A Checklist for Buying a Used TMA Truck

A used attenuator truck can be a smart buy or a compliance headache. Work through this checklist before you sign, so the discount does not come with a hidden deadline.

Used trucks can save real money, and they can also hand you a unit that is months from being illegal to run. The difference is what you check before you buy. A used TMA is worth exactly as much as its compliance and condition, not its price tag.

Compliance first

• Confirm MASH-2016 certification, not the retired NCHRP 350
• Get the FHWA eligibility letter matching the attenuator model
• Check the build date: non-MASH-2016 units built before 2023 must be off the road by January 1, 2030
• Verify the test level, TL-2 or TL-3, matches the work you will do

If a seller cannot produce the eligibility letter or the certification, treat the truck as non-compliant. A cheap unit you have to retire in a few years is not cheap.

Then condition

• GVWR at or above roughly 26,000 lb to prevent underride
• Cycle the attenuator to confirm it deploys cleanly, near the 20-second target
• Inspect hydraulics, mounting, and ballast for wear or damage
• Test every lamp on the arrow board and each message on the sign
• Review the service and re-certification history

A hit that was never properly re-certified is the classic hidden problem. If the history is thin, have the unit inspected before you buy. Our shop can evaluate a used truck and tell you what it needs to be road-ready.