What happens when you're cited for unsecured metal coils? Here's what the data shows about enforcement, out-of-service risk, and your next steps.
Ranks #2,259 of 3,146 FMCSR codes by citation frequency • OOS rate of 100.0% is above the FMCSR-wide average of 33.3%.
Metal coils not secured in accordance with specific securement rules.
Direct answers grounded in TruckCodex inspection data
Yes. Across our inspection records, every citation for 393.120(b) metal coil securement resulted in an out-of-service placement—a 100.0% OOS rate. This is dramatically higher than the average FMCSR violation, which carries a 31.4% out-of-service rate. When an inspector tags your load for unsecured metal coils, expect your truck to be ordered off the road immediately until the violation is corrected.
This violation carries a CSA severity weight of 7 points. The actual impact on your carrier's CSA score depends on the 30-day rolling window and whether other violations occur in the same inspection cycle. One citation alone will add 7 points to your safety event record; if your carrier has multiple drivers citing the same code in 30 days, the cumulative effect on fleet CSA could be significant.
Immediate steps:
Since this is a cargo-specific issue, resolution depends on proper load restraint, not mechanical repair.
Yes, it is exceptionally serious. Our inspection records show 393.120(b) ranks #2230 of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume—relatively rare—but when it is cited, it has a 100.0% out-of-service rate. By contrast, inoperable lamps (393.9) occur 20,000 times more frequently but result in an out-of-service rate of only 6.9%. Metal coil securement violations are cited less often but enforced with absolute severity.
You may contest the citation through the DataQs (DataQuality.fmcsa.dot.gov) process, which allows drivers and carriers to challenge roadside inspection records. Metal coil securement is a physical cargo condition—if you believe the inspector misidentified the violation or applied the standard incorrectly, you can submit evidence (photos, load documentation, securement method used) to support your challenge. Decisions hinge on whether the cargo was actually secured in compliance at the time of inspection.
This violation is extremely rare in current enforcement. Our 13 million+ inspection records show zero citations for 393.120(b) in the last 12 months and zero in the last 90 days. All 9 all-time citations in our database occurred before the past year. This suggests either very low prevalence of the violation in the field or sporadic, state-level enforcement patterns.
Creekwood Carriers LLC (USDOT 749703) accounts for 3 of the 9 all-time citations in our records, followed by Transportes Loro SA de CV (USDOT 881925) with 2 citations. The remaining carriers each have 1 citation. Given the small total volume, these numbers reflect historical patterns rather than predictive risk, but fleet safety managers at Creekwood should review metal coil loading procedures across their operation.
Fixing it is mandatory before moving the vehicle. Because the OOS rate is 100.0%, the truck cannot be released until the cargo is re-secured. Given that zero citations occurred in the last 90 days, this is not a trending problem in the field, but when it does occur, it is treated as a showstopper by inspectors. Correction typically involves re-chaining or re-binding the load and usually can be completed on-site within an hour.
TruckCodex aggregates official public-sector datasets. See the Source registry for dataset-level coverage and the Freshness log for last-import timestamps.
Census, SAFER, SMS, Licensing & Insurance (L&I), roadside inspections, crashes, and authority history.
Vehicle recall campaigns, defect investigations, and consumer safety complaints (SCRS).
Cross-border carrier registry and Canadian recall campaigns where applicable.
TruckCodex is an independent aggregator; it is not affiliated with FMCSA, NHTSA, EIA, or Transport Canada. Always verify compliance-critical information directly with the originating agency.