Is Your Fleet MASH 2030-Ready?
Non-MASH-2016 attenuators built before Jan 1, 2023 can stay in service only until January 1, 2030. Here is what the deadline means for your TMA fleet and how to plan the replacement.
January 1, 2030 is the last day a pre-2023 non-MASH-2016 impact attenuator can legally sit behind your truck in a work zone. That single date reaches nearly every contractor, municipality, and DOT fleet running Truck Mounted Attenuators. The fleets that plan for it now pay less and wait less than the ones that scramble in 2029.
Non-MASH-2016 impact attenuators manufactured before January 1, 2023 may stay in service only until January 1, 2030. Anything manufactured after January 1, 2023 already has to meet MASH 2016 Test Level 3.
What the deadline actually says
MASH 2016 — the AASHTO Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware — replaced the older NCHRP 350 crash-test criteria for roadside hardware, TMAs included. The rules phase out older, non-MASH-2016 units on a fixed calendar rather than all at once.
- Attenuators built after January 1, 2023 must meet MASH 2016 TL-3.
- Non-MASH-2016 units built before that date get a grace window that closes January 1, 2030.
- After January 1, 2030, those non-compliant attenuators come out of service on applicable roadways.
Why waiting until 2029 costs you
Every fleet in the country reads the same calendar. As 2030 gets closer, orders for compliant builds pile up, lead times stretch, and the truck you need gets booked by someone who called first. Ordering replacements now protects your compliance status and your project schedule at the same time.
Repair, re-certify, or replace?
An older truck does not automatically go to the scrapyard. Often the chassis is sound and only the attenuator system needs upgrading. Our service center inspects your units, quotes a re-certification or an attenuator upgrade, and tells you plainly when a full replacement is the better spend.
- Does the 2030 deadline apply to my state?
- MASH timelines are set federally and enforced by each state DOT. Check your state's approved-products list — most follow the January 1, 2030 phase-out for non-MASH-2016 hardware. Our state-by-state guide is a good starting point.
- Can I upgrade my existing truck instead of buying new?
- Often, yes. If the chassis and body are sound, fitting a MASH 2016 TL-3 attenuator usually costs far less than a whole new truck. We inspect the unit and quote both paths so you can compare.
- How long are lead times right now?
- Lead times are still reasonable today. They stretch as the 2030 rush builds and every fleet orders at once, so call us early and we will source and spec your replacement while the schedule is open.
Questions about your fleet?
The Heartland team will spec, source, and service the right compliant setup.
