Direct answers for drivers cited under FMCSR 393.13A. Will you be put out of service? What are the CSA points? What's next?
Ranks #1,453 of 3,146 FMCSR codes by citation frequency • OOS rate of 0.0% is below the FMCSR-wide average of 33.3%.
Retroreflective tape not affixed as required for Trailers manufactured prior to December 1993
Direct answers grounded in TruckCodex inspection data
No. A 393.13A citation will not place your truck out of service. Across our 13 million+ inspection records, we found that 0 out of 93 all-time citations for this code resulted in an out-of-service order—a 0.0% OOS rate. This is well below the 31.4% national average OOS rate across all FMCSR codes, meaning inspectors treat missing or defective retro-reflective sheeting as a recordable violation, not an immediate safety removal.
393.13A carries a CSA severity weight of 3, which is relatively low on the FMCSR scale. Your actual CSA points total depends on the 30-day point multiplier in your BASIC category at citation time—the FMCSA applies a rolling 30-day calculation. A severity weight of 3 means this violation will add fewer points than serious equipment or driver conduct violations, so the immediate CSA impact is modest compared to high-severity codes.
393.13A is one of the least enforced vehicle maintenance violations. It ranks #1440 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume, with only 55 citations in the last 12 months. By contrast, the top peer code in the same category—393.9 (Inoperable Required Lamp)—has generated 660,737 citations and carries a 15.4% OOS rate. In practical terms: inspectors cite reflective sheeting defects far less often and never place trucks out of service for this reason alone.
Yes, you can contest a 393.13A citation through the FMCSA's Corrective Action Request (DataQs) process if you believe the inspection finding was incorrect. The process applies to both equipment condition disputes and driver violation disputes. You have 30 calendar days from the inspection date to initiate a DataQs challenge. Document your rebuttal with photos showing compliant sheeting/reflectors, maintenance records, or evidence of repair performed before the inspection. Equipment-based violations like 393.13A are generally easier to contest if you can prove compliance at inspection time.
In the last 180 days, Texas led by far with 19 citations, followed distantly by Iowa and Illinois, each with 1 citation. Across our inspection database, the overwhelming majority of 393.13A citations occur in Texas. If you operate in Texas, pay closer attention to sheeting and reflector maintenance during pre-trip and DVIR inspections, as that state's enforcement pattern is notably higher than the national baseline.
Repair is moderately urgent because of the citation deadline, not because of OOS risk. Our data shows 55 citations in the last 12 months and 9 in the last 90 days—a steady but low enforcement rate. However, the trend is consistent: May 2025 had 8 citations and September 2025 had 8 citations, suggesting no seasonal spike to game around. Complete repair and submit proof within 10 days to avoid additional violations or driver points accumulation during the 30-day CSA window.
Both. The FMCSA CSA system tracks violations by both driver and carrier under separate BASIC categories. A 393.13A equipment violation at your carrier's facility goes on the company's vehicle maintenance record and your driver safety record. If you operate as an owner-operator, the violation appears on your USDOT record. Either way, the violation factors into roadside inspection probability calculations for you and your employer for the next three years, though the severity weight of 3 makes this a lower-impact citation compared to braking or steering violations.
Where 393.13A is most commonly cited (last 180 days)
Other violations commonly found on the same inspection (last 90 days)
TruckCodex aggregates official public-sector datasets. See the Source registry for dataset-level coverage and the Freshness log for last-import timestamps.
Census, SAFER, SMS, Licensing & Insurance (L&I), roadside inspections, crashes, and authority history.
Vehicle recall campaigns, defect investigations, and consumer safety complaints (SCRS).
Cross-border carrier registry and Canadian recall campaigns where applicable.
TruckCodex is an independent aggregator; it is not affiliated with FMCSA, NHTSA, EIA, or Transport Canada. Always verify compliance-critical information directly with the originating agency.