Truck Modifications: NHTSA Takes a Look at Safety Risks

Could Truck Modifications Affect Automatic Braking?

The federal government is looking into how truck modifications and other vehicle changes may affect safety systems. The issue could matter to commercial truck drivers who rely on automatic braking and crash warnings.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will hold a workshop on December 10, 2026. According to a new Federal Register notice, the agency wants to learn how changes to vehicle parts may affect these systems.

Many newer trucks use cameras and radar to spot dangers on the road. These tools can warn drivers about a possible crash. Some systems can also apply the brakes when needed. NHTSA is concerned that certain changes may cause these systems to work less well.

How Truck Modifications Could Affect Safety Systems

Many commercial trucks have systems that help drivers avoid crashes. Some warn drivers when they get too close to another vehicle. Others can apply the brakes if a crash appears likely.

These systems rely on cameras, radar, and other sensors. Each sensor must be in the right position to work as designed. If a sensor is moved or blocked, it may not work as it should.

NHTSA says changes to a vehicle’s height, bumpers, body panels, or wheels could affect these systems. Such changes may cause a sensor to lose its proper aim.

As a result, a system may fail to spot a danger ahead. It could also warn the driver or apply the brakes when there is no real threat. Both problems could raise safety concerns for truck drivers.

Bendix Warns About Some Truck Modifications

Bendix makes safety systems used in many commercial trucks. Its Wingman Fusion system uses cameras, radar, and brakes to help prevent certain crashes.

In its Wingman Fusion Operator’s Manual, Bendix warns that some added truck parts may block radar signals. These include deer guards, bumper guards, and snowplows.

Bendix also warns that dirt, snow, ice, and other objects can block sensors. Damage to a radar sensor or its mount may cause the system to work poorly. In some cases, repairs may be needed before the cruise control system can be used again.

This does not mean that all truck modifications will cause problems. The risk depends on the type of part, where it is placed, and the truck’s design.

Kenworth Also Warns About Radar Clearance

Kenworth has raised similar concerns in its Heavy-Duty Body Builder Manual.

The company says trucks with Bendix Wingman Fusion radar need clear space around the sensor. This is important when adding cattle guards or other parts near the front bumper.

Kenworth says installers must follow the safety system maker’s rules when adding such equipment. Parts placed too close to the radar could keep it from working as designed.

This guidance matters to truck owners who make changes to their rigs. It also affects fleets that add special parts or equipment to their trucks.

A new bumper or guard may seem like a simple change. Yet it could affect a system that helps the driver avoid a crash.

What Truck Modifications Mean for Commercial Drivers

For company drivers, the main concern is whether their truck’s safety systems work as they should. Drivers may not have a say in which parts are added to a company truck. Still, those changes could affect how its safety systems respond on the road.

Drivers may notice false crash warnings, sudden braking, or fault messages. These signs could point to a problem that needs to be checked by a repair shop. However, not every warning or braking event means a truck has been modified or has a faulty sensor.

Bendix also advises drivers to keep radar and camera areas clear. Dirt, snow, and ice can block sensors and affect how they work.

For owner-operators, the issue may start before a new part is installed. Truck owners may need to check whether a bumper, guard, or other part will affect the truck’s safety systems.

Fleet repair shops may also need to check sensor alignment after certain repairs or changes. The goal is to make sure the safety systems still work as designed.

Federal Officials Are Also Reviewing Automatic Braking

The new workshop comes as federal officials continue work on automatic braking rules for heavy trucks.

In 2023, NHTSA and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) proposed new rules for automatic emergency braking systems.

These systems are designed to help prevent front-end crashes. They can detect certain dangers ahead and apply the brakes when needed.

The proposal also addressed how trucking companies would keep these systems in working order. Federal officials have since listed plans to revise the proposal through a new rulemaking step.

More details about that effort appear in the federal regulatory agenda for heavy-truck automatic braking.

The proposed braking rules are separate from the new NHTSA workshop. Still, both efforts deal with safety systems that are playing a growing role in commercial trucking.

NHTSA Plans December Workshop

NHTSA will hold its workshop on December 10 at the U.S. Department of Transportation headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The agency plans to bring together safety experts, industry groups, and others with knowledge of these systems. They will discuss how vehicle changes may affect safety features.

NHTSA also wants to learn what tests or studies may be needed. Another goal is to find ways to keep safety systems working while still allowing vehicle owners to make changes.

The workshop is free, but those who wish to attend must sign up by December 3. The event will not be shown live online. However, NHTSA plans to post a recording after it ends.

The agency is also seeking public comments under docket number NHTSA-2026-1882. The notice lists April 19, 2027, as the deadline for comments.

No New Rules for Truck Modifications

The workshop does not create new rules for truck owners or drivers. NHTSA has not banned aftermarket bumpers, guards, or other truck parts through this notice.

The agency also has not ordered truck owners to replace modified parts or schedule new safety checks.

For now, NHTSA is gathering facts about how truck modifications and other vehicle changes may affect safety systems. The goal is to learn more about possible risks and whether more work is needed.

The issue still matters to the trucking industry. Guidance from Bendix and Kenworth shows that some added equipment can affect truck radar systems.

For drivers, owner-operators, and fleets, the main concern is keeping those systems in working order. The December workshop may help federal officials decide what steps, if any, should come next.