FMCSR 393.25E: Rear Lamp Obscured by Load—Q&A

No—393.25E almost never results in an out-of-service order. Across our inspection records, only 2.0% of 393.25E citations led to OOS placement (9 out of 457 all-time). That's dramatically lower than the 31.4% average OOS rate across all FMCSR codes. You will get cited, but your truck stays on the road in the vast majority of cases.

393.25E carries a CSA severity weight of 3. This means a single citation counts as 3 points toward your Unsafe Equipment BASIC. The violation applies to both your driving record and your carrier's record for 12 months, with point decay afterward. CSA points stack, so multiple violations in a 30-day window compound the damage to your profile.

Immediate steps:

1. Check your rear lamps and reflectors. Clear any load obstruction—cardboard, straps, debris, or loose tarps covering required lighting.
2. Document the repair. Take photos before and after. Save your invoice.
3. Inspect related equipment. Our data shows 393.25E often co-occurs with inoperable lamps (393.9, cited 18 times with 393.25E in the last 90 days) and turn signal failures (393.9TS, 12 shared inspections). Test all rear lights and signals.
4. Report to your carrier. Notify dispatch and safety immediately so they can verify the fix.
5. Consider a follow-up inspection. Some drivers request a re-inspection at a nearby weigh station to confirm compliance before moving on.

393.25E is much less serious than similar lamp codes. It ranks #954 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume (only 457 all-time), with a 2.0% OOS rate. By contrast, 393.9 (Inoperable Required Lamp)—a related code that appears in 18 of the same inspections—has been cited 180,097 times and carries a 6.9% OOS rate. 393.25E is usually a fixable, low-consequence violation if you address it immediately.

Texas leads enforcement by far, with 84 citations in the last 180 days (2.4% OOS rate). North Carolina and New Mexico follow, each with 22 citations and 0% OOS rates. Illinois has 16 citations with a 6.3% OOS rate—the highest among the top states. If you run through Texas regularly, stay extra vigilant about load securement and rear lighting clarity.

Yes, you can contest through the FMCSA's DataQs (Driver Records Quality System) if you believe the citation was issued in error or the vehicle was actually in compliance. The process requires you to submit a written challenge with supporting evidence—typically photos, maintenance records, or witness statements. Since 393.25E is an objective observation (lamps physically obscured), your evidence should directly show that lamps were visible and unobstructed at the time of inspection. Your carrier's safety department can help file the challenge.

393.25E citations spiked in late 2025 and early 2026. Our records show 24 citations in July 2025, 34 in September, and 38 in January 2026—the highest month on record. The trend has plateaued in recent months (27 in March 2026), but enforcement remains elevated compared to spring 2025 (7 citations in April 2025). The jump suggests heightened inspector focus on load securement and rear lamp visibility during summer and winter months.

Freightliners dominate the citation data, with 114 393.25E citations all-time, followed by Kenworths (71 citations) and Peterbilts (52 citations). International and other makes round out the top five. This pattern likely reflects the prevalence of these models in the trucking fleet, but it also suggests that load securement and lamp visibility can be design- or habit-dependent. Check your make's specific rear lighting design to understand where obstruction is likely.