what does this symbol mean?
MUTCD W7-1 A yellow diamond with a truck on a downward slope

Hill sign

A yellow diamond with a truck on a slope. It warns of a steep downhill grade ahead.

Rules vary by state and country. This explains the sign's standard meaning in the U.S. Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices; it isn't legal advice.

How to read it

Despite the name, the sign is about going down: the MUTCD places it ahead of downgrades long or steep enough to call for special care. Its guidance gives examples, from a 5% grade more than 3,000 feet long to a 9% grade more than 500 feet long, and a plaque below the sign can give the grade.

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Sources

Last reviewed September 25, 2026 by Rory Hansen. How we research

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