What 393.13C1 means, whether it puts your truck out of service, and what to do after a citation. Data from 13M+ inspections.
Ranks #599 of 3,146 FMCSR codes by citation frequency • OOS rate of 0.0% is below the FMCSR-wide average of 33.3%.
No Side retroreflective sheeting or reflex reflective material as required for vehicles manufactured before December 1993
Direct answers grounded in TruckCodex inspection data
No. Across our inspection records, 393.13C1 has never resulted in an out-of-service citation—the OOS rate is 0.0% among all 1,516 all-time citations. This contrasts sharply with the national average OOS rate of 31.4% across all FMCSR codes. A 393.13C1 citation is a recordable violation, but inspectors are not authorized to ground your vehicle for this defect alone.
No. Data in our database shows 393.13C1 ranks #600 of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume, with 1,516 all-time citations. Compare that to 393.11 (Lighting devices/reflectors), which has 179,734 citations and a 1.8% OOS rate, or 393.9 (Inoperable Required Lamp), with 660,737 citations and a 15.4% OOS rate. The 0.0% OOS rate for 393.13C1 reflects that side retroreflective sheeting is a visibility enhancement, not a safety-critical system.
First, inspect your vehicle's side retroreflective material (the reflective sheeting on the trailer sides, required on pre-1993 vehicles). Our data shows the most common co-occurrences with 393.13C1 are inoperable lamps (393.9, 118 shared inspections) and brake defects (393.45B2UV, 77 shared inspections). Request a follow-up inspection after repairs to clear the citation, and document the repair date and vendor. Do not ignore the citation—carriers with multiple violations face elevated CSA scores.
Across our last 180 days of inspection records, Texas dominates: 591 citations with a 0.0% OOS rate. Iowa follows with 2 citations, Illinois with 1, and North Carolina with 1. The concentration in Texas reflects the high volume of cross-border hauling and Mexican carriers operating in that region. If you operate primarily outside Texas, you face lower citation risk for this particular code.
Citations for 393.13C1 are rising. Our monthly trend data shows 1,102 citations in the last 12 months, compared to 1,516 all-time. March 2026 was the peak month with 138 citations; April 2026 dropped to just 1. The spike in late 2025 and early 2026 suggests seasonal enforcement intensity (winter visibility compliance). Repair the sheeting within 30 days to avoid compounding violations on the next inspection.
Vehicles manufactured before December 1, 1993 must display side retroreflective sheeting or reflex reflective material to increase visibility, especially at night. The sheeting is typically applied as white or amber strips along the trailer sides. Modern vehicles (1993 and later) are exempt. This is a compliance-documentation violation: if the material is missing, damaged, or faded below reflectivity standards, you will be cited. Unlike mechanical defects, it's typically cosmetic unless visibility is genuinely compromised.
Yes. 393.13C1 is a visual/equipment-based finding, which means it can be contested if the material was present and compliant at the time of inspection. You would file a Request for Data Review (RDR) with FMCSA within 60 days, providing photos or inspection records showing the sheeting was adequate. Success depends on documentation quality. Our data shows this code is enforcement-stable (not subject to rapid definition changes), so contests typically hinge on photographic evidence, not regulatory interpretation.
Our all-time data shows small carriers and owner-operators account for the top citations: Jose Everardo Cavazos Passement (USDOT 3388203) leads with 29 citations, followed by Edna Lizeth Garza Alegria (USDOT 2290662) with 26. This pattern reflects that older, pre-1993 vehicles are more common in small fleets and independent operations. Large carriers typically operate newer equipment with factory-installed compliant sheeting, making them statistically less likely to receive this citation.
Where 393.13C1 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.