What 393.118D-CDL means in plain language
FMCSR 393.118D-CDL covers the securement of boulders carried on your truck. This isn't about general cargo—it's specifically about loose boulders and how they must be restrained to prevent shifting, falling, or creating a hazard during transport.
The regulation requires boulders to be secured in accordance with specific securement rules. If an inspector finds boulders that aren't properly tied down, blocked, or otherwise prevented from moving, you get cited. The securement method depends on the weight, size, and placement of the boulders on your trailer.
This violation is straightforward: either your boulders are properly secured, or they aren't. There's no middle ground in enforcement.
What our enforcement data actually shows
Our inspection records show that 393.118D-CDL carries a 99.8% out-of-service rate—meaning inspectors place trucks out of service in nearly every case this code is cited. That's dramatically higher than the all-FMCSR average OOS rate of 31.4%. This code is among the most consistently enforced violations we track.
Across 13 million inspections, we've recorded 1,287 citations for 393.118D-CDL all-time, with 873 citations in the last 12 months. In the last 90 days alone, we've logged 262 citations. The code ranks #656 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume—a middle-tier enforcement target, but one with near-universal out-of-service consequences.
The high OOS rate tells you this: inspectors view improperly secured boulders as an immediate safety risk. Your truck will not move until the problem is fixed.
Who gets cited most
Our data in the last 180 days shows California dominates citation frequency with 153 citations, followed by South Carolina with 86, and Alabama with 22. All three states maintained a 100.0% out-of-service rate.
Carriers in our database with the highest citation counts include E & R TRANSPORTATION INC with 26 citations, and HUB GROUP DEDICATED LLC and NOVA LINES INC tied at 18 citations each. These numbers reflect exposure and operational footprint, not negligence—fleets operating high-volume commodity routes carry greater citation frequency.
How severe is this compared to similar codes
In the Vehicle Maintenance category, 393.118D-CDL is an outlier. Compare it to common peer codes: 393.9(a) Inoperable required lamps has 660,737 citations but only a 15.4% OOS rate. 396.3(a)(1) Inspection/repair/maintenance has 236,919 citations with a 45.3% OOS rate. Even 393.78 Windshield condition defective, cited 157,894 times, carries just a 0.3% OOS rate.
What this means: while 393.118D-CDL is cited far less frequently than lamps or windshield violations, it is treated with extreme severity when it does appear. Inspectors don't write this citation lightly, and they pull you off the road every time.
How to avoid it
Securing boulders starts before you load and continues during your pre-trip inspection:
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Inspect tiedowns and chains before every load. Check for damage, rust, and proper attachment points. Our data shows tiedown-related violations co-occur with 393.118D-CDL in 10 recent inspections. A weak tiedown will fail under load.
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Verify load distribution and weight balance. Boulders must be placed low and centered on the trailer. Uneven weight or high placement increases shifting risk and makes securement harder to verify.
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Use appropriate securement method for boulder size and weight. Know whether your load requires chains, straps, blocking, or a combination. When in doubt, over-secure rather than under-secure.
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Walk your load during pre-trip. Physically check that nothing has shifted since loading. Vibration on the road can loosen even well-secured loads.
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Address co-occurring maintenance issues immediately. Our inspection records indicate that cargo securement citations often appear with tire and emergency equipment violations. A truck with failing tires or unsecured emergency equipment is already under scrutiny; don't let cargo securement be the secondary violation that triggers out-of-service.
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Pay special attention if you operate a Freightliner or Peterbilt. Our data shows these makes account for 248 and 154 citations respectively for this code. This likely reflects their prevalence in aggregate hauling, but it means inspectors are trained to look closely at boulder loads on these vehicles.