393.126(d) Cargo Securement Citation: Your Questions Answered

Yes. Across our 13 million+ inspection records, every single citation for 393.126(d)—unsecured flattened or crushed vehicles—resulted in an out-of-service order. Our database shows an OOS rate of 100.0% for this violation, compared to the all-FMCSR average of 31.4%. This means if you're cited, expect your truck to be taken out of service immediately until the cargo is properly secured or offloaded.

A 393.126(d) citation carries a CSA severity weight of 6 points. These points accumulate in the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC category and are counted for 30 days from the inspection date. Depending on how many other violations appear on the same inspection or over the same 30-day window, your total CSA impact could be higher. Check your FMCSA Safety Management System (SMS) account to see your current BASIC scores.

1. Stop the vehicle. Do not continue moving cargo. The inspecting officer will place your truck out of service.
2. Secure or offload the cargo according to the inspector's directive—flattened/crushed vehicles must be properly restrained with chains, straps, or other approved securement devices.
3. Request a reinspection once corrected. The officer will verify compliance before allowing you back on the road.
4. Document the fix with photos and your repair log for your carrier's records.
5. Review your company's cargo securement procedures to prevent future citations.

Yes. Our inspection data shows 393.126(d) is significantly stricter than most Vehicle Maintenance violations. Its 100.0% out-of-service rate is far above the all-FMCSR average of 31.4%. For example, inoperable lamps (393.9) are cited much more often (660,737 times) but only result in OOS 15.4% of the time. Unsecured flattened vehicles represent a cargo safety emergency—every citation triggers an immediate roadside enforcement action.

Yes, you can contest the citation through the FMCSA DataQs (Data Quality System) portal if you believe the inspection finding was incorrect or not supported by the evidence. DataQs focuses on documentation and measurement errors. If your dispute is technical—for example, that your securement devices met regulatory standards—you'll need to provide photos, weight distribution data, or securement device specifications. A successful DataQs challenge removes the citation from your CSA record. Start the process within 90 days of the inspection date on SafetyData.FMCSA.dot.gov.

It's extremely rare. Our inspection database covers 13 million+ roadside checks nationwide, yet we see only 11 all-time citations for 393.126(d)—ranking it #2167 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes. Over the last 12 months, there have been 0 citations recorded, and 0 in the last 90 days. This tells you how uncommon unsecured flattened-vehicle transport is—and how serious the violation is when it does occur.

In our 13 million+ inspection database, Kenworth and Dodge vehicles appear most frequently in 393.126(d) citations (3 citations each), followed by single instances on Freightliner, International, Mack, Peterbilt, Pratt, and other makes. The small sample size (11 all-time citations) means no single make dominates—the violation is genuinely rare across all vehicle types. If you haul flattened or crushed vehicles, focus on your securement equipment and training regardless of your truck's make.

Both. FMCSA's Carrier Safety Management System (SMS) assigns violations to the carrier's profile, which affects the company's safety ratings and insurance. However, the driver's Commercial Driver's License (CDL) record is also impacted through the roadside inspection history. If you move to a new carrier, your prior 393.126(d) citation remains on your driving record and may affect hiring decisions. Your new employer will see it when they pull your FMCSA pre-employment screening records.