 1963 to establish minimum requirements for rear impact guards on trailers to promote highway safety.

Defines "dangerous goods" to include explosives, compressed/liquefied gases, flammable liquids and solids, oxidizing substances, poisonous substances, radioactive materials, and corrosives.

Requires trailers to be equipped with rear impact guards meeting specific structural standards: minimum 100 millimeters vertical height, ground clearance not exceeding 560 millimeters, and horizontal member positioning within 305 millimeters of the trailer's rear extremity.

Specifies performance requirements for rear impact guards including resistance to 50,000 newtons at multiple points and 350,000 newtons uniformly distributed load with maximum 125 millimeters deflection; includes energy absorption requirements of 200,000 joules for guards resisting 700,000 newtons or less.

Exempts pole trailers, pulpwood trailers, wheels-back trailers, low-chassis trailers, living quarters trailers, and trailers with work-performing equipment from rear impact guard requirements; effective 1 year after enactment.