FMCSR 393.11LR: Lighting Devices/Reflectors — Driver Q&A

No. Across all 6,400 recorded citations for 393.11LR in our inspection database, zero vehicles were placed out of service — a 0.0% OOS rate. This code is not OOS-eligible, meaning an inspector cannot park your truck on the spot for this violation alone. For context, the all-FMCSR average OOS rate sits at 31.4%, so 393.11LR carries substantially less immediate operational risk than the typical violation. That said, "not OOS-eligible" does not mean "ignore it" — the citation still enters your CSA record and can accumulate with other findings.

393.11LR carries a severity weight of 3. That is the base CSA point value before any time-based multiplier is applied. FMCSA's SMS system multiplies severity points by 3 for violations that occurred within the last 6 months, and by 2 for violations between 6 and 12 months old — violations older than 12 months still count in the 24-month inspection window but are not multiplied. So a fresh 393.11LR citation effectively contributes 9 weighted points to your Vehicle Maintenance BASIC score. If inspectors cite multiple co-occurring violations in the same stop — which our data shows happens frequently — those points stack.

Start with a full lighting and reflector walkround before your next dispatch. Our inspection records show that in the last 90 days, 393.11LR appeared alongside 393.9 (inoperable required lamp) in 491 shared inspections, and alongside 393.11 (lighting devices/reflectors) in 231. That pattern tells you inspectors who find one lighting problem look hard for others.

Immediate steps:

1. Photograph every lamp and reflector on the unit before repairs.
2. Fix the cited deficiency and get a repair order with date and technician signature.
3. Check for 393.45B2UV (brake tubing) and 393.78 (windshield condition) issues — both co-occurred in 200+ inspections with this code.
4. Retain all repair documentation; you will need it for any DataQs challenge.

It is one of the lower-severity lighting citations in enforcement volume and OOS risk, but it is not trivial. Our inspection records show 393.11LR has 6,400 all-time citations, ranking it #301 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by volume — so it is cited more often than roughly 90% of all codes. Compare that to peer code 393.9(a) (inoperable required lamps), which carries 660,737 citations and a 15.4% OOS rate, or 393.9 with 180,097 citations and a 6.9% OOS rate. The 0.0% OOS rate on 393.11LR makes it less operationally disruptive, but the 3-point severity weight still moves your BASIC score.

Yes, you can submit a DataQs Request for Data Review (RDR) — and equipment-based findings like this one are worth challenging if the facts support it. Because 393.11LR is a physical equipment violation rather than a documentation gap, a successful challenge typically requires evidence that the cited lamp or reflector was actually present and functional at the time of inspection — repair invoices, shop photos with timestamps, or a follow-up inspection clearance are your strongest tools. Submit your RDR at the FMCSA DataQs portal, reference the inspection report number from your roadside paperwork, and attach all supporting documentation. The reviewing state agency makes the final determination. Our data shows 0 of 6,400 citations resulted in an OOS order, so the record itself is straightforward to interpret.

Texas is by far the dominant enforcement state for this code. In the last 180 days, our inspection records show Texas issued 1,926 citations for 393.11LR — dwarfing every other state. New Mexico came in second with 50 citations over the same period, followed by Iowa at 29 and Illinois at 24. North Carolina rounded out the top five with 2 citations. If your routes run through Texas or along the I-10 and I-35 corridors into New Mexico, a pre-trip lighting inspection is not optional — it is the single most effective thing you can do to avoid this citation.

Enforcement is trending upward, which makes prompt repair more important. Our inspection records show 393.11LR citations have climbed steadily over the past year: 327 citations in May 2025, 373 in August 2025, 402 in January 2026, and 435 in March 2026 — the highest single month in the trailing 12-month window. The last 90 days alone produced 975 citations nationally. While the 0.0% OOS rate means a broken reflector will not park your truck today, the rising citation frequency means inspectors are actively looking for this deficiency. Unresolved, it accumulates CSA points and can push your Vehicle Maintenance BASIC toward an intervention threshold.

Both. FMCSA's CSA system assigns Vehicle Maintenance BASIC points — the category 393.11LR falls under — to the carrier's safety record using the carrier's USDOT number tied to the inspection report. At the same time, the citation is linked to the driver's PSP (Pre-Employment Screening Program) record, which prospective employers can pull. Our data shows carriers like RUBEN CARLOS TREVINO SANCHEZ (USDOT 1649689) have accumulated 36 all-time citations for this single code, illustrating how repeat findings concentrate on a carrier's profile. Drivers who move between carriers carry their PSP history with them, so the citation matters to both parties independently.