Will a 390.19(a) citation put your truck out of service? Get answers on CSA points, enforcement trends, and what to do next.
Ranks #3,037 of 3,146 FMCSR codes by citation frequency.
Motor carrier failing to file or update the biennial MCS-150 (Motor Carrier Identification Report).
Direct answers grounded in TruckCodex inspection data
No. A 390.19(a) citation will not result in an out-of-service order. Across our inspection database, the out-of-service rate for this violation is 0.0%, meaning no trucks have been placed out of service for this citation. You can continue operating while you address the compliance issue.
A single 390.19(a) citation carries a severity weight of 3 CSA points. The actual impact on your Safety Management Cycle (SMC) score depends on how many points accumulate in your 24-month history. The severity weight gets multiplied based on the violation's age and your carrier's overall compliance record, so the total CSA impact may vary.
390.19(a) citations are extremely rare in the field. Our inspection records show zero citations in the last 12 months and zero in the last 90 days. The all-time total in our 13 million+ inspection database is also zero documented citations. This violation appears to be enforced primarily through administrative channels rather than roadside inspection.
First, confirm your carrier's MCS-150 filing status with your safety manager or compliance department—they handle this biennial report, not you as the driver. Second, request a copy of the citation details to understand whether the carrier's filing lapsed or was never submitted. Third, document the date you report this to your carrier in writing. Your fleet's next step is to file or update the MCS-150 with FMCSA immediately.
390.19(a) is a carrier-level administrative violation, not an equipment or driver safety issue. Compare this to related codes in the same category: 390.19B2-BIENNIAL has 16,142 citations with a 0.2% out-of-service rate, and 390.21(b) (USDOT number not displayed) has 13,244 citations with a 0.0% out-of-service rate. Like those violations, 390.19(a) poses minimal roadside enforcement risk but signals broader compliance gaps.
Yes, you can contest administrative citations through the FMCSA's DataQs (Clearinghouse Inquiry System). Since 390.19(a) involves documentation status rather than driver conduct or equipment inspection, you'll need to submit proof that the MCS-150 was filed or updated as required on or before the alleged violation date. Work with your carrier's compliance team to gather filing records and submit through the formal DataQs appeal process.
Fix it immediately—but recognize this is a carrier responsibility, not a driver repair issue. Since the out-of-service rate is 0.0%, you won't be pulled off the road, but your carrier faces administrative penalties and compliance scrutiny. The extremely low citation volume (0 in 12 months) suggests FMCSA is focusing enforcement through compliance audits. Have your carrier confirm MCS-150 filing status with FMCSA within days.
This violation follows your carrier, not you personally. The MCS-150 is filed by the motor carrier as a whole—it's not a driver-specific safety violation. However, your driving record may show the citation if you were operating under that carrier at the time of inspection. The violation impacts your carrier's compliance history and CSA scores, which can affect hiring and insurance down the road.
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.