What 393.25A means in plain language
FMCSR 393.25A addresses a straightforward safety issue: your truck's required rear lamps or reflectors are blocked from view. This obstruction can be caused by your tailboard, cargo, or any other equipment or material covering the lights that allow other drivers to see your vehicle at night or in low visibility.
The regulation exists because rear lamps and reflectors are critical safety devices. They tell drivers behind you where your truck ends and alert them to your braking and turning. When these lights are obscured, following drivers lose that visual information, increasing the risk of a rear-end collision, especially in darkness or poor weather.
This isn't about a broken lamp—it's about a working lamp you can't see because something is in the way. The fix is usually simple: reposition or secure your load, remove the obstruction, or adjust your tailboard so inspectors and other road users can see your rear lighting clearly.
What our enforcement data actually shows
Across our database of 13 million+ roadside inspections, 393.25A ranks #1126 of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume. In the last 12 months, we recorded 170 citations for this violation. Over the past 90 days, that number was 49 citations.
What stands out most: this code has an extremely low out-of-service rate. Of all 267 all-time citations in our records, only 3 vehicles were placed out of service—a rate of 1.1%. For context, the average out-of-service rate across all FMCSR codes is 31.4%. This tells you that inspectors view 393.25A as a defect that can typically be corrected quickly without taking the truck off the road.
Who gets cited most
Our inspection records show 393.25A citations are heavily concentrated in a few states. In the last 180 days, Texas dominated with 83 citations, followed by Illinois with 7 citations and Iowa with 3 citations. North Carolina had 1 citation. Notably, none of these top states recorded any out-of-service placements for this code.
Looking at carriers in our all-time data, some larger fleets such as those operating in cross-border trade have accumulated multiple citations for obscured rear lamps. This pattern suggests that high-volume operations, particularly those running refrigerated trailers or enclosed cargo, may face higher exposure to this violation type.
How severe is this compared to similar codes
Within the vehicle maintenance category, 393.25A sits at the milder end of the enforcement spectrum. Our data shows that 393.9 (Inoperable Required Lamp) has generated 180,097 citations with a 6.9% out-of-service rate—roughly 675 times the citation volume and a significantly higher OOS rate. Similarly, 393.11 (Lighting devices/reflectors) has 179,734 citations with a 1.8% OOS rate, still much higher enforcement volume than 393.25A.
Even compared to 393.78 (Windshield condition defective), which has 157,894 citations, 393.25A is enforced far less frequently. The contrast is stark: while obscured rear lamps are rare in enforcement relative to other lamp and lighting violations, the actual defect—an inoperable or missing lamp—drives much heavier citation activity.
How to avoid it
Prevention is straightforward and requires attention during your pre-trip and load securing process:
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Secure your load properly. Before you depart, walk around the rear of your trailer and verify that nothing—tarps, straps, cargo, or plastic sheeting—is hanging over or covering your red taillights or reflectors. Look at the rear from multiple angles, including from ground level where following drivers see your truck.
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Check your tailboard condition. If you operate with a drop-gate or tailboard, ensure it closes fully and doesn't obstruct the rear lamps. Many citations occur with refrigerated trailers or enclosed vans where the tailboard or door seal can creep out of position during transit.
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Inspect lamp mounting after maintenance. If you've recently had brake work, electrical service, or cargo work done, verify the lamps are in their original position and not shifted. Our data shows 393.47 (slack adjuster defects) and brake-related issues commonly co-occur with this violation, suggesting that post-service inspections often catch obscured lamps.
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Maintain awareness of load shift. Over the course of a long haul, cargo can shift, or tarps can work loose. Do a visual walk-around at fuel stops or rest breaks, especially focusing on the rear. This is particularly important for flatbed and open-deck operations.
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Document your compliance. If you operate a higher-volume carrier, keep photos or notes of rear-lamp visibility before departing. This can serve as a record if a dispute arises, though the simplest approach is ensuring the lights are always visible.
Our inspection records indicate that February 2026 saw a peak in citations (25 recorded), suggesting seasonal factors—winter weather, snow accumulation, or increased cargo volumes—may play a role. Stay vigilant during high-traffic or adverse-weather periods.