What 392.2-SLTFC means in plain language
FMCSR 392.2-SLTFC prohibits you from driving a commercial motor vehicle when your physical or mental condition—whether from tiredness, illness, medication side effects, or any other cause—is so compromised that it's unsafe for you to operate the vehicle. The regulation doesn't require you to be unconscious or visibly ill; the standard is whether your ability to drive safely is materially impaired.
Inspectors apply this code when they observe signs during a roadside inspection or interaction that suggest your alertness or control is compromised. This might include slurred speech, difficulty balancing, confusion during questioning, bloodshot eyes, or admission of fatigue or illness. Some citations also stem from motor carrier records showing excessive hours or documented medical conditions that should have disqualified you from that shift.
The key distinction is subjective impairment—not a quantifiable measure like a blood alcohol level. An inspector's judgment about your fitness to drive at that moment is what triggers the citation.
What our enforcement data actually shows
Across our 13 million+ inspection records, 392.2-SLTFC citations are relatively uncommon. We recorded 1,668 all-time citations for this code, with 1,011 citations in the last 12 months and 258 in the last 90 days. That ranks 392.2-SLTFC at #574 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume.
What stands out is the out-of-service rate: 0.0%. Not a single driver cited for 392.2-SLTFC in our database was placed out of service. This contrasts sharply with the all-FMCSR average OOS rate of 31.4%, meaning this violation rarely results in an immediate roadside removal. Inspectors cite it as a moving violation that goes on your record but typically allows you to continue your trip—though the citation itself carries CSA severity weight of 8, which is significant for your safety score.
Monthly trends over the past 12 months show citation counts ranging from 22 (April 2025) to 148 (January 2026), with a general upward trajectory through winter months before dropping sharply in April 2026.
Who gets cited most
Our inspection data shows Michigan leads by a wide margin with 75 citations in the last 180 days, followed by Washington with 60 citations and New York with 58. All three states maintained a 0.0% OOS rate—consistent with the national pattern for this code. Pennsylvania (50), California (35), Georgia (51), and Arizona (30) round out the most-cited states, each with zero out-of-service placements.
Among major carriers in our records, Federal Express Corporation and J B Hunt Transport Inc appear most frequently with 15 and 12 citations respectively across all-time data. Our data shows fleets such as these have encountered 392.2-SLTFC citations, which typically reflects the volume of inspections rather than systematic violations. Smaller carriers and owner-operators are also represented throughout the dataset.
How severe is this compared to similar codes
392.2-SLTFC sits within a family of operating-while-impaired violations, all variants of FMCSR 392.2. The broader 392.2 category has accumulated 1,208,164 citations with a 0.8% OOS rate—much higher than 392.2-SLTFC's 0.0%, suggesting the parent code encompasses more severe or observable impairment situations.
Other 392.2 variants like 392.2-SLLSR (191,232 citations, 0.1% OOS) and 392.2-SLL (84,501 citations, 0.2% OOS) show similarly low out-of-service rates. However, 392.2-SLLEQP stands out with a 2.4% OOS rate across 72,352 citations—indicating that variant involves conditions serious enough to remove drivers from service more often. By citation volume, your code is far less common than the parent 392.2 or its major variants, but the CSA weight of 8 means regulators view it seriously for your safety profile.
How to avoid it
Based on inspection patterns in our database, here are concrete steps:
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Sleep before your shift. Citations for this code spike in winter months (January 2026 had 148), likely correlated with fatigue from harsh conditions and irregular schedules. Aim for 7–8 hours before driving and never start a trip feeling drowsy.
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Disclose medical conditions and medications up front. If you take medication that causes drowsiness or impairs alertness, report it to your carrier's safety department before dispatch. Don't attempt to hide it—inspectors can ask about prescriptions, and operating while medicated without carrier awareness compounds liability.
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Stop and rest at the first sign of fatigue. You are legally permitted to refuse a dispatch or stop voluntarily. Doing so removes the risk of citation and keeps you and other road users safe. Inspectors cannot cite you for being too tired if you're not behind the wheel.
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Maintain your vehicle to reduce stress during driving. Our data shows tire deflation (393.75A3-TAOL), fuel leaks (396.5B-L), and cab damage (393.203E-CBP) frequently co-occur with fatigue citations in the same inspection. A pre-trip that catches these issues prevents you from battling mechanical problems while fatigued.
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Be fit for duty at roadside interactions. When an inspector approaches your truck, be alert, coherent, and ready to answer questions. Slurred speech, confusion, or inability to walk a straight line during an inspection are the most direct triggers for this citation. If you genuinely are not fit to drive at that moment, tell the inspector and request a retest after rest.
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Track your hours vigilantly. Most carriers use ELOG systems; ensure your log is accurate. Inspectors cross-reference logs with citations, and a pattern of violations tied to hours-of-service violations strengthens the case for impairment.
The 0.0% out-of-service rate for this code is a silver lining: inspectors see it as fixable through driver awareness rather than immediate removal. But the CSA weight of 8 means every citation damages your safety rating. Prevention is far cheaper than managing a violation that may affect your insurance rates, employment, and future roadside interactions.