FMCSR 392.11: Railroad Crossing Speed — Driver Q&A

No. Across our 13 million inspection records, no driver cited for 392.11 has been placed out of service for this violation. Our database shows a 0.0% out-of-service rate for this code. By contrast, the national average OOS rate across all FMCSR codes is 31.4%, so 392.11 is significantly less likely to result in an immediate roadside shutdown than most other violations.

392.11 is rare and low-severity. Our inspection records show only 26 all-time citations for failing to slow at a railroad crossing, ranking it #1848 of 3,036 FMCSR codes by volume. In the same unsafe driving category, 392.2 (operating while ill or fatigued) has generated over 1.2 million citations with a 0.8% OOS rate. The stark difference in enforcement volume suggests 392.11 is treated as an isolated incident rather than a pattern violation.

Immediate steps:

1. Document the circumstances. Note the crossing location, visibility, weather, and any warning signs present.
2. Get the inspection report. Ask the inspector for the full MCSAP report and violation details.
3. Review your carrier's procedures. Confirm you understand railroad crossing protocols in your company safety manual.
4. Do not ignore it. Even though the OOS rate is 0.0%, the violation becomes part of your safety record and may affect CSA scores.
5. Consult your fleet safety manager if employed by a carrier, or your insurance broker if you're owner-operator.

Contestability depends on the evidence. If the inspector documented an objective failure—such as an odometer reading showing no speed reduction—DataQS disputes typically require technical or documentary rebuttal. If the violation is based on visual observation without objective measurement, you have stronger grounds to challenge the finding. File a DataQS query through FMCSA's CDR (Crash Data Retrieval) portal within 90 days. Success rates vary; focus disputes on factual inaccuracies in the report rather than judgment calls.

Our inspection records do not identify specific states with concentrations of 392.11 citations. With only 26 all-time citations across 13 million inspections, this violation is too rare and geographically dispersed to isolate hotspot states. The lack of a clear pattern reinforces that 392.11 citations are typically isolated enforcement events rather than systematic regional issues.

Yes. A 392.11 citation becomes part of your permanent FMCSA safety record and shows on the SAFER query system that all carriers can access. It may affect your hire ability at some carriers, particularly those with strict compliance standards. The violation doesn't "reset" when you change employment. However, because the OOS rate is 0.0% and all-time citations are only 26, a single 392.11 is unlikely to disqualify you from employment—though multiple violations would raise flags.

Moderate urgency. Our inspection records show only 1 citation for 392.11 in the last 12 months and 0 in the last 90 days, indicating this is not a high-frequency enforcement area. However, the violation reflects a safety-critical behavior—railroad crossings are among the highest-risk roadway features. Even one citation is worth addressing through retraining on proper crossing procedures. The low current citation rate means prevention is realistic with focused attention to speed reduction protocols.

Across our 13 million records, ten carriers have been cited once each for 392.11: Greenwood Motor Lines Inc, Old Dominion Freight Line Inc, Ziegler Inc, Smokey Point Distributing LLC, American Builders & Contractors Supply Co Inc, Iowa Motor Truck Transport Inc, N W White & Company, Ready Mix USA LLC, North Sky Communications LLC, and Tyson Foods Inc. No carrier shows a pattern of repeated 392.11 citations, consistent with the overall rarity of this violation in national enforcement data.