What 393.104 means in plain language
A 393.104 citation means a federal inspector found that one or more of your tiedowns or cargo securement devices is damaged, defective, or unable to do its job. This isn't about how you used the tiedowns—it's about their physical condition. A tiedown that is cracked, bent, corroded, torn, or missing hardware can fail to hold cargo in place during braking, turns, or emergency maneuvers, creating a hazard to you, other drivers, and roadside workers.
Tiedowns include straps, chains, cables, and their attachment hardware. If an inspector observes visible damage that would prevent proper load restraint, you can be cited. The citation focuses on the device itself, not on whether the load actually shifted during the inspection.
What our enforcement data actually shows
Across our 13 million inspection records, 393.104 citations are extraordinarily rare. Our database shows zero citations for this code in the last 12 months and zero in the last 90 days. All-time, we have recorded zero citations nationwide.
Because there are no enforcement records in our system, there is no out-of-service rate to report—the statistic remains at 0.0%. This absence of citations does not mean the regulation is unimportant; rather, it suggests that either inspectors prioritize other cargo securement issues, or drivers and carriers are already maintaining tiedown integrity at high compliance rates.
For context on how cargo securement violations are typically handled, our data shows that peer codes in the Vehicle Maintenance category see much higher citation volumes. For example, inspection and maintenance defects tracked under 396.3(a)(1) generated 236,919 citations with a 45.3% out-of-service rate, and inoperable required lamps under 393.9(a) resulted in 660,737 citations with a 15.4% out-of-service rate.
Who gets cited most
Our enforcement records contain no 393.104 citations, so we cannot identify states or carriers with documented violations for this specific code. This means we have no state-level or carrier-level breakdown to report.
However, drivers and fleet managers should not interpret zero citations as zero risk. Damaged tiedowns remain a safety violation under federal regulation, and roadside inspectors can cite it. The absence of recorded citations in our database may reflect compliance strength in the industry or variation in inspector scrutiny across jurisdictions.
How severe is this compared to similar codes
While 393.104 itself shows zero citations in our records, similar Vehicle Maintenance codes show enforcement is active in this category. For comparison:
393.9(a) — Inoperable required lamps generated 660,737 citations with a 15.4% out-of-service rate. This is a visibility and safety code that inspectors cite frequently.
396.3(a)(1) — Inspection/repair/maintenance (general) resulted in 236,919 citations with a 45.3% out-of-service rate—the highest OOS rate among peer codes in this category. When general maintenance defects are found, nearly half the vehicles are removed from service.
393.47E — Slack adjuster defective produced 180,363 citations with a 0.0% out-of-service rate. Like 393.104, this code addresses a specific component failure but generates far more citations in practice.
The contrast is striking: cargo securement (393.104) sits at zero citations, while brake adjusters (393.47E) have generated 180,000+. This suggests inspectors may focus more on brake safety than on tiedown condition, or that tiedown failures are less commonly observed during roadside checks.
How to avoid it
Preventing a 393.104 citation starts with a thorough pre-trip inspection of every tiedown on your vehicle:
-
Walk the entire perimeter of your load before departure. Check every visible strap, chain, cable, and attachment point. Look for cuts, fraying, rust, bent metal, cracked hardware, or missing fasteners.
-
Test tiedown tension and attachment. Grab each strap or cable and pull. A defective tiedown will feel loose, slack, or unstable. Attachment points should be securely anchored to the frame or tie rail—not bent, cracked, or pulling away.
-
Replace or repair damaged devices immediately. If you spot a cracked strap, rusted chain, bent D-ring, or torn webbing, do not load the vehicle. Carry spare tiedowns and basic hardware on longer runs, or have a plan to access a truck stop or repair facility quickly.
-
Keep tiedowns dry and protected when not in use. Rust and UV degradation shorten the life of chains and straps. Store them out of weather and inspect regularly for corrosion.
-
Document your pre-trip tiedown check. Note the condition of straps, chains, and attachment points. If inspected, this record demonstrates diligence and may support your defense if a marginal tiedown is cited.
-
Know the regulations for your cargo type. Different loads require different securement methods. Understand which tiedowns apply to your freight and ensure they are rated for the weight and type of load.
A single failed or damaged tiedown can cascade into a serious accident. Roadside inspectors take cargo safety seriously, and even if citations are rare, a violation can result in an out-of-service order and operational downtime.