What happens when cited for 383.21? Direct answers on out-of-service risk, next steps, and enforcement data from 13M+ roadside inspections.
Ranks #777 of 3,146 FMCSR codes by citation frequency • OOS rate of 1.7% is below the FMCSR-wide average of 33.3%.
Operating a CMV with more than 1 driver license
Direct answers grounded in TruckCodex inspection data
No. Across our inspection records, 383.21 citations result in out-of-service placement only 1.8% of the time. Out of 811 total citations in our database, just 15 drivers were placed out of service. This is far below the national average OOS rate of 31.4% across all FMCSR codes, making 383.21 one of the least likely violations to trigger an immediate shutdown.
This violation is relatively uncommon. Our inspection records show 811 total citations for 383.21, ranking it #772 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume. In the last 12 months alone, we recorded 366 citations, with 80 occurring in the last 90 days. Monthly citations have remained steady, ranging from 14 to 54 per month over the past year.
Immediate steps:
Our data shows this violation frequently co-occurs with missing CDL documentation (383.23A2) and invalid medical certificates (391.41APC), so verify those credentials as well.
No—383.21 is far less severe than related violations. Operating without a valid CDL (383.23A2-LCDLN) triggers out-of-service in 98.6% of cases, and operating with the wrong CDL class carries a 98.4% OOS rate. By contrast, 383.21 results in OOS placement only 1.8% of the time. The violation is typically treated as a correctable documentation issue rather than an imminent safety threat.
Over the last 180 days, Pennsylvania leads with 23 citations, followed by Colorado and California each with 15 citations. Washington, South Dakota, and Massachusetts round out the top six states with 10, 8, and 8 citations respectively. Across all top enforcement states, the out-of-service rate remains 0%, further confirming that 383.21 citations rarely result in vehicle shutdown regardless of geography.
Citation volume has fluctuated over the past 12 months. Our records show a peak of 54 citations in September 2025, followed by a decline through November (22 citations), then a rebound to 42 citations in February 2026. Most recently, citations dropped to just 2 in April 2026 (as of mid-month). The overall trend shows sustained enforcement averaging around 30 citations per month, with no clear pattern of increase or decrease.
Over the last 90 days, 383.21 most frequently co-occurs with:
If you received a 383.21 citation, review your compliance status on all of these areas immediately.
Yes. FMCSA's DataQs system allows drivers and carriers to contest roadside inspection findings. For 383.21, disputes typically challenge the accuracy of the license check or argue that the "multiple licenses" finding was based on misrecorded data (e.g., a license renewal that created a brief overlap). You will need supporting documentation from your state DMV proving you hold only one valid CDL. Submit your DataQs challenge within 90 days of the inspection with clear evidence of license status at the time of citation.
Where 383.21 is most commonly cited (last 180 days)
Other violations commonly found on the same inspection (last 90 days)
TruckCodex aggregates official public-sector datasets. See the Source registry for dataset-level coverage and the Freshness log for last-import timestamps.
Census, SAFER, SMS, Licensing & Insurance (L&I), roadside inspections, crashes, and authority history.
Vehicle recall campaigns, defect investigations, and consumer safety complaints (SCRS).
Cross-border carrier registry and Canadian recall campaigns where applicable.
TruckCodex is an independent aggregator; it is not affiliated with FMCSA, NHTSA, EIA, or Transport Canada. Always verify compliance-critical information directly with the originating agency.