FMCSR 393.106B: Cargo Securement & Out-of-Service Risk

Yes—this violation has a 72.3% out-of-service rate across our inspection records. That means roughly 7 in 10 trucks cited for inadequate or missing headerboard/bulkhead for cargo securement get placed OOS on the spot. This is more than double the all-FMCSR average OOS rate of 31.4%, making this one of the more serious vehicle maintenance violations you can receive.

A 393.106B violation carries a severity weight of 5 CSA points. In FMCSA's Safety Management Cycle, this initial point value can be multiplied up to 3× depending on where it sits in your 30-day rolling window—so a single citation can impact your score for up to 90 days. The exact CSA calculation depends on how many other violations fall within those 30-day periods.

First: ensure your truck is not operated until the headerboard or bulkhead is repaired or replaced. Our records show 393.106B frequently occurs alongside inoperable lighting (393.9), missing fire extinguishers (393.95A), and fuel leaks (396.5B)—so have the DOT inspector or your maintenance team do a full walk-around for other equipment defects. Second: document the repair with photos and parts receipts. Third: request a re-inspection from the same jurisdiction to clear the OOS status.

Yes. Across our database, peer codes like 393.11 (lighting/reflectors) have a 1.8% OOS rate and 393.78 (windshield defect) has a 0.3% OOS rate. By contrast, 393.106B's 72.3% OOS rate puts it in the serious equipment-failure category—closer to violations that ground entire vehicles than to minor documentation issues. Only 282 all-time citations exist in our records, making it relatively uncommon but enforcement-heavy when found.

Yes, you can submit a request for a Detailed Record Review (RDR) through the DataQs portal, but success depends on the nature of the citation. If the inspector's notes are unclear about whether the headerboard was actually missing or just inadequate, or if you have evidence the cargo type did not require one, that's contestable. Equipment condition findings are generally harder to overturn than documentation errors. Consult your carrier's safety team or a transportation compliance specialist to evaluate your specific case.

Over the last 180 days, our inspection data shows Texas leads with 38 citations and a 76.3% OOS rate, followed by Illinois with 15 citations (20.0% OOS rate), and New Mexico with 7 citations (100% OOS rate). If you run routes in Texas, the risk profile is both high-volume and high-consequence. Interestingly, the OOS rate varies sharply by state—New Mexico cited trucks were placed OOS every time, while Illinois had a much lower enforcement impact.

Extremely urgent. With a 72.3% OOS rate, you should assume you'll be grounded until repaired. Our 90-day trend shows 28 citations in that period, with July 2025 hitting a peak of 25 citations and 21 OOS placements—indicating consistent enforcement intensity. Do not delay: contact your carrier's maintenance team or a certified repair facility immediately. A grounded truck generates zero revenue while repair and re-inspection timelines can stretch 1–7 days depending on parts availability.

Both. Vehicle maintenance violations like 393.106B are attributed to the carrier for FMCSA's Safety Management Cycle and Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program—so it appears on your company's record and safety metrics. However, if the citation references a driver defect (failure to use securement devices properly), part of the liability may attach to you individually for CSA Basic score calculations. Your carrier's safety manager should clarify the citation language to determine your specific exposure.