393.11RT Citation: Lighting & Reflectors Q&A

No. Across our inspection database, 393.11RT citations result in out-of-service placement in only 0.7% of cases—4 times out of 610 total citations. This is far below the national average OOS rate of 31.4% across all FMCSR codes. In most situations, you'll receive a citation but remain eligible to operate. However, if you're cited again during the same inspection for related equipment defects (like inoperable lamps under 393.9), an inspector may escalate the severity.

393.11RT carries a CSA severity weight of 3. Your actual point total depends on the 30-day multiplier: if this is your first 393.11RT violation in the past 30 days, you receive 3 points. If you've already been cited for this code once in the last 30 days, the second citation counts as 6 points (2× multiplier). The points feed into your FMCSA Safety Management System (SMS) profile and may affect your company's rating.

First, document the specific lighting or reflector defect the inspector identified on your citation. Second, do not operate the vehicle until you repair it—even though the OOS rate is low, the violation points to a safety issue. Third, inspect for related equipment damage: our data shows 393.11RT frequently appears alongside inoperable lamps (393.9 in 30 shared inspections over 90 days), defective turn signals (393.9TS in 11 inspections), and windshield issues (393.78 in 15 inspections). Fix all visible equipment before your next inspection.

393.11RT is less severe than most similar codes in the Vehicle Maintenance category. The comparable inoperable lamp violation (393.9) has 660,737 total citations with a 15.4% OOS rate—22× more citations and 22× higher out-of-service risk. Generic lighting defects under 393.11 total 179,734 citations with a 1.8% OOS rate. Your 393.11RT variant sits at 0.7% OOS, making it among the lowest-risk equipment violations on record.

Yes. DataQs is the FMCSA's online system for disputing inspection records. You can challenge a 393.11RT citation if you believe the inspector made a factual error (e.g., the lighting was actually operational, or the reflector was not actually missing). Submit your dispute within 90 days of the citation with photographic evidence or repair receipts showing the equipment was compliant at the time of inspection. Documentation-based challenges have a higher success rate than subjective safety assessments.

Over the last 180 days, Texas accounts for 133 citations—the overwhelming majority of 393.11RT violations we record. Iowa follows with 14 citations, and New Mexico with 12. All three states show a 0% out-of-service rate for this code. If you operate primarily in Texas, prioritize preventive lighting inspections before each trip, as roadside enforcement for this violation is concentrated there.

Repair urgency is moderate. Over the last 90 days, we recorded 83 citations for 393.11RT—a steady but not alarming volume. Monthly citations have ranged from 9 to 41 over the past year, with no sharp spike in enforcement. However, because missing or inadequate lighting creates a collision risk, especially in low-visibility conditions, you should repair within 24–48 hours. Delaying invites a second citation and doubles your CSA points.

Freightliners dominate the citation record: 202 citations out of 614 total, accounting for roughly 33% of all 393.11RT violations in our database. Peterbilts follow with 91 citations, and Kenworths with 69. If you operate a Freightliner, add lighting inspections to your pre-trip routine. Check that all clearance lights, marker lights, and reflectors are clean, undamaged, and functional before departing.