What 393.13C1 means in plain language
FMCSR 393.13C1 requires vehicles manufactured before December 1, 1993 to display retroreflective or reflex reflective material on the sides. This sheeting is the reflective tape or coating you see on truck trailers—it helps other drivers see your vehicle in low-light conditions.
If your truck was built before that 1993 cutoff and is missing this side sheeting, or the existing material has worn away or been damaged, you can be cited. The regulation is straightforward: older trucks need this safety feature visible and intact.
Newer vehicles (built after December 1993) have different requirements, which is why this citation specifically targets pre-1993 equipment. If you drive an older rig, this is a maintenance item to keep on your checklist.
What our enforcement data actually shows
Across our 13 million+ inspection records, 393.13C1 has generated 1,516 citations all-time, with 1,102 citations in the last 12 months and 293 in the last 90 days. This ranks the code at #600 out of 3,036 FMCSR violations by citation volume—a moderately cited but far from the most common issue.
The critical detail for drivers: this code has a 0.0% out-of-service rate. In other words, across all 1,516 citations in our database, no driver was placed out of service for this violation. For context, the all-FMCSR average OOS rate is 31.4%, making 393.13C1 one of the least severe enforcement outcomes. You will not be sidelined by this citation.
The trend over the last 12 months shows citation activity peaked at 138 in March 2026 and has generally ranged between 74 and 138 per month, indicating consistent but not spiking enforcement activity.
Who gets cited most
Our inspection records show Texas dominates 393.13C1 citations, with 591 citations in the last 180 days—far outpacing other states. Iowa follows with 2 citations, and Illinois and North Carolina each had 1 citation in the same period. Texas accounts for the overwhelming majority of enforcement on this code, and the OOS rate across all top states is 0.0%.
At the carrier level, our data shows fleets such as JOSE EVERARDO CAVAZOS PASSEMENT (USDOT 3388203) with 29 all-time citations and EDNA LIZETH GARZA ALEGRIA (USDOT 2290662) with 26 citations have been cited multiple times. This pattern does not imply negligence; it reflects operational footprint and inspection exposure in high-enforcement regions.
Vehicle-wise, Freightliners (FRHT) account for 419 citations on this code, Kenworths (KW) for 272, and other makes ranging from 220 down. Older truck models are naturally more represented here, since the regulation targets pre-1993 equipment.
How severe is this compared to similar codes
In the Vehicle Maintenance category, 393.13C1 sits well below the severity of certain peer violations. For example:
- 393.9 (Inoperable required lamps) has 180,097 all-time citations and a 6.9% OOS rate—far more frequently cited and more likely to result in being sidelined.
- 393.11 (Lighting devices/reflectors) carries 179,734 citations with a 1.8% OOS rate—also more heavily enforced.
- 396.3(a)(1) (Inspection/repair/maintenance—general) has 236,919 citations and a 45.3% OOS rate, making it both more common and substantially more severe.
By comparison, 393.13C1's 0.0% OOS rate and 1,516 all-time citations mark it as a citation-heavy but enforcement-light violation. Officers write these up but do not remove you from service.
How to avoid it
Our co-occurring violation data reveals patterns that can help you stay clear of 393.13C1:
-
Inspect side reflective material before each trip. Look for missing, faded, or peeling retroreflective tape along both sides of your trailer. If sections are worn, plan to replace them during scheduled maintenance. This is your primary defense.
-
Bundle reflective work with lighting checks. Data shows 393.13C1 often appears alongside 393.9 (Inoperable required lamps) and 393.11 (Lighting devices/reflectors) in the same inspection—118 and 65 shared citations respectively in the last 90 days. When you repair one lighting issue, walk the entire vehicle and check reflective material too.
-
Pay attention to exhaust and coupling condition as well. 393.83G (Exhaust discharge defects) and 393.55E (Coupling device defects) co-occur frequently with reflective issues. These inspections tend to happen together, so if an officer is already doing a detailed walk-around, they will check your side sheeting.
-
Older Freightliner and Kenworth operators: mark this on your maintenance calendar. Our data shows FRHT and KW models are cited most often on 393.13C1. If you operate a pre-1993 truck in that category, build reflective material inspection into your pre-trip routine and budget for periodic replacement.
-
Know that Texas enforcement is concentrated. If you run regularly in Texas, where 591 of the last 180 days' citations occurred, be especially diligent. The state's inspection volume makes this violation more visible there.
The bottom line: this citation is fixable, non-catastrophic, but preventable with basic pre-trip discipline. Keep your reflective material intact and you will not face this violation.