FMCSR violation code decoder
Type an inspection violation code (e.g. 393.75(a)) — get the official FMCSA dictionary label, SMS BASIC category, severity weight, and whether the code is OOS-eligible in our ViolationDefinition table.
When to use this
- → Driver or safety manager decoding a roadside citation
- → Broker reviewing inspection PDFs in a packet
- → DataQs prep — know the dictionary label before you file
How to decode a code
- Copy the code from the inspection report — Include sub-paragraphs when printed, e.g. 395.3(a)(1).
- Submit the decoder — We normalize and look up ViolationDefinition.
- Read BASIC category — Maps to SMS BASIC for carrier safety context.
- Open the violation hub page — See national frequency and related codes.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where do code definitions come from?
- TruckCodex ViolationDefinition — sourced from FMCSA SMS methodology and Appendix A, joined to millions of MCMIS violation events.
- Does this replace the CVSA out-of-service handbook?
- No. OOS eligibility here reflects our dictionary flag; inspectors apply CVSA criteria at roadside.
- What if my code has a suffix like 392.2-SLLSR?
- We try exact match first, then progressive parent-code fallback — same chain as /violations/FMCSR/ routes.
- Can I link to the full violation hub?
- Yes — matched codes link to /violations/FMCSR/:code/ for frequency and peer context.
- What if my code is not in the dictionary?
- We show the closest parent-code match when possible. Unknown codes still link to manual browse at /violations/ — confirm the citation on the inspection report.
- Is the violation decoder free?
- Yes. No login. Definitions come from our public ViolationDefinition table synced from FMCSA SMS methodology.