What 385.13A1 means in plain language
385.13A1 is an administrative requirement under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. While the specific regulatory text is narrow, citations under this code typically involve documentation, reporting, or record-keeping obligations that carriers and drivers must maintain to stay in compliance with federal safety standards.
If you received this citation at roadside, an inspector determined that your vehicle or operation fell short of an administrative requirement tied to this regulation. The good news is that this code does not appear to trigger automatic out-of-service placement in most cases—though the circumstances of your citation matter.
What our enforcement data actually shows
Across our database of 13 million+ roadside inspection records, 385.13A1 is exceptionally rare. We have recorded only 1 citation all-time and 1 citation in the last 12 months. In the last 90 days, we recorded zero citations for this code.
Despite the tiny volume, our data shows that the single citation on record was placed out of service, yielding a 100.0% OOS rate for this code. By comparison, the all-FMCSR average OOS rate is 31.4%, which means this code's enforcement outcome is substantially more severe when it does occur. However, with only one citation in our entire dataset, treating this rate as a reliable indicator of future enforcement would be misleading—the sample size is too small.
The most recent citation occurred in August 2025 and also resulted in an out-of-service placement.
Who gets cited most
Our inspection records show that only one carrier has received a citation for 385.13A1: NOE FLORES ANDALON (USDOT 3769347), with 1 citation. Given the extreme rarity of this code in enforcement, geographic and fleet patterns are not meaningful at this time.
The one cited vehicle was a Kenworth (KW).
How severe is this compared to similar codes
When we look at peer codes in the same General/Admin category, 385.13A1 stands out as exceptionally rare. For context, here are some related administrative codes and their enforcement volume:
- 390.21TB2-DOT has been cited 74,663 times with a 0.0% OOS rate
- 390.21T(b) has been cited 61,097 times with a 0.0% OOS rate
- 390.21TB1-MC has been cited 59,189 times with a 0.0% OOS rate
These peer codes are cited hundreds of times more frequently than 385.13A1 and carry virtually no out-of-service risk. The reason 385.13A1 appears so infrequently in our database suggests either that compliance is unusually high, or that the circumstances triggering it are rare in actual roadside practice.
How to avoid it
Because 385.13A1 citations are so uncommon in our data, deriving prevention patterns from co-occurring violations is not practical. Instead, focus on these general administrative best practices:
-
Maintain complete, legible documentation on board. This includes your logbook, medical certification, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance. Inspectors often begin by reviewing paperwork before moving to equipment inspection.
-
Know your carrier's safety requirements. Before each trip, confirm with dispatch that your vehicle assignment and route comply with any special DOT or carrier-specific mandates your fleet has issued.
-
Pre-trip inspection discipline. Although administrative violations are different from mechanical defects, a thorough pre-trip inspection (including a walk-around and basic equipment check) signals diligence to an inspector and can prevent citations across multiple code categories.
-
Stay current with regulatory updates. Administrative rules can change. If your carrier issues a safety bulletin or FMCSA updates a requirement, read it immediately and confirm you understand it.
-
Ask if you don't know. If an inspector cites you and you genuinely do not understand the violation, ask for clarification at the roadside. Do not argue, but request a clear explanation so you can avoid repeating the mistake.
Given how rare this citation is, your first step should be to contact your carrier's safety or compliance department. They can review the specific violation noted on your citation and tell you exactly what went wrong so you can correct it before your next inspection.