What 393.126(d) means in plain language
FMCSR 393.126(d) addresses the transport of vehicles that have been flattened or crushed—typically salvage or scrap vehicles being hauled to recycling or disposal facilities. The regulation requires that these vehicles be properly secured during transport so they do not shift, slide, or fall from the trailer.
When a vehicle is flattened or crushed, it loses its original structural integrity and shape. Unlike a standard vehicle being transported on a flatbed, a crushed or compacted vehicle presents unique securement challenges. The regulation ensures that whatever method a carrier uses to secure such cargo—whether tie-downs, straps, chains, or other devices—must be sufficient to prevent movement or separation during normal driving conditions, including braking, acceleration, and cornering.
This code falls under the Vehicle Maintenance category and is enforced during roadside inspections when an inspector observes that the securement method for flattened or crushed vehicles does not meet federal standards.
What our enforcement data actually shows
Across our 13 million+ roadside inspection records, 393.126(d) has been cited 11 times all-time, with zero citations in the last 12 months and zero in the last 90 days. This extremely low citation volume reflects either strong industry compliance with this specific requirement or infrequent roadside exposure to this cargo type.
When this violation is cited, it is treated very seriously by enforcement. Our data shows a 100.0% out-of-service rate—meaning all 11 citations on record resulted in the vehicle being placed out of service. This is dramatically higher than the all-FMCSR average out-of-service rate of 31.4%, indicating that inspectors view improper securement of flattened or crushed vehicles as a critical safety hazard that cannot be corrected at the roadside.
By citation volume across all FMCSR codes, 393.126(d) ranks #2167 out of 3,036 codes. The near-zero recent enforcement volume and the perfect OOS rate suggest that carriers hauling this cargo type maintain strict compliance, or that the population of vehicles transported under this specific regulation remains very small.
Who gets cited most
Our inspection records do not identify geographic concentration by state for this violation, nor do they reveal a dominant carrier repeatedly cited for this code. The 11 all-time citations are distributed across ten distinct carriers, each with one citation: Robert G Albaugh Jr, McMeans Leasing Inc, American Trucking Services Inc, 1st Response Rail Service Inc, Andale Express LLC, LTX Logistics LLC, TWP Transport LLC, Superior Transportation Inc, Caliber Freight LLC, and CR Enterprizes LLC. This pattern indicates that violations are isolated incidents rather than systemic issues within a particular fleet operation.
Vehicle makes cited include Kenworth (3 citations), Dodge (3 citations), and single citations across Freightliner, International, Mack, Peterbilt, Pratt, BIG TEX, and others. The distribution across makes and carriers suggests that improper securement of flattened or crushed vehicles is not correlated with a specific truck brand or fleet size.
How severe is this compared to similar codes
Within the Vehicle Maintenance category, cargo securement violations are comparatively rare. For context, the most frequently cited code in the same category is 393.9(a)—Inoperable required lamps—with 660,737 citations and a 15.4% out-of-service rate. Another common code, 396.3(a)(1)—general inspection, repair, and maintenance—has been cited 236,919 times with a 45.3% OOS rate.
By volume, 393.126(d) is among the lowest-cited codes in this category. However, its 100.0% out-of-service rate far exceeds the severity profile of higher-volume peers. For example, 393.11—Lighting devices and reflectors—has been cited 179,734 times but only places 1.8% of violators out of service, and 393.78—Windshield condition defects—has 157,894 citations with just 0.3% OOS rate. The contrast underscores that while flattened or crushed vehicle securement violations are uncommon, they are treated as safety-critical when detected.
How to avoid it
If you operate a vehicle that transports flattened or crushed vehicles, the following practices will help you avoid citation:
- Inspect securement hardware before every load. Examine all straps, chains, binders, and tie-down points for wear, fraying, rust, or damage. Replace any that show deterioration.
- Verify the cargo is properly positioned and supported. Before securing, ensure the flattened or crushed vehicle is positioned so it cannot roll, shift, or tip during transport. Use blocking or dunnage if necessary.
- Use appropriate securement points. Attach all straps and chains to secure anchor points on your trailer designed to handle cargo securement. Do not use makeshift attach points.
- Maintain tension during transit. Periodically verify during your route that securement devices remain tight. Vibration and road conditions can cause slack to develop.
- Understand your cargo. Know the weight, dimensions, and center of gravity of the flattened or crushed vehicle you are transporting. Uneven weight distribution can cause shifting that overwhelms weak securement.
- Follow federal cargo securement standards. Refer to FMCSR 393.100 through 393.136 for the full scope of securement requirements. When in doubt about method or adequacy, consult your carrier's safety department or the FMCSA regulations directly.