What 393.110B means in plain language
FMCSR 393.110B covers the specific way logs must be fastened, restrained, and contained when loaded on a commercial motor vehicle. The regulation sets out detailed requirements for how logs are to be secured — not just that they must be secured, but the exact method, number of tiedowns, and configuration that applies depending on how the logs are loaded and what type of vehicle they're on.
If an inspector finds that your logs are not secured in a manner that meets those specific requirements — whether because tiedowns are missing, improperly positioned, inadequate in number, or otherwise deficient — you can be cited under this code. The violation doesn't require a load shift or an accident. If the setup doesn't conform at the time of inspection, the citation stands.
This matters because logs are among the most dangerous cargo types on the road. An unsecured or improperly secured log load presents a severe risk to other motorists. That's why enforcement of this code is notably aggressive, as the data below makes clear.
What our enforcement data actually shows
Across our database of 13 million+ inspections, 393.110B has accumulated 3,031 all-time citations, placing it at #438 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by total citation volume. That's a meaningful presence for a commodity-specific rule.
What makes this code stand out is its out-of-service rate. Of those 3,031 all-time citations, 2,927 resulted in the vehicle being placed out of service — an OOS rate of 96.6%. To put that in context, the all-FMCSR average OOS rate across all codes in our database is 31.4%. The 393.110B rate is more than three times that average. When inspectors write this violation, they almost universally shut the truck down.
The code is also flagged as OOS eligible: no — meaning it is not technically an automatic OOS trigger under the standard OOS criteria — yet our inspection records show a 96.6% OOS rate in practice. That gap between the formal designation and real-world outcomes tells you how seriously inspectors treat an improperly secured log load when they see one.
Enforcement is not slowing down. Our data shows 1,875 citations in the last 12 months and 395 citations in the last 90 days alone. Monthly volume across the past year has ranged from a low of 59 citations in April 2025 to a peak of 210 in July 2025, with most months falling in the 127–180 range. This is an actively enforced code year-round.
Who gets cited most
Looking at the last 180 days, Texas leads all states with 661 citations and a 95.9% OOS rate. Iowa comes in second with 70 citations — and a 100.0% OOS rate, meaning every single 393.110B citation in Iowa during that period resulted in an OOS order. North Carolina is third with 51 citations, also at a 100.0% OOS rate. Illinois and New Mexico round out the top five, both above 95%.
The difference between Texas's 95.9% rate and Iowa's and North Carolina's 100.0% rate is modest in practical terms — if you're cited in any of these states, you are almost certainly getting shut down.
Our data shows fleets such as J B HUNT TRANSPORT INC (USDOT 80806) with 19 all-time citations and P&S TRANSPORTATION LLC (USDOT 1243338) with 15 all-time citations appearing at the top of the carrier list. This reflects that high-volume carriers operating in log-heavy lanes accumulate citations over time — it does not indicate any pattern of negligence on their part.
On the vehicle side, Freightliner (FRHT) leads all makes with 771 all-time citations under this code, followed by Peterbilt (PTRB) at 393 and Kenworth (KW) at 313. Ford units account for 279 citations. These are the trucks most commonly hauling this category of cargo, which is why they dominate the citation counts.
How severe is this compared to similar codes
Within the Vehicle Maintenance category, 393.110B's 96.6% OOS rate is extreme by any comparison. Consider a few peer codes from the same category:
- 393.9(a) — Inoperable required lamps has 660,737 all-time citations — more than 200 times the volume of 393.110B — but carries only a 15.4% OOS rate. Inspectors cite it often but shut trucks down far less frequently.
- 396.3(a)(1) — Inspection/repair/maintenance (general) has 236,919 citations and a 45.3% OOS rate. That's well above the all-FMCSR average, but still less than half of what 393.110B produces.
- 393.47E — Slack adjuster defective has 180,363 citations and a 0.0% OOS rate in our database, meaning it generates paperwork without OOS outcomes — essentially the opposite profile of 393.110B.
The pattern is clear: 393.110B is a low-volume, extremely high-consequence code. You won't see it as often as a lighting violation, but when it gets written, the truck almost never keeps moving.
How to avoid it
Our inspection records show 393.110B frequently appears alongside other violations on the same inspection. The co-occurring patterns point directly to what else inspectors are finding — and what you should be checking before you ever pull out of the yard.
- Verify every tiedown on your log load before departure. In the last 90 days, 393.104B (cargo securement — tiedown damaged) co-occurred with 393.110B in 56 shared inspections. A damaged or degraded tiedown is often what tips an otherwise marginal load into a citable condition. Inspect each chain, binder, or strap for wear, cuts, and proper engagement.
- Check all required lighting before pre-trip is done. 393.9 (inoperable required lamp) appeared in 125 shared inspections — the most common co-occurring code by a wide margin. 393.11 (lighting devices/reflectors) appeared in 41 more. If your lights aren't right, inspectors are already primed to look harder at everything else on the truck, including your load.
- Confirm your periodic inspection documentation is on the truck. 396.17C (no proof of periodic inspection) was found in 80 shared inspections. Missing paperwork draws additional scrutiny to vehicle condition overall.
- Walk around the load, not just the cab. 393.95A (fire extinguisher missing or defective) co-occurred in 58 shared inspections and 393.78 (windshield condition) in 53. These are pre-trip items that should be caught before the truck moves. An inspector who writes three violations on one truck is more likely to look for a fourth.
- Don't drive impaired or fatigued. 392.2RG (operating a CMV while ill or fatigued) showed up in 98 shared inspections alongside 393.110B. A fatigued driver is more likely to rush a load check or skip tiedown verification — both of which show up at the scale house.
- Pay extra attention if you're driving a Freightliner, Peterbilt, or Kenworth. Our data shows these three makes account for the majority of 393.110B citations all-time. If you operate one of these trucks on log runs, build a specific load-check habit into every pre-trip.