FMCSR 393.25: Obscured Rear Lamps — Driver Q&A

No. Across our inspection records, code 393.25 has never resulted in an out-of-service order. The OOS rate is 0.0%—meaning every citation on this violation was issued as a moving violation, not a roadside removal. Your truck stays on the road, but you must address the obstruction before your next inspection.

This violation carries a severity weight of 3 in the CSA safety scoring system. Within a 30-day period, violations are multiplied by the number of days elapsed before remediation. For example, if cited today and fixed in 10 days, the impact is heavier than if fixed immediately. The sooner you clear the obstruction from your rear lamps, the lower your point accumulation.

Immediate steps:

1. Identify the obstruction — tailboard, cargo, or reflector cover blocking rear lamps or reflectors
2. Remove or reposition the load or obstruction to expose all required rear lighting
3. Verify all lamps function — red clearance lights, brake lights, and reflectors must be fully visible
4. Document the repair — take photos showing lamps/reflectors are now unobstructed
5. Request re-inspection — ask the inspector to verify compliance before leaving the scale or inspection site if possible
6. Keep records — save your citation and proof of correction for your file

Compared to other rear lighting violations, 393.25 is among the least enforced. Our database shows 0 citations all-time for code 393.25, while the similar violation 393.9 (inoperable required lamps) has 660,737 citations with a 15.4% OOS rate. Even 393.11 (lighting devices/reflectors) shows 179,734 citations with a 1.8% OOS rate. The rarity of 393.25 enforcement suggests inspectors prioritize actual lamp failure over obstruction—making immediate clearance your best defense.

Yes. FMCSA's DataQs (DataQuality System) allows you to challenge any inspection record. Because 393.25 is an equipment observation (physical obstruction), you can contest it if:

• The obstruction was temporary or load-shifting during transport
• Lamps/reflectors were actually visible and unobstructed
• The inspector made a factual error

File a DataQs challenge within one year of the citation with photographic or witness evidence. Success rates vary, but documented proof of compliance strengthens your case.

Very urgent. While no out-of-service orders exist for this code, the violation itself signals a compliance gap. Our 90-day data shows 0 citations in the most recent quarter, suggesting either strong compliance or low inspection focus—but that can shift. Fix the obstruction immediately: secure your load properly, ensure nothing blocks rear lamps, and verify lamps function before every trip. This prevents repeat citations and protects your CSA profile.

393.25 = rear lamps/reflectors blocked by load or obstruction (still functional, just hidden). 393.9 = rear lamps are actually broken, missing, or non-functional. In practice, 393.9 is far more serious: it has 660,737 citations with a 15.4% OOS rate, meaning 1 in 6 citations result in removal. Code 393.25 is a preventive catch—a reminder to load properly and keep lamps visible.

This violation falls under Vehicle Maintenance (BASIC 5), which is a carrier-level metric in CSA. It records against your company's safety profile, not your individual driver record—though your carrier may flag the violation in your personnel file. If you're an owner-operator, it impacts your own BASIC 5 score directly. Either way, prompt correction and documentation protect your company's fleet rating.