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Slow-Moving Vehicle Emblems

The orange and red triangle tells drivers that a vehicle ahead is moving slowly. It only helps if it is clean, undamaged, visible and used where it is meant to be.

What is the emblem for?

The slow-moving vehicle emblem is a triangular sign used on farm machinery and other slow vehicles. It is designed so that drivers can recognize at a distance that the vehicle is traveling much slower than normal traffic.

Extension articles, such as those from North Carolina and Ohio State, describe its history and purpose. Those articles are good places to read how drivers judge speed and why slow vehicles are easy to misjudge.

The emblem is not a substitute for safe driving. Equipment operators still need to pull over when possible, signal and watch mirrors, while other drivers still need to slow down when they see it.

Where does the emblem belong?

The emblem is typically mounted on the rear of the machine or the rear of the last towed implement, centered or as near to center as practical, and at a height where it can be seen. The details of placement are set by state law and by the emblem's own standard, and by your equipment manual.

Because details differ, check with your state highway patrol or department of transportation. Ask whether the emblem must be displayed on machines driven on the road at all times and whether there are speed or distance conditions.

If your equipment came with an emblem holder or bracket, use it, and check that it holds the emblem upright and does not tilt it toward the ground or sky.

How do you keep it effective?

Fading, dirt, cracks and peeling reduce visibility. Wipe the emblem clean regularly, and replace it when its colors fade or the surface is damaged. Make sure no part of the equipment, a bale, a hose or a tarp blocks it.

When equipment is towed, check that the emblem on the rearmost item is visible, not the one on the tractor hidden behind the implement.

Keep an eye on towed equipment that folds or changes position. An emblem mounted on a part that swings or lifts may point somewhere else when the machine is in transport.

• Clean the emblem often
• Replace faded or cracked emblems
• Keep it free of obstructions
• Use the emblem on the rearmost item

What should the emblem not be used for?

The emblem is not meant for vehicles that travel at normal speeds, and it should not be used as decoration or on mailboxes and fences. Misuse weakens its message for drivers.

Do not rely on it alone. It works with lights, reflectors and careful driving, and should be combined with them.

If a machine can travel faster than the speed for which the emblem is meant, ask the highway patrol how the emblem should be used. Misunderstandings here are common.

How does it work at night?

The emblem is designed to be seen by day and to reflect headlights at night, and the manufacturer's instructions describe how. A dirty or damaged emblem loses much of that effect.

Many extension programs recommend adding working lights and reflective marking in addition to the emblem. Rules on night lighting are covered by state law, so check with the highway patrol.

• Emblem reflects headlights
• Dirt and fading reduce the effect
• Add lights and reflectors as state rules allow
• Slow down and leave space when you see one

How can you teach drivers about it?

Many drivers, especially young drivers, may not know what the emblem means. Parents, teachers and ag educators can explain it and show examples. Community safety days and school programs can include a quick discussion.

If you have teenagers driving farm equipment on roads, show them how to check the emblem each time. Confirm youth work rules with the U.S. Department of Labor.

Short community presentations, 4-H and FFA meetings and farm safety days are good places to talk about emblems and how drivers should respond.

What if the emblem is damaged or missing?

Do not drive the equipment on public roads until you have fixed it, if your state requires it. A replacement is inexpensive compared with the cost of a crash, but check your local supplier for what is available and what meets state requirements.

Keep a spare in the shop. Add a check of the emblem to your pre-trip routine, along with lights and mirrors.

• Do not drive on public roads without one if required
• Keep a spare in the shop
• Add the emblem to your pre-trip checklist

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.