What 392.2SLFYEMV means in plain language
This citation addresses a straightforward but serious safety issue: driving a commercial motor vehicle when you're too tired, sick, or otherwise impaired to safely operate it. The regulation doesn't require you to be unconscious or visibly ill—it focuses on whether your physical or mental state has degraded your ability to stay alert and react to road conditions.
Inspectors issuing this citation have determined that something about your condition—fatigue, illness, medication effects, or impairment from any other cause—made it unsafe for you to start or continue driving at the moment of the stop. This is a subjective call, which is why understanding what triggers it and how to avoid it matters for your record.
What our enforcement data actually shows
Across our 13 million roadside inspection records, 392.2SLFYEMV has been cited 604 times all-time, with 385 citations in the last 12 months and 77 in the last 90 days. That places it at rank #861 of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation frequency. The key statistic: zero drivers have been placed out of service for this violation. The OOS rate is 0.0%, compared to the all-FMCSR average of 31.4%.
This doesn't mean the violation is minor—it carries a CSA severity weight of 8, which is substantial. But the data shows that inspectors are citing the behavior without immediately pulling you from service. That said, the citation still lands on your record and affects your safety rating.
The trend over the past year shows consistent monthly enforcement: citations ranged from 7 in April 2025 to 44 in July 2025, settling into the 30–40 range by early 2026. This is not a seasonal spike but a steady violation that inspectors encounter throughout the year.
Who gets cited most
Our enforcement data shows the highest citation counts in Indiana (37 citations over the last 180 days), Wisconsin (17 citations), and Kansas (16 citations). All three states maintain a 0.0% out-of-service rate for this code, consistent with the national pattern.
Looking at the carrier data, Federal Express Corporation and Werner Enterprises Inc, J B Hunt Transport Inc, and New Prime Inc each appear among the top carriers cited for this violation. Our data shows these fleets with documented enforcement activity—this reflects the volume of miles they operate, not necessarily higher risk.
How severe is this compared to similar codes
Within the broader "operating while ill or fatigued" family of violations, 392.2SLFYEMV is a specific variant. The parent code 392.2 has accumulated 1,208,164 citations all-time with a 0.8% out-of-service rate. Other closely related codes include 392.2-SLLSR (191,232 citations, 0.1% OOS rate) and 392.2RG (96,652 citations, 0.1% OOS rate).
When compared to unrelated unsafe-driving violations, 392.2SLFYEMV sits in the middle of the severity spectrum. It's not a mechanical failure or equipment defect—it's about driver condition—which is why the enforcement approach tends toward warning and documentation rather than roadside removal.
How to avoid it
The co-occurring violation data reveals patterns worth noting. When 392.2SLFYEMV appears alongside other citations, speeding violations (392.2-SLLS2 and 392.2-SLLS3) appear 8 and 6 times respectively in the last 90 days. This suggests that fatigue-impaired drivers may lose control of speed management. False record of duty status (395.8E-HOSPD) co-occurs 7 times, indicating that some drivers cited for this violation also showed signs of not resting when required.
Here are concrete actions to take before and during your shift:
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Get adequate sleep before your shift. If you're running on fewer than 6–7 hours, you're operating in a state that meets the definition of unsafe fatigue. No exception for "normal" for you or your schedule.
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Recognize medication interactions. If you've taken over-the-counter cold medicine, allergy medication, or any prescription that causes drowsiness, disclose it to your dispatch and consider a delay. Inspectors will notice impairment even if you don't.
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Stay within speed limits. The co-occurrence data shows speeding often pairs with fatigue citations. Maintaining legal speed preserves your margin of error if your alertness is compromised.
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Use logbook discipline. The correlation with false duty-status violations suggests that drivers cited for this often skipped required rest. Use your logbook as your enforcer—take breaks and off-duty time as logged, every day.
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Pre-trip inspection focus. While this code doesn't target vehicle condition, our top-cited vehicle makes (Freightliner, Volvo, Peterbilt) show that drivers operating these trucks were still performing their duty to assess their own fitness before starting. Check mirrors, reaction time, clarity. If you feel unsafe, you are unsafe.
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Report medical changes to your company. New illness or medication that impairs alertness should trigger a conversation with dispatch or safety. This is not a sign of weakness—it's compliance with the regulation.