FMCSR 393.25(f): Rear Lamps Obscured by Load — Driver FAQ

Unlikely, but it has happened. 393.25(f) is not OOS-eligible under the standard criteria, yet our inspection records show that 1,617 of 5,457 all-time citations still resulted in an out-of-service order — a 29.6% OOS rate. That figure is actually slightly below the all-FMCSR average of 31.4%, so inspectors are placing vehicles out of service at a below-average clip for this code. The most likely explanation is that the rear-lamp obscurement was accompanied by a separate, OOS-eligible defect found during the same stop. Keep that in mind: getting cited for 393.25(f) alone shouldn't ground you, but a deeper inspection might.

393.25(f) carries a severity weight of 3. That score sits on the lower end of the CSA scale. The actual points applied to your SMS record are multiplied based on how recently the violation occurred: violations within 6 months count most heavily, those between 6 and 12 months receive a reduced multiplier, and anything beyond 12 months carries the base weight. Because this code falls under the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC, both the driver and the carrier accumulate points. With a severity weight of 3, a single citation won't dramatically shift a carrier's percentile on its own, but repeated citations across a fleet add up fast.

Fix the obscurement before your next move. Here's a concrete sequence:

1. Reposition or secure the load so all required rear lamps and reflectors are fully visible before pulling back onto the road.
2. Document the correction with a timestamped photo — this is useful if you later file a DataQs challenge.
3. Check for companion violations. Our inspection records show 393.25(f) often appears alongside other lighting and maintenance defects; confirm your taillights, brake lights, and reflectors are all functional.
4. Notify your fleet or safety manager immediately so the citation gets logged in your corrective-action file.
5. Retain your inspection report (FMCSA Form MCS-63); you'll need it for any DataQs filing within 60 days.

It's a lower-severity citation relative to its peers, but not trivial. For context, our inspection records show that 393.9(a) — inoperable required lamps — accounts for 660,737 citations with a 15.4% OOS rate, and 393.11 (lighting devices/reflectors broadly) has 179,734 citations at a 1.8% OOS rate. By comparison, 393.25(f) has 5,457 all-time citations and a 29.6% OOS rate, meaning that when it is cited, vehicles end up out of service at a higher rate than either of those peer codes. The national rank of #325 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes puts it in the top 11% by citation volume — it's not obscure.

Yes, and equipment-based findings like this one are among the more contestable types. The FMCSA DataQs system (Request for Data Review) lets drivers and carriers challenge inspection findings they believe were incorrectly recorded. Because 393.25(f) is an equipment condition violation — not a documentation gap — a successful challenge typically requires showing that the lamp or reflector was not actually obscured at the time of inspection, or that the inspector cited the wrong regulation. Supporting evidence includes timestamped photos taken at or near the inspection site, load manifests showing how cargo was secured, and any notes from the inspection report itself. File your RDR through the FMCSA DataQs portal; there is no filing fee.

Our inspection records do not break down 393.25(f) citations by state in the current data snapshot. What the data does show is the vehicle makes most often cited: Freightliner (FRHT) leads with 300 citations, followed by Peterbilt (PTRB) at 202 and International (INTL) at 184. Kenworth (KW) accounts for 177 citations and trailers (TRLR) for 120. The distribution across major OEM platforms suggests this is a nationwide enforcement pattern rather than one concentrated in a handful of states, so drivers operating any of these common makes should treat rear-lamp obscurement checks as a universal pre-trip priority.

Enforcement has gone quiet recently, but don't treat that as permission to ignore it. Our inspection records show 0 citations in the last 90 days and 0 in the last 12 months, compared to 5,457 all-time. That sharp drop-off likely reflects a shift in inspection targeting priorities rather than a permanent relaxation of the rule. The 29.6% all-time OOS rate means that nearly 1 in 3 citations historically resulted in a vehicle being parked — so the consequences when it is enforced are real. Correct any obscured rear lamps before every trip; a pre-trip walk-around takes seconds and eliminates the risk entirely.

Both the driver and the carrier take the hit. Under FMCSA's CSA methodology, Vehicle Maintenance BASIC violations are assessed against the carrier's SMS profile and can also appear on the driver's PSP (Pre-Employment Screening Program) record. Our inspection records show that large fleets are not immune — J B Hunt Transport Inc (USDOT 80806) leads all carriers with 19 all-time citations, and nine other carriers each have between 9 and 18 citations on record. For fleet safety managers, even a handful of 393.25(f) citations concentrated in a short window can nudge a carrier's Vehicle Maintenance BASIC percentile, making load-securing and pre-trip lamp checks a straightforward line item in any driver training program.