FMCSR 393.25F: Obscured Rear Lamps — Q&A for Drivers

Not automatically. Across our inspection records, 393.25F resulted in an out-of-service order in 25.8% of cases—meaning 74.2% of drivers cited were able to keep operating. That's notably lower than the all-FMCSR average out-of-service rate of 31.4%. Whether you're placed OOS depends on the inspector's judgment of the obstruction severity and your rig's condition at the time of inspection. If cited, clarify immediately whether you're OOS or can continue to your terminal for repair.

This violation carries a CSA severity weight of 3, which affects your score in the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC category. The exact CSA point total depends on your company's safety rating and the 30-day accumulation window. A weight of 3 is mid-range within FMCSR codes—neither the most serious nor the least. Check your carrier's CSA dashboard or contact your safety manager to see the precise impact on your record; they have access to real-time scoring.

First, do not drive with obscured rear lamps if you've been placed out of service—stop at a safe location. Our data shows that 393.25F frequently appears with inoperative turn signals (66 co-occurring inspections in the last 90 days) and inoperative tail lamps (11 co-occurring cases), so inspect all rear lighting. Remove the load obstruction, verify all rear lamps and reflectors are visible and functional, then request a compliance re-inspection. Document the repair with photos. If you received a non-OOS citation, you have time to fix it before your next roadside inspection, but do it promptly.

It ranks 620th out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume—relatively low enforcement. However, it's stricter than some similar codes: 393.11 (Lighting devices/reflectors) has only a 1.8% OOS rate, while 393.25F sits at 25.8%. The most-cited lamp code, 393.9 (Inoperable required lamps), has 660,737 all-time citations and a 15.4% OOS rate. So 393.25F is less frequent but more likely to trigger an OOS order than a purely inoperative lamp—suggesting inspectors view obstruction as a deliberate maintenance oversight rather than equipment failure.

Yes. The DataQs (FMCSA's Demerit Reduction Program) allows you to challenge inspection records if the findings are inaccurate or unsupported. For a 393.25F citation, you would contest by submitting evidence—typically photos taken at the time—showing the rear lamps were not actually obscured, or that what the inspector deemed an obstruction was within regulatory tolerance. Obstruction is a visibility judgment call, so documentation is key. Submit your DataQs challenge within the 90-day window using FMCSA's online portal; include the inspection report number and your evidence.

Over the last 180 days, North Carolina leads with 183 citations (23.0% OOS rate), followed by Iowa with 37 citations (0.0% OOS rate) and Illinois with 22 citations (22.7% OOS rate). If you operate in North Carolina, you face both the highest citation volume and a meaningful OOS risk—roughly one in four drivers cited there are placed out of service. Texas saw only 6 citations but an unusually high 66.7% OOS rate, suggesting stricter enforcement in that state.

Repair urgently. Over the last 90 days, we recorded 116 citations for 393.25F, with an uptick in May 2025 (125 citations) showing sustained enforcement focus. If you remain in service with obscured rear lamps, a second citation is highly likely at the next inspection—and repeated violations can trigger increased CSA scrutiny and carrier audits. Secure any load that's drifting onto your tailboard, remove tailboard obstructions, and verify rear lamp visibility during your pre-trip inspection every day going forward.

Freightliners lead by far with 312 citations all-time, followed by Peterbilts (196 citations), International (183), Kenworth (170), and Mack (100). This reflects market share—Freightliners dominate the trucking fleet—but also suggests that certain rig configurations (box trailers, flatbeds with tarps) may create more obstruction risk. If you drive one of these makes, pay extra attention to load securement and tailboard positioning during pre-trip.