FMCSA Violation Code Reference
Browse all Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation (FMCSR) violation codes ranked by citation frequency. Filter by BASIC category, OOS eligibility, or search by code number.
BASIC Categories
Select a category to filter
Vehicle Maintenance
21.0%Unsafe Driving
Hours of Service
16.3%Driver Fitness
59.9%General/Admin
Hazardous Materials
28.3%Unknown
Controlled Substances/Alcohol
97.3%Hazardous Materials Compliance
Hours-of-Service Compliance
36.4%Crash Indicator
All Violation Codes
Ranked by citation frequency
| Rank ▼ | Code | Description | OOS | Times Cited ▼ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | 392.2 | Operating a CMV while ill or fatigued | OOS | 1,208,164 |
| #2 | 396.3(a)(1) | Inspection/repair/maintenance - general | OOS | 236,919 |
| #3 | 393.47(e) | Slack adjuster defective | OOS | 157,499 |
| #4 | 393.95(a) | Emergency equipment - fire extinguisher missing/defective | OOS | 105,458 |
| #5 | 396.5(b) | Fuel system leak | OOS | 96,018 |
| #6 | 393.75(c) | Tire tread depth insufficient (other axles) | OOS | 86,013 |
| #7 | 393.48(a) | Inoperative/defective brakes | OOS | 59,449 |
| #8 | 383.23(a)(2) | CDL - wrong class | OOS | 50,385 |
| #9 | 393.45 | Brake tubing/hoses inadequate | OOS | 44,396 |
| #10 | 391.41(a) | Physical qualification - general | OOS | 42,270 |
| #11 | 392.2-SLLS3 | Speeding 11-14 mph over limit | OOS | 40,689 |
| #12 | 392.2-SLLS4 | Speeding 15+ mph over limit | OOS | 29,311 |
| #13 | 393.75(a) | Tires/tubes - general defects | OOS | 26,907 |
| #14 | 393.207(a) | Suspension defective | OOS | 25,723 |
| #15 | 393.43 | Brake - relay emergency valve | OOS | 23,816 |
| #16 | 395.3(a)(2) | Driving beyond 11-hour driving limit | OOS | 23,620 |
| #17 | 393.47(a) | Brake chamber - cracked/broken | OOS | 20,741 |
| #18 | 395.8(a) | Failing to keep RODS | OOS | 17,946 |
| #19 | 393.100(b) | Cargo securement - aggregate working load | OOS | 16,155 |
| #20 | 393.201(a) | Frame - cracked/loose/broken | OOS | 14,067 |
| #21 | 391.11(b)(4) | No valid medical certificate | OOS | 11,706 |
| #22 | 393.51 | Steering wheel free play excessive | OOS | 11,283 |
| #23 | 393.75(b) | Tire tread depth insufficient (steer) | OOS | 10,962 |
| #24 | 393.209(d) | Wheel fasteners loose/missing | OOS | 10,483 |
| #25 | 393.95(b) | Emergency equipment - warning devices missing | OOS | 10,003 |
| #26 | 395.3(a)(3)(ii) | Driving after 60/70-hour limit | OOS | 9,205 |
| #27 | 392.9(a) | Operating without proper operating authority | OOS | 8,469 |
| #28 | 391.11(b)(2) | CDL suspended/revoked | OOS | 8,078 |
| #29 | 383.51(a) | CDL disqualification - major offense | OOS | 7,710 |
| #30 | 395.8(k)(2) | ELD malfunction / not functional | OOS | 7,662 |
| #31 | 391.11(b)(5) | Not physically qualified | OOS | 7,431 |
| #32 | 393.100(a) | Cargo securement - general failure | OOS | 7,111 |
| #33 | 393.205(a) | Wheel/rim defective | OOS | 6,566 |
| #34 | 393.130 | Cargo securement - heavy equipment | OOS | 6,520 |
| #35 | 391.15(a) | Driving while disqualified | OOS | 5,115 |
| #36 | 393.134 | Cargo securement - large boulders | OOS | 4,888 |
| #37 | 392.9a(a)(1) | Transporting hazmat without authority | OOS | 4,860 |
| #38 | 393.207(b) | Frame cracked/broken/sagging | OOS | 4,553 |
| #39 | 392.4(a) | Use of drugs | OOS | 3,919 |
| #40 | 177.834(a) | General loading/unloading hazmat | OOS | 3,839 |
| #41 | 393.110 | Cargo securement - logs | OOS | 2,839 |
| #42 | 392.82 | Texting while driving | OOS | 2,827 |
| #43 | 393.128 | Cargo securement - roll-on/roll-off containers | OOS | 2,617 |
| #44 | 393.67 | Tires - other defects | OOS | 2,479 |
| #45 | 177.817(a) | Placarding violation | OOS | 2,274 |
| #46 | 392.9a(a)(2) | Transporting passengers without authority | OOS | 2,043 |
| #47 | 393.126 | Cargo securement - flattened/crushed vehicles | OOS | 2,023 |
| #48 | 383.91(a) | No CDL endorsement | OOS | 1,821 |
| #49 | 393.116 | Cargo securement - intermodal containers | OOS | 1,689 |
| #50 | 393.42 | Brakes - parking brake defective | OOS | 1,422 |
About Violation Codes
Each violation found during a roadside inspection is assigned a code from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (49 CFR Parts 350-399) or Hazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR Parts 171-180). These codes map to one of seven BASIC categories used in the FMCSA Safety Measurement System (SMS).
Violations flagged as Out-of-Service (OOS) indicate conditions severe enough to remove a vehicle or driver from service until corrected. OOS violations carry more weight in SMS percentile calculations.
Carriers and drivers who believe a violation was recorded in error can file a Request for Data Review (DataQs) through the FMCSA DataQs system.