FMCSR 171.2(d) Citation: What Drivers Need to Know

No. Our inspection records show that 171.2(d) has a 0.0% out-of-service rate across all 20 all-time citations in our database. This violation is not OOS-eligible, meaning inspectors cannot place your vehicle out of service for this citation alone. However, the all-FMCSR average OOS rate is 31.4%, so this code is significantly less severe than many other violations you may encounter on the road.

Immediate steps:

1. Request the written citation and review the specific finding documented by the inspector.
2. Do not argue at roadside—keep the interaction professional and document the inspector's name, badge number, and agency.
3. Photograph the violation if safe and legal to do so (equipment condition, placards, documentation).
4. Contact your carrier or safety manager within 24 hours with the citation details.
5. Check your company's citation response procedure—many carriers file DataQs challenges if the finding is factual error or documentation-based.
6. Keep all maintenance and compliance records related to the area cited; you may need them for appeal or defense.

171.2(d) ranks #1938 of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume, making it relatively uncommon. Across 13 million inspections we see that this code has a 0.0% OOS rate, compared to the national average of 31.4% across all codes. Peer violations in the same regulatory area—such as 376.11(d)(1) and 376.11D1—also carry 0.0% OOS rates, indicating this family of violations is treated as lower-severity findings. You are not at immediate risk of being pulled from service for this citation.

Very rarely. Our database contains only 20 all-time citations for 171.2(d) across 13 million roadside inspections. In the last 12 months, there have been zero citations for this code, and zero in the last 90 days. This extremely low enforcement volume suggests either the violation is uncommon in the field or inspectors rarely document it separately. When it is cited, it appears to affect small carrier fleets—the top cited carrier, INTERNATIONAL QTXPRESS LLC, has only 2 citations for this code.

Yes, you or your carrier can file a DataQs challenge if you believe the citation contains a factual error, omission, or misidentification. DataQs (the FMCSA's Roadside Data Reporting system) allows drivers and carriers to dispute safety event records within 90 days of the citation date. Document the violation details, gather supporting evidence (maintenance records, driver logs, equipment photos), and submit your challenge through the FMCSA's Safety Management System (SMS). Given the low citation volume for 171.2(d), successful challenges often center on inspector error or misclassification of the finding.

Yes, the citation remains in FMCSA records, but its impact on your CSA score diminishes over time. FMCSA safety event data is used in Crash Indicator, Unsafe Driving, and Driver Fitness BASICs, where violations are weighted by severity and recency. Because 171.2(d) is not OOS-eligible and appears in our data with zero recent citations, it carries less weight in CSA scoring than acute or repeat violations. However, if you receive multiple citations for related codes, the pattern will compound your score. Request your SMS profile to see your exact scoring impact.

Across all-time data, Kenworth and PTRB trailers lead with 3 citations each, followed by Freightliner (FRHT) and Hyster (HYTR) with 2 each. These are established commercial vehicles, suggesting the violation is not tied to a specific vehicle defect or design flaw. The scattered distribution—with 10 different vehicle makes cited—indicates 171.2(d) is linked to driver or carrier practices rather than equipment type. Your vehicle make is unlikely to predispose you to this citation.

No. Enforcement appears stable and minimal. Across 13 million inspections, 171.2(d) has generated only 20 all-time citations with zero citations in the last 12 months and zero in the last 90 days. This suggests the violation is either being resolved at industry level or is rarely encountered by inspectors. There is no enforcement trend indicating rising focus on this code, so compliance should remain straightforward if you maintain standard carrier and driver safety practices.