393.102(a) Cargo Securement Tiedowns: Citations & OOS Guide

Yes, there is a significant risk. Our inspection records show a 39.5% out-of-service rate for 393.102(a) citations—higher than the 31.4% average across all FMCSR codes. This means roughly 4 out of every 10 drivers cited for insufficient tiedowns are placed out of service on the spot. The other 60% receive a citation but are allowed to continue, usually after corrective action at roadside or after securing the load properly.

If you're cited, the inspector will assess whether the cargo poses an immediate safety hazard. If it does, your truck will be placed OOS until the load is properly secured.

A single 393.102(a) citation carries a severity weight of 6 CSA points. That weight applies to the citation in the month it is issued. FMCSA Safety and Fitness Electronic Records (SAFER) system multiplies your points by the number of times you are cited within a rolling 30-day window, so multiple citations in a short period compound the impact.

These points feed into your BASIC (Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories) score, which carriers and insurers monitor. A higher BASIC score can affect your CSA rating and insurability.

Follow these steps:

1. Do not move the truck until the inspector and you agree the load is secure.
2. Add additional tiedowns if you have them available—meet or exceed the securement requirements for your cargo type.
3. Document the fix by requesting the inspector reinspect or photographing the corrected load.
4. Get a copy of the citation with the vehicle VIN, cargo description, and OOS determination.
5. Report to your carrier immediately if you are lease-operator or company driver.
6. Keep repair/compliance records showing when and how you corrected the issue—these are critical if you contest the citation through DataQs.

Do not ignore the citation or assume it will go away.

Cargo securement is treated seriously by enforcement. While 393.102(a) has only 258 all-time citations (ranking #1137 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes), its 39.5% OOS rate exceeds the national average of 31.4% by over 8 percentage points.

Compared to peer codes in the Vehicle Maintenance category, 393.102(a) is more likely to result in OOS placement than inoperable lamps (393.9 at 15.4% OOS) but less severe than failed general maintenance (396.3 at 45.3% OOS). Cargo securement failures directly threaten load stability and public safety, so inspectors take them seriously.

Yes, you may contest it through FMCSA's DataQs (Record Dispute Resolution) system, but success depends on the nature of the finding.

If the citation is based on a factual or mathematical error—for example, the inspector miscounted your tiedowns or misidentified the cargo type—you have stronger grounds to dispute it. DataQs allows you to submit documentation, photographs, equipment specifications, or witness statements within 90 days of the inspection.

If the citation reflects a true securement deficiency at the time of inspection, contestation is harder. Gather all evidence of corrective action and proper securement practices going forward. Consult your safety manager or a transportation attorney before filing if the citation is expected to affect your safety rating significantly.

No, citations have dropped sharply in recent months. Our database shows zero citations for 393.102(a) in the last 12 months and zero in the last 90 days, despite 258 all-time citations on record.

This suggests either a major shift in enforcement priorities, widespread compliance improvement, or a change in how tiedown violations are documented. Regardless, the regulation remains active and you must comply with securement standards. Do not assume the code is no longer enforced nationally—regional or carrier-specific enforcement patterns may differ.

Our inspection records show tiedown deficiencies cited across a variety of vehicle types. Ford and Freightliner trucks each account for 13 all-time citations, followed by trailers (TRLR) at 11 citations. Pickups (PTRB), Chevrolet, International, and platform/flatbed units (TRAO) each appear in 4 citations.

This distribution reflects that insufficient tiedowns are not limited to a single truck or trailer make. The violation depends more on how the driver secures the load than on equipment model. Any truck or trailer can be cited if cargo is improperly tied down, regardless of manufacturer.

Across our 13 million inspection records, UP LEVEL LOGISTICS LLC, MINER LTD, and DUANE RINKES TRACTOR WORK & TRUCKING INC each have 3 all-time citations for 393.102(a). Several smaller carriers including SUNSET CONCRETE LLC, WESTON BUILDINGS INC, NOWAKOWSKI TRANSPORT, MARSON LOGISTICS INC, and AMERICAN LANDSCAPING INC each have 2 citations.

Larger carriers like J B HUNT TRANSPORT INC and ALLIED VAN LINES INC appear with only 1 citation each, suggesting either better securement practices or lower inspection volume for certain carrier types. If you drive for a carrier with a history of tiedown citations, your fleet safety manager should be emphasizing load securement training.