FMCSR 393.11(b) Lighting & Reflectors: Driver Q&A

No. Across all 3,533 recorded citations for 393.11(b) in our inspection database, the out-of-service rate is exactly 0.0% — meaning not a single vehicle was placed OOS under this specific code. For context, the average OOS rate across all FMCSR codes is 31.4%, so 393.11(b) sits far below that threshold. The code is not OOS-eligible. You can keep rolling after the citation, but the violation still lands on your CSA record, so fixing the lighting defect promptly is still in your interest.

393.11(b) carries a severity weight of 3 in the CSA scoring system. That base score is then multiplied based on how recently the inspection occurred: violations within the last 6 months carry the heaviest multiplier, and the weight steps down at the 6-month and 12-month marks before dropping off entirely after 3 years. Because the severity weight is only 3 — on the low end of the scale — the CSA impact is relatively minor compared to higher-weight violations, but it accumulates if your fleet racks up repeated citations.

Fix the lighting defect before your next dispatch. Here's a practical checklist:

1. Document the defect — photograph every lamp or reflector flagged by the inspector.
2. Get it repaired — have a qualified mechanic replace or repair the defective unit and retain the repair order with a date stamp.
3. Check related equipment — our records show 393.11(b) citations often appear alongside other lighting and maintenance violations; a full lamp walk-around (front, rear, marker, clearance, and reflectors) catches problems before the next inspection.
4. Keep the repair record — if you later pursue a DataQs challenge, documented repair history strengthens your case.
5. Verify the fix at your next pre-trip inspection so the defect doesn't reappear.

It's relatively minor. Compare 393.11(b)'s 0.0% OOS rate to its closest peer codes in the Vehicle Maintenance category: 393.9(a) — Inoperable Required Lamps generates 660,737 citations with a 15.4% OOS rate, and the parent code 393.11 — Lighting devices/reflectors has 179,734 citations at a 1.8% OOS rate. The all-FMCSR average OOS rate is 31.4%. So 393.11(b) is well below average in enforcement severity. That said, at #409 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume with 3,533 all-time citations, it's not an obscure technicality — inspectors cite it regularly.

Yes, you can submit a DataQs Request for Data Review (RDR). Because 393.11(b) is an equipment-based finding — the inspector observed a lighting or reflector deficiency on your vehicle — a successful challenge typically requires proof that the equipment was actually compliant at the time of inspection. Useful evidence includes dated repair records showing the lamp or reflector was functional, or photos taken at or near the inspection showing the equipment in working order. Pure documentation errors (wrong code cited, wrong vehicle unit recorded) are generally the easiest wins. Submit your RDR through the FMCSA DataQs portal and reference the specific inspection report number.

Among all carriers in our inspection records, DANIEL ERNESTO PENA COTA (USDOT 1647639) leads with 49 citations under this code — more than three times the next highest carrier. OCTAVIO ANDRADE CORELLA (USDOT 558440) has 13 citations, and both RUBEN CARLOS TREVINO SANCHEZ (USDOT 1649689) and JUAN FRANCISCO RUIZ VASQUEZ (USDOT 2923191) have 12 citations each. Several other carriers — including UNITED PARCEL SERVICE INC (USDOT 21800) — appear in the top 10 with 11 citations apiece. The concentration at the top of this list suggests that lighting maintenance lapses often reflect systemic pre-trip inspection gaps rather than one-off incidents.

The repair is not legally mandatory before your next move since 393.11(b) is not OOS-eligible and carries a 0.0% OOS rate across 3,533 citations. However, urgency is real for two reasons. First, the last 12 months and last 90 days both show 0 new citations, which means enforcement of this specific sub-code has quieted — but inspectors can still cite it, and a second citation in a short window amplifies your CSA score through the time-weighting multiplier. Second, a lighting defect that earns a 393.11(b) citation could also draw a citation under 393.9(a), which carries a 15.4% OOS rate. Fix it before the next pre-trip inspection.

Both. In FMCSA's CSA system, vehicle maintenance violations like 393.11(b) affect the carrier's Vehicle Maintenance BASIC score because the carrier is responsible for keeping the equipment roadworthy. The driver record associated with the inspection is also linked to the citation, which can follow the driver when they move to a new employer — prospective carriers can see inspection history through the FMCSA Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP). Because the severity weight is 3, the individual score impact is modest, but repeated citations on either the driver's or carrier's record compound over the 3-year CSA lookback window.