FMCSR 393.62(c) Windshield Wipers: Citation Guide

Yes—there's a strong likelihood. Across 13 million inspections, our records show 393.62(c) citations result in an 89.3% out-of-service rate. That's nearly three times the all-FMCSR average of 31.4%. While the regulation itself does not mandate OOS, inspectors place trucks out of service in the vast majority of cases when wipers are inoperative or missing. If cited, expect your truck to be declared OOS until wipers are repaired or replaced and re-inspected.

393.62(c) carries a CSA severity weight of 4. The number of points added to your record depends on how many violations of this code occur in a 30-day period. A single citation counts as one violation and receives a weight of 4 toward your safety profile. Multiple citations in the same month are each weighted separately. This severity level reflects that windshield wipers are a direct safety-of-operation issue, though the weight is moderate compared to brake or lighting defects.

1. Stop driving if placed OOS—do not move the truck until wipers are fixed.
2. Inspect both wiper blades and arms for damage, cracks, or full detachment.
3. Replace or repair the inoperative wipers at a certified shop or roadside.
4. Request a re-inspection from a qualified CVSA inspector to lift the OOS.
5. Document the repair (receipt, timestamp, parts replaced) for your records and carrier.
6. Check the wiper fluid reservoir while you're at it—low or missing fluid can also trigger citations.

Do not attempt a quick fix and immediately resume driving; the citation remains on your record once issued.

Yes, in relative terms. While 393.62(c) ranks #1112 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume (280 all-time), its 89.3% OOS rate far exceeds similar vehicle maintenance violations. For comparison: inoperable lamps (393.9(a)) have 660,737 citations but only a 15.4% OOS rate; windshield condition defects (393.78) have 157,894 citations and a 0.3% OOS rate. The high OOS rate indicates inspectors treat inoperative wipers as a critical safety hazard, placing them above many more commonly cited maintenance failures.

Yes. The FMCSA DataQs RDR (Roadside Dispute Resolution) system allows you to contest roadside inspection findings, including 393.62(c) citations. You have 90 days from the inspection date to file. Disputes challenging visual equipment inspections (like wipers) are evaluated on the inspector's documentation of the defect. If you can provide photographic evidence the wipers were functional or were repaired before the inspection was finalized, include it. However, if the wipers were verifiably inoperative at the time of inspection, the citation will stand.

This violation appears to have stabilized at very low enforcement levels. Our inspection records show zero citations for 393.62(c) in the last 12 months and zero in the last 90 days, despite 280 all-time citations in our database. This suggests either inspectors are citing inoperative wipers under different codes, or wiper maintenance compliance has improved significantly. Regardless, when cited, the violation remains serious: expect the 89.3% OOS rate to apply.

Across 13 million inspections, transit and specialized carriers dominate the 393.62(c) citation list. Quick Transit Management Agency LLC (USDOT 1713003) and Dahlonego Inc (USDOT 3734602) each have 12 citations; Sfiniex Line Express Inc (USDOT 591725) has 11. New Jersey Transit Corporation, First Student Inc, and TAA LLC each account for 9. These carriers operate large fleets in challenging weather regions, suggesting weather-related wiper wear and maintenance gaps. Ford vehicles appear most frequently in citation records, with 43 citations involving Ford equipment.

Both. The violation impacts both the driver's record and the carrier's safety profile. CSA scoring attributes roadside violations to the driver's safety history and simultaneously reflects on the carrier's Vehicle Maintenance BASIC category. This dual attribution means a cited driver sees the violation on their safety record, and the carrier's fleet safety metrics worsen. Fleet managers should treat 393.62(c) citations as a maintenance audit trigger and review pre-trip inspection procedures to prevent recurrence across their operation.