UN R55 Supplement 1 (03 series) · UNECE Regulation No. 55 (ECE R55) — Uniform provisions concerning the approval of mechanical coupling components of combinations of vehicles.
UN R55 — Supplement 1 to the 03 series of amendments
Base text → Supplement 1
- What changed
- For vehicles with an ADS, the engagement status of the coupling must be sent to the ADS as a logic signal.
- The intentional action that releases the locking devices of a fifth wheel coupling can now also come from the ADS.
- The remote indication and remote control texts now name the operator of the vehicle as well as the driver (paras. 13.2. and 13.3.3.).
- Why
- The supplement takes into account vehicles of categories X and Y and vehicles with an ADS and a manual mode above 6 km/h.
- The amendment intends to extend the Regulation to vehicles without a driver and without manual driving controls inside the vehicle.
- The proposal is one of a set of TF-AVRS amendments that update the regulations to common task force recommendations.
Q1What changed13 changes
New Introduction (paras. 0. to 0.1.2.)
The Regulation has a new paragraph 0. with the heading “Introduction”. Supplement 1 takes into account vehicles of categories X and Y and vehicles with an ADS and a manual mode above 6 km/h. A new footnote to “categories X and Y” and “ADS” refers to their definitions in the Consolidated Resolution on the Construction of Vehicles (R.E.3.). If the vehicle has no driver or manual driving controls, provisions related to them are not taken into account, unless this amendment already covers them. For vehicles with an ADS other than categories X and Y, no special provisions or exemptions apply in the manual driving mode. In a mode where an ADS feature is active, the relevant ADS requirements apply.
Release of fifth wheel coupling locking devices by the ADS (Annex 5, para. 7.4.)
Paragraph 7.4. of Annex 5 covers the locking devices of fifth wheel couplings. Release of the locking devices requires an intentional action by the driver or operator of the vehicle, or by the ADS. Before this supplement, the text named only the driver or operator of the vehicle. It must still not be possible to release the locking devices inadvertently.
Engagement status of the coupling sent to the ADS (Annex 5, paras. 7.4., 10.4. and 13.4.)
New paragraph 13.4. of Annex 5 covers the engagement status in vehicles equipped with an ADS. In a vehicle with an ADS, a logic signal must go to the ADS. This signal must show at least the closed and doubly locked position of the coupling. Paragraphs 7.4. and 10.4. of Annex 5 also get a new sentence for vehicles equipped with an ADS. For these vehicles, the engagement status of the coupling must be sent to the ADS as a logic signal. Paragraph 7.4. covers locking devices of fifth wheel couplings, and paragraph 10.4. covers locking to prevent inadvertent uncoupling.
Remote indication and remote control (Annex 5, paras. 13.2., 13.2.8. and 13.3.3.)
Paragraph 13.2. now reads “Remote indication (for the driver or operator of the vehicle)”. Paragraph 13.3.3. covers remote control that opens the coupling by external force. The condition under which this force acts must now be indicated to the driver or the operator of the vehicle, as applicable. This is not necessary if the external force acts only while the remote control operates. Before this supplement, paragraph 13.3.3. named only the driver. Paragraph 13.2.8. now refers to paragraph 13.2.1. instead of paragraph 12.2.1.
Q2Why it changed
- Proposed by
- Expert from the Kingdom of the Netherlands on behalf of the Task Force on Automated Vehicles Regulatory Screening
- Working party
- GRSG, 130th session (October 2025)
Reasons
Supplement 1 takes into account vehicles of categories X and Y. It also takes into account vehicles with an Automated Driving System (ADS) and a manual mode that operates at speeds above 6 km/h.
Sources (2)
“Supplement 1 to the 03 series of amendments is introduced to take into account vehicles of categories X and Y”
“as well as vehicles with a manual mode operating at speeds above 6 km/h which are equipped with an Automated Driving System (ADS)”
The UN Regulation was first drafted for vehicles with a driver and manual driving controls. The amendment intends to keep the spirit of the UN Regulation. It also intends to extend the Regulation to vehicles without a driver and without manual driving controls inside the vehicle.
Sources (2)
“The UN Regulation was originally drafted for vehicles with driver and manual driving controls.”
“It is the intention of this new amendment to keep the spirit of the UN Regulation and to extend its application to vehicles without driver and without manual driving controls inside the vehicle.”
The expert from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, on behalf of TF-AVRS, introduced a set of amendments that update the regulations. These amendments follow the common recommendations of the coordinated task force activities with the subsidiary bodies of WP.29. The proposal for UN Regulation No. 55 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2025/21) is one of them.
Sources (2)
“on behalf of the Task Force on Automated Vehicles Regulatory Screening (TF-AVRS) introduced proposals of amendments updating the regulations (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2025/14 to 46) according to the common recommendations of the coordinated task force activities with the subsidiary bodies of WP.29”
“Proposal for supplement 1 to the 03 Series of Amendments to UN Regulation No. 55 (Mechanical Couplings)”
Document trail
- 2025-07ProposalECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/2025/21Proposal for the 130th GRSG session
- —Working party adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSG/109GRSG session report, para. 34
- 2026-04Sent to WP.29ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2026/108Text that GRSG sent to WP.29 and AC.1
- —Amended in sessionWP.29-199-10Amendments for the AC.1 vote, reproduced in Annex VI of ECE/TRANS/WP.29/1192
- 2026-06-24WP.29 adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/1192Adopted at the 199th session (session report, para. 103)
- PendingIn forceDate not yet known
Q3Who is affected
Vehicle manufacturer
- Make sure the ADS gets the engagement status of the coupling as a logic signal (Annex 5).
- Make sure the logic signal to the ADS shows at least the closed and doubly locked coupling position (para. 13.4.).
- Make sure only an intentional action by the driver, operator or ADS releases the fifth wheel locking devices (Annex 5).
- Use the R.E.3 definitions (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/78/Rev.8) to decide if a vehicle is of category X or Y (para. 0.1.).
Component supplier
- For ADS vehicles, check that your couplings can signal at least the closed and doubly locked position (para. 13.4.).
- Check that your couplings can give their engagement status to an ADS as a logic signal (Annex 5).
Technical service / Approval authority
- Check that the ADS gets a logic signal of at least the closed and doubly locked position (para. 13.4.).
- Check that the indication in paragraph 13.3.3. goes to the driver or the operator of the vehicle, as applicable.
- In vehicles without a driver or manual driving controls, disregard provisions on them unless this amendment covers them (para. 0.1.1.).
- In manual driving mode, give ADS vehicles other than categories X and Y no special provisions or exemptions (para. 0.1.2.).
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ⓘ This report gives advice only. It is not legal or type-approval advice.