393.13C3 Citation: Missing Rear Reflective Sheeting — Q&A

No. A 393.13C3 citation will not place your truck out of service. Across our inspection records, zero out of 844 all-time citations for this violation resulted in an out-of-service order—a 0.0% OOS rate. This is substantially lower than the all-FMCSR average OOS rate of 31.4%, which means inspectors treat this as a documented defect requiring repair but not an immediate safety removal from the road.

FMCSA does not specify a standard repair timeline for retroreflective sheeting violations—you should verify the deadline noted on your citation or contact your state's enforcement agency. However, the fact that 0 out of 844 citations resulted in out-of-service placement suggests this is treated as a maintenance item requiring correction at your next scheduled downtime, not an emergency pull-off. You should address it within your normal maintenance cycle.

393.13C3 requires upper rear retroreflective sheeting or reflex reflective material on vehicles manufactured before December 1, 1993. If your pre-1993 truck is missing or has deteriorated upper rear reflective material, you're non-compliant. This is a visibility and nighttime accident-prevention requirement. Newer vehicles (post-1993) have different reflective standards and typically won't be cited under this specific code.

Compared to other vehicle maintenance codes, 393.13C3 is relatively low-severity. Our data shows this code ranks #763 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume. Related lighting and reflector violations like 393.11 (179,734 citations, 1.8% OOS rate) occur far more frequently and have higher enforcement. The 0.0% OOS rate for 393.13C3 also signals that DOT treats it as a compliance documentation issue, not a critical safety defect.

First, photograph the cited area and document the current condition. Second, request a detailed inspection report from the officer—confirm whether the violation is missing sheeting or deteriorated material. Third, source replacement retroreflective material or sheeting compatible with your pre-1993 vehicle model. Fourth, have a certified technician install it and photograph the repair. Finally, request a re-inspection by DOT in your state to clear the violation. Keep all receipts and work orders.

Over the last 180 days, our inspection records show 393.13C3 is cited most heavily in Texas with 240 citations (0% OOS rate), followed by New Mexico with 5 citations and Iowa with 2 citations. The overwhelming concentration in Texas reflects both the size of the commercial trucking population there and the prevalence of older equipment crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, where pre-1993 trucks are more common in cross-border fleets.

Over the last 12 months, 393.13C3 enforcement has remained relatively stable, with 501 total citations spread fairly evenly across months (ranging from 17 to 58 citations per month). The most recent month on record (April 2026) shows only 3 citations, but this likely reflects incomplete data collection for that period. The consistent 30–60 citation range month-to-month indicates steady, routine enforcement rather than a spike or decline.

Freightliner trucks account for 299 out of 844 all-time 393.13C3 citations—more than one-third of all violations. Kenworth follows with 126 citations, and Utility trailers with 93. This distribution reflects both the prevalence of older Freightliner and Kenworth models still in active pre-1993 service and the likelihood that aging equipment is more prone to worn or missing reflective material. If you operate one of these makes, prioritize preventive reflective inspections.