Advocate Has Urged New York Truck Side Guard Mandates

Veterans of the industry are pushing for stricter enforcement of safety guard requirements in New York City.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Trucks

Isometric editorial illustration of a heavy-duty aluminum truck side guard rail, representing urban traffic safety policy. — Advocates are urging New York City to eliminate exemptions and tighten enforcement of mandatory aluminum side guard installations for large commercial trucks. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should New York City require all large commercial trucks to install safety side guards?

Industry veteran Dave Caprio is calling for mandatory side guard installations on all large trucks operating in New York City. Despite existing laws, many commercial waste trucks continue to operate under exemptions granted by the city.

Why it matters

Proponents argue that aluminum side guards can prevent pedestrians and cyclists from being pulled under vehicle wheels, potentially reducing collision fatalities by up to 40 percent. These safety measures are currently only required for specific city fleets, waste vehicles, and contracted trucks.

New York City law requires side guards on trucks with over 13.8 inches of ground clearance, yet roughly 50 percent of the 7,100 waste trucks regulated by the Business Integrity Commission are currently exempt. Installing a standard kit costs approximately $2,400.

The players

Dave Caprio

He is a veteran of the trucking industry who currently operates a business in the Canarsie area.

Business Integrity Commission

This local regulatory body oversees the waste hauling industry and manages safety compliance for 7,100 vehicles in New York City.

The details

Side guards function as aluminum barriers designed to block individuals from entering the space between a truck's front and rear wheels during a collision. While city officials allow exceptions when external equipment like toolboxes or fuel tanks makes installation physically impractical, advocates suggest these exemptions undermine safety goals.

1989 saw the European Union mandate truck side guards.
The New York City Council mandated side guards for BIC-regulated trucks in 2015.
Requirements were expanded to large city projects in 2021.
New York City recorded 205 total traffic fatalities throughout 2025.
Two fatal crashes were recorded in New York City in September 2026.

Roadmap

The push for universal side guards aligns with international safety standards established in Europe decades ago to mitigate urban traffic fatalities. New York City's current exemption-heavy regulatory environment lags behind cities like London, where stricter visibility and barrier requirements are standard for all heavy vehicles.

For local cyclists and pedestrians, the presence of side guards on heavy trucks could be a life-saving measure in high-traffic corridors. Vehicle owners should monitor updates to Business Integrity Commission requirements to determine if their specific truck configurations will continue to qualify for equipment exemptions.

The takeaway

Universal adoption of side guards remains a point of contention as the city attempts to balance heavy-duty operational needs with pedestrian safety goals. Residents should be aware that many large vehicles in the city currently lack these safety barriers due to common regulatory exemptions.