What 393.13(b) means in plain language
Retroreflective sheeting—also called reflex reflective material—is the shiny, reflective tape or coating on the sides and back of commercial vehicles that bounces light from headlights back to drivers at night. This rule applies specifically to trucks manufactured before December 1, 1993.
If your vehicle was built before that date, the FMCSR requires that retroreflective material meet federal standards. The inspector who cited you found that either this material was missing, damaged beyond acceptable limits, or not meeting the reflectivity specification. The citation means your truck's visibility to other drivers in low-light conditions fell short of the requirement.
This is a correctable defect. It does not automatically sideline your truck, and the fix—replacing or repairing the reflective sheeting—is straightforward. Once corrected and re-inspected, the citation can be closed.
What our enforcement data actually shows
Across our 13 million+ roadside inspection records, 393.13(b) has been cited only 256 times all-time. In the last 12 months, we recorded zero citations for this code. Over the last 90 days, we also saw zero citations.
When this violation does appear, it almost never results in an out-of-service order. Of the 256 all-time citations, only 1 vehicle was placed out of service—a 0.4% out-of-service rate. This is far below the all-FMCSR average of 31.4%, meaning inspectors treat this as a maintenance issue, not a safety emergency.
The rarity of this citation reflects two facts: most trucks on the road today were manufactured after 1993, and those older vehicles that are still in service typically maintain their reflective material because it's visible and easy to inspect. When it does fail, it's usually a minor repair.
Who gets cited most
Our data shows this citation is extremely uncommon across all carriers and regions. The carrier with the highest citation count for 393.13(b) is TRANSPORTES 4 AMIGOS S DE RL DE CV (USDOT 3971467) with 8 citations all-time. The next highest carriers include RAUL GALVAN FRAUSTO (USDOT 3358234), SAUL GALINDO CABRERA (USDOT 2996117), and JESUS GILBERTO GALVAN MENDOZA (USDOT 3005565), each with 4 citations.
These numbers are so low that they reflect either fleet composition (older vehicles in operation) or inspection focus rather than systemic compliance issues. The distribution of citations is too sparse to identify meaningful state or regional patterns.
How severe is this compared to similar codes
393.13(b) sits at rank #1142 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume. To put that in context, examine how it compares to other vehicle maintenance violations:
393.9(a) — Inoperable required lamps — has been cited 660,737 times with a 15.4% out-of-service rate. Lamp failures are dramatically more common and more likely to pull trucks from service.
393.11 — Lighting devices and reflectors (a broader category) — shows 179,734 all-time citations with a 1.8% out-of-service rate. Even this related reflector code is cited thousands of times more often than 393.13(b).
393.78 — Windshield condition defects — has 157,894 citations with a 0.3% out-of-service rate. Like 393.13(b), windshield issues rarely trigger immediate out-of-service actions, but they occur far more frequently.
The scarcity of 393.13(b) citations suggests that retroreflective material on pre-1993 vehicles is simply not a high-frequency finding during roadside inspections, possibly because so few trucks of that vintage are still in active commercial service.
How to avoid it
If you operate a truck manufactured before December 1, 1993, make retroreflective material part of your pre-trip routine:
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Walk the full perimeter of your trailer and tractor at each start of shift. Look for reflective tape or sheeting on the rear, sides, and any required marked areas. If it's peeling, cracked, faded, or missing patches, it fails the standard.
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Check the back of your trailer in particular. The rear is most visible to following traffic and the focus of most inspections. If the retroreflective material is damaged or worn there, address it before rolling.
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Replace damaged sections promptly. Reflective tape is inexpensive and easy to apply. Don't wait for an inspection to discover missing or worn material; fix it during routine maintenance.
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Inspect after exposure to sun, road salt, or harsh weather. Retroreflective material degrades over time, especially on older vehicles. A truck that passed inspection six months ago may fail if weather or UV exposure has reduced reflectivity.
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Know your vehicle's manufacturing date. This rule applies only to trucks built before December 1, 1993. If your truck is newer, different reflective standards apply, but the principle remains: ensure all required reflective material is visible and intact.
Because this citation is so rare, the best strategy is awareness: older trucks need visible, bright retroreflective material, and a quick walk-around before departure catches problems before an inspector does.