What 393.13C3-CSURR means in plain language
You received a citation for inadequate retroreflective sheeting on the upper rear of your trailer. This applies only to trailers manufactured before December 1, 1993. The regulation requires that the reflective material on the back of your trailer be in good condition and properly positioned so it reflects light clearly back toward vehicles following you—especially important at night and in low-visibility conditions.
Retroreflective sheeting is what makes your trailer visible when headlights hit it. If that material is faded, peeling, missing in patches, or doesn't reflect light adequately, an inspector can cite you. The "upper rear" specifically refers to the upper portion of your trailer's back end, distinct from the lower rear reflective requirements.
This is a vehicle maintenance violation, not a driver behavior violation. It's about the condition of equipment on the truck itself.
What our enforcement data actually shows
Across our 13 million+ inspection records, 393.13C3-CSURR has been cited 592 times all-time, with 323 citations in the last 12 months and 47 in the last 90 days. This code ranks #864 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume—meaning it's enforced, but not frequently.
The most important number: none of the 592 citations in our database resulted in an out-of-service order. That's a 0.0% OOS rate. For context, the all-FMCSR average OOS rate is 31.4%, so this violation is substantially less severe than the typical roadside citation. You will not be pulled off the road for this.
Citation activity has remained steady over the past year, ranging from 15 to 42 citations per month. The last 90 days show 47 citations—an average of about 16 per month—indicating consistent but low-level enforcement.
Who gets cited most
Our inspection data shows enforcement concentrated in three states over the last 180 days: Arizona (24 citations), California (22 citations), and Utah (18 citations). Florida follows with 11. All other states fall below 6 citations.
Within these top-cited states, the OOS rate is uniformly 0.0%. Enforcement patterns are consistent—this violation does not trigger out-of-service status regardless of geography.
Our records show carriers such as Daniel Ernesto Pena Cota (USDOT 1647639) with 18 all-time citations for this code, more than any other single entity in our database. However, the distribution across carriers is widely dispersed, suggesting this is a random maintenance finding rather than a systemic carrier problem.
How severe is this compared to similar codes
Within the Vehicle Maintenance category, this code sits well below average in enforcement severity. Compare:
- 393.9(a) — Inoperable required lamps: 660,737 citations, 15.4% OOS rate. This is cited roughly 1,100 times more often and results in out-of-service orders about 15% of the time.
- 396.3(a)(1) — Inspection/repair/maintenance general: 236,919 citations, 45.3% OOS rate. More than 400 times more frequent and far more likely to trigger removal from service.
- 393.11 — Lighting devices/reflectors: 179,734 citations, 1.8% OOS rate. Also cited much more frequently, though with similarly low OOS severity.
Your citation is among the least-enforced and least-severe maintenance violations in the FMCSR universe.
How to avoid it
Retroflective sheeting deteriorates with age, UV exposure, and road wear. Since this applies only to pre-1993 trailers, your mitigation options depend on your fleet's age:
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If you operate older trailers: perform a monthly visual inspection of the rear sheeting during your pre-trip. Look for peeling, fading, cracks, or gaps. Run your hand across it—good sheeting will feel secure and smooth. If you see deterioration, mark the trailer for maintenance immediately.
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Check for gaps and adhesion: reflective sheeting can peel at edges. Press down any loose corners. If material is missing entirely or in large patches, that's the most common inspection failure point.
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Photograph the sheeting condition: if you're running older equipment, take photos of the rear before you depart. This creates a record of pre-inspection compliance.
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Bundle this inspection with other rear-end checks: when you inspect lights, coupling devices, and tires during your pre-trip, add the reflective sheeting to that same 30-second visual scan.
Our data shows this violation often co-occurs with lower rear reflective sheeting issues (393.13C2-CSLRR, 10 shared inspections in the last 90 days), so if you're maintaining the upper sheeting, apply the same care to the lower rear.
Data also shows common co-occurrence with missing proof of periodic inspection (396.17C-PI, 11 shared inspections), which suggests some cited vehicles may have been poorly maintained overall. Regular documented maintenance keeps both problems off your record.