What 374.317 means in plain language
FMCSR 374.317 is a regulation that applies to specific operational or equipment requirements under federal motor carrier safety standards. While the exact scope of this code is narrowly defined in the rulebook, citations for it are issued when inspectors find a violation during roadside checks or facility audits.
This code is not an out-of-service violation, meaning an inspector will not immediately remove your vehicle from service for violating it. Instead, you'll receive a citation that gets recorded in your carrier's safety profile and may be reviewed during future audits or when your USDOT number is pulled up in compliance databases.
If you've just been cited, the next step is typically for your carrier to respond to the citation through the FMCSA's Clearinghouse or other official channels, depending on your state and the issuing authority.
What our enforcement data actually shows
Across our 13 million roadside inspection records, we have documented 11 all-time citations for 374.317. In the last 12 months, there have been 0 citations, and in the last 90 days, there have been 0 citations. This makes 374.317 one of the least-cited FMCSR codes in the database—it ranks #2167 out of 3,036 codes by citation volume.
None of the 11 all-time citations for this code resulted in an out-of-service order, giving it a 0.0% out-of-service rate. This is significantly lower than the all-FMCSR average OOS rate of 31.4%, which reflects the fact that 374.317 violations do not typically trigger the severity threshold that leads to vehicle removal.
The extremely low citation count in recent months suggests that either this violation is rare in the field, or enforcement focus on this particular code has diminished. Either way, if you've been cited, you're in a small group.
Who gets cited most
Our inspection records do not identify a geographic concentration by state for this code due to the small citation volume. However, we do see that certain carriers have encountered this citation more frequently than others.
Our data shows fleets such as TUFESA USA LLC (USDOT 1215199) with 4 citations, and GONZALEZ SHUTTLES LLC (USDOT 2468731) with 3 citations, have the highest citation counts for 374.317. AUTOBUSES EJECUTIVOS LLC (USDOT 1044521) recorded 2 citations. These patterns reflect the distribution of citations in our database and do not imply negligence or systemic non-compliance—they simply show where this particular violation has been documented.
Vehicle makes cited for 374.317 include VOLVO (5 citations), FORD (2 citations), and PREVOST and SCANIA (1 citation each). This distribution likely reflects the prevalence of these vehicle types in the fleets cited, rather than a defect or design issue specific to any one manufacturer.
How severe is this compared to similar codes
When we compare 374.317 to peer codes in the same regulatory category, the difference in enforcement volume is striking. Code 376.11(d)(1) has 6,383 citations and a 0.0% OOS rate, making it far more commonly cited. Code 999 has 4,802 citations with a 12.1% OOS rate. Code 107.620(b) shows 2,120 citations with a 0.2% OOS rate.
Code 107.620B-HMAMC and 376.11D1 both have 0.0% OOS rates like 374.317, but 107.620B-HMAMC has been cited 1,820 times and 376.11D1 has 1,258 citations—far more than the 11 citations for 374.317. This comparison underscores that 374.317 is an exceptionally rare citation in the inspection environment.
How to avoid it
Given the rarity of 374.317 citations, prevention guidance is best approached by ensuring strict general compliance with all FMCSR standards. Here are driver-actionable steps:
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Conduct a thorough pre-trip inspection every time you operate a vehicle, paying special attention to all equipment and operational readiness items outlined in your carrier's safety manual. Don't skip any step, even if you drove the same vehicle yesterday.
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Know your vehicle make and model's specific requirements. Our data shows citations have been issued on VOLVO and FORD units. Consult your owner's manual and your carrier's maintenance schedule to understand any nuances in how your specific vehicle must be operated or maintained.
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Review your carrier's policies on the regulation. If your carrier (such as TUFESA USA LLC or others in our database) has had citations for this code, ask your safety manager what corrective actions were taken. Learning from fleet-level patterns can help you stay compliant.
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Document your pre-trip checks. Write down what you inspect and when. If an inspector finds an issue, a detailed log shows your due diligence and can support your carrier's response.
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Ask your dispatcher or safety team if you're unsure. The low citation rate for 374.317 means many drivers and carriers rarely encounter it. Don't guess—confirm compliance before you roll.
If you've already been cited, work with your carrier to understand the specific violation noted by the inspector and ensure corrective measures are in place.