393.13C3-CSURR Citation: Will My Truck Be Placed Out of Service?

No. Across our inspection records, zero out of 592 all-time citations for this violation resulted in an out-of-service order (0.0% OOS rate). This code is not OOS-eligible. In the last 12 months, we recorded 323 citations with zero placements out of service. You will receive a citation, but your truck stays on the road. That said, you will need to repair the inadequate upper rear retro-reflective sheeting on your trailer before your next inspection.

It's relatively minor by enforcement frequency. This violation ranks #864 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume. However, context matters: the all-FMCSR average out-of-service rate is 31.4%, whereas this code has a 0.0% OOS rate, making it substantially less severe than typical vehicle maintenance violations. Compare this to inoperable required lamps (393.9), which has 660,737 citations and a 15.4% OOS rate—far more commonly enforced. The reflective sheeting issue is a safety visibility problem, but not one that triggers immediate removal from service.

Immediate steps:

1. Document the citation. Get a copy of the inspection report and note the specific trailer and inspection date.
2. Inspect related systems. Our data shows this violation often co-occurs with other conspicuity and maintenance issues—11 inspections in the last 90 days also included lack of proof of periodic inspection (396.17C-PI), and 10 included lower rear reflective sheeting defects (393.13C2-CSLRR).
3. Schedule repair. Contact a trailer shop certified to replace or repair retro-reflective sheeting material. Ensure work is completed before your next roadside inspection.
4. File records. Keep repair invoices and completion photos for evidence of compliance.

In the last 180 days, citation activity was concentrated in three states: Arizona (24 citations), California (22 citations), and Utah (18 citations). Together these three account for more than half of all citations. Florida follows with 11 citations. Indiana and Utah each had 5 citations. Arizona and California dominate the enforcement pattern for this violation, likely due to higher inspection volume and stricter state-level vehicle maintenance oversight in those regions.

You have time to plan, but do it soon. In the last 90 days, we recorded 47 citations for this code with zero out-of-service orders, so there's no emergency hold on your vehicle. However, the 12-month trend shows steady enforcement—citations ranged from 15 to 42 per month, with May, June, and August averaging 36+ citations. If your trailer is in Arizona, California, or Utah, inspectors are actively checking reflective sheeting. Repair within 30 days of citation to avoid a repeat citation and potential fleet safety scrutiny.

Yes, DataQs is available for contesting roadside inspection records. Since 393.13C3-CSURR is an equipment observation (inadequate reflective material), contestability depends on whether the finding was documented correctly and whether the inspector followed proper measurement or visibility protocols. If you believe the sheeting meets standard or was mismeasured, file a DataQs challenge with photographic evidence and the inspection report. You have 30 days from the inspection date to initiate the challenge through your carrier's DataQs account. Success requires clear evidence the initial assessment was factually wrong.

Our data from the last 90 days shows 393.13C3-CSURR commonly appears alongside:

• Proof of periodic inspection missing (396.17C-PI): 11 shared inspections
• Lower rear reflective sheeting inadequate (393.13C2-CSLRR): 10 shared inspections
• Operating while ill or fatigued (392.2-SLLSR): 8 shared inspections
• Coupling device defective (393.55E-B): 8 shared inspections
• Windshield defective (393.78A-WS): 7 shared inspections

This pattern suggests inspectors often find multiple visible maintenance and safety issues on the same vehicle. If you've been cited for reflective sheeting, ask your inspector or carrier if any other violations were noted, then address the full list together.

Freightliner trailers lead by far with 187 all-time citations, followed by Kenworth (60), International (59), Great Dane (55), and Wabash National (52). Among carriers, Daniel Ernesto Pena Cota (USDOT 1647639) has the highest count at 18 citations. This distribution reflects both market share and inspection patterns—Freightliner and Great Dane dominate the trailer market, so they naturally appear more frequently in roadside data. There's no single carrier or make dominating enforcement in a way that suggests targeted action; citation volume tracks roughly with how many of those vehicles are in use and inspected.