393.102(c) Tiedown Working Load Limit: Citations & OOS Risk

Yes—but not always. Across our 13 million inspection records, 393.102(c) citations resulted in an out-of-service placement in 43.6% of cases (41 out of 94 all-time citations). That's higher than the all-FMCSR average OOS rate of 31.4%, meaning inspectors treat tiedown overload as moderately serious. Whether you're placed OOS depends on the severity of the overload and the inspector's judgment on safety risk.

Very rarely. Our inspection database shows only 94 all-time citations for 393.102(c), ranking it #1437 of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume. More tellingly, there have been zero citations in the last 12 months and zero in the last 90 days. This is an enforcement outlier—you're far more likely to see violations of inoperable lamps (660,737 citations) or brake slack adjusters (180,363 citations) than tiedown working load violations.

First, do not move the load until you've addressed the overload. Verify the actual load weight against your tiedown manufacturer's working load limit (usually stamped on the strap or hardware). Reduce the load if needed, or redistribute it across additional tie points. Document the corrected load and tiedown capacity with photos. If placed OOS, have the corrected vehicle re-inspected before attempting to move it. If you believe the citation is inaccurate, you can file a DataQs challenge with FMCSA within 10 days of the inspection.

Moderately. Your 43.6% OOS rate sits between inspection/repair violations (396.3(a)(1) at 45.3% OOS) and inoperable lamps (393.9(a) at 15.4% OOS). What makes tiedown load limits different: they directly affect cargo stability and accident risk on the road. Unlike some documentation violations (396.17(c) at 0% OOS), a tiedown overload represents active equipment failure, which is why nearly half of citations result in roadside placement out of service.

Yes. The FMCSA DataQs system allows you to challenge roadside inspection findings within 10 days. For 393.102(c), contestability depends on the evidence: if the inspector measured or weighed incorrectly, or if you have proof of compliant tiedown capacity versus load, you have grounds. Document the manufacturer's working load limit, actual load weight, and number of tiedowns used. DataQs reviews the inspection record; if FMCSA finds error, the citation is removed and does not count against your CSA profile.

Construction and heavy-haul carriers dominate our records. Lambert Paving LLC and Century Construction Group Inc each have 2 citations; Croskey Transportation LLC also 2. Ford and PTRB (platform trailers) lead by vehicle type with 5 citations each. Freightliner, Mack, and other heavy trucks account for the rest. The pattern suggests this violation clusters in sectors moving heavy, oversized loads where tiedown capacity is stretched.

Immediately. If you received a citation, you should not continue moving that load or cargo type with the same tiedown setup. The 43.6% OOS rate means inspectors see this as a safety-critical defect. While the citation volume is extremely low (0 in the last 90 days), that rarity may indicate selective high-stakes enforcement. Once corrected, document it and request re-inspection if you were placed OOS. Continued non-compliance exposes you to federal safety audits and carrier enforcement action.

The citation attaches to the vehicle and carrier record in FMCSA's CSA system. FMCSA vehicle maintenance violations (including tiedown compliance) are part of the carrier's Maintenance BASIC, not an individual driver score. However, if you were driving at the time of inspection, the violation may appear on your motor vehicle record (MVR) depending on your state. Request a copy of the inspection report to confirm what was documented, and provide it to your carrier's safety manager for corrective action tracking.