393.120 Cargo Securement (Metal Coils) — Driver Q&A

Yes, very likely. Across our inspection database, 393.120 citations resulted in an out-of-service order 92.3% of the time—far above the 31.4% national average for all FMCSR codes. Of 196 all-time citations for metal coil securement, 181 led to an OOS placement. This means if you're cited for this violation, your truck will almost certainly be placed out of service until the load is resecured and reinspected.

This violation carries a severity weight of 7 CSA points. The actual 30-day point total depends on how many times it appears on your record in that window—each citation counts once—but 7 is the baseline severity. Combined with the 92.3% OOS rate, this is treated as a serious equipment defect by enforcement and will impact your Safety Measurement System score if it stacks with other violations.

Immediately: (1) Stop the vehicle and do not move it until cleared. (2) Resecure the metal coils per FMCSA securement rules. (3) Request a re-inspection from the officer. Our data shows 393.120 frequently co-occurs with damaged tiedowns (393.104B, 4 shared inspections in the last 90 days), so inspect all straps, chains, and fasteners for damage or wear. (4) Document the repair with photos. (5) Have the inspector sign off before resuming.

It's among the most serious in its category. The 92.3% OOS rate for 393.120 is far higher than peer codes: inoperable lamps (393.9) sit at 6.9% OOS, lighting defects (393.11) at 1.8%, and windshield condition (393.78) at 0.3%. Only general inspection/repair/maintenance requirements (396.3) exceed it at 45.3%. This makes metal coil securement a strict enforcement priority—inspectors treat it as a safety-critical load control issue.

Yes, with recent spikes. Over the last 12 months, we recorded 56 citations for 393.120 nationally. In March 2026 alone, 15 citations were issued—the highest single month in the 12-month window. May 2025 and September 2025 also saw 7 citations each. This upward trend suggests increased inspector focus on metal coil loads, likely driven by load shift and cargo loss incidents. Fleet managers should treat this as an active enforcement area.

Texas leads by a wide margin with 21 citations in the last 180 days and a 71.4% OOS rate. Illinois follows with 6 citations, all 6 resulting in OOS (100% rate). These two states account for the majority of recent enforcement activity. If your operation runs loads through Texas or Illinois, metal coil securement audits should be part of your pre-trip protocol.

Yes, you can file a DataQs (Roadside Data Query) challenge if you believe the citation is factually incorrect. The FMCSA portal allows drivers and carriers to dispute citations within a set window. However, 393.120 is an objective equipment condition—the inspector verified that metal coils were not secured to FMCSA standards. Successful contests typically involve proof that: (1) coils were secured correctly at the time, (2) documentation was misread, or (3) the citation was duplicated. Consult your carrier's safety team or a compliance professional before filing.

P&S Transportation LLC (USDOT 1243338) has the most citations with 8 all-time. Jordan Carriers Inc and Elmendorf Trucking LLC each have 5. By vehicle make, Freightliners dominate with 40 citations, followed by Kenworths (18) and Peterbilts (13). This doesn't mean those vehicles are less safe—it reflects their prevalence in heavy hauling. What matters is your carrier's training and securement procedures. Ask your safety manager if you haul coils regularly whether metal coil securement is part of your standard training.