Will 393.126 put your truck out of service? CSA points, repair timelines, and enforcement data from 13M+ inspections.
Ranks #540 of 3,146 FMCSR codes by citation frequency • OOS rate of 92.3% is above the FMCSR-wide average of 33.3%.
Failure to ensure intermodal container securement
Direct answers grounded in TruckCodex inspection data
Yes, most likely. Across our inspection records, 393.126 citations result in an out-of-service order 92.3% of the time—far above the national average of 31.4% for all FMCSR violations. Out of 2,023 total citations in our database, 1,867 resulted in immediate out-of-service placement. If you've been cited for improper cargo securement on a flattened or crushed vehicle, expect your truck to be taken out of service until the violation is corrected.
A single 393.126 citation carries a severity weight of 6 points in the CSA BASIC 5 category (Vehicle Maintenance). Your total 30-day point accumulation depends on how many citations you receive during that period and whether they stack with other violations. This code ranks #535 by citation volume among all 3,036 FMCSR codes, so while serious, it's not the most frequently cited violation. The 6-point weight reflects the safety risk of unsecured debris during transport.
First, get your vehicle out of service immediately—don't move it. Inspect all cargo securement equipment and replace any damaged or missing tie-downs. Our data shows 393.126 frequently co-occurs with lighting defects (393.9 in 21 inspections over 90 days) and other equipment failures, so conduct a full pre-trip inspection. Document all repairs with photos and receipts. Request a re-inspection through your DOT officer. If you dispute the citation's accuracy, you have the right to file through the DataQs system, though documentation-based disputes are stronger than subjective safety findings.
Yes, significantly. The 92.3% out-of-service rate for 393.126 is nearly 6 times the national average. Compared to peer violations in Vehicle Maintenance, 393.126 is far more severe: inoperable lamps (393.9) have a 6.9% OOS rate, windshield defects (393.78) only 0.3%, and slack adjusters (393.47E) 0.0%. Even the category-wide inspection/maintenance violations (396.3) average 45.3% OOS. This code's high OOS rate reflects that unsecured flattened vehicles pose acute safety hazards to other motorists.
Yes, you can file a request through the DataQs system to challenge the citation if you believe it was issued in error. The process is stronger if you dispute factual documentation (missing records, incorrect vehicle identification) rather than the inspector's safety judgment. For cargo securement violations, contestability hinges on whether photographic evidence or repair documentation proves compliance at the time of inspection. Consult your company's safety manager and gather all relevant paperwork—repair logs, photos of secured load, maintenance records—before filing. DataQs requests typically take 30–45 days to resolve.
Texas dominates enforcement, with 79 citations over the last 180 days (93.7% OOS rate). Illinois follows with 8 citations (87.5% OOS rate), and Iowa and North Carolina each have 3 citations with 100% OOS placement. Across our 13 million inspection records, Texas accounts for roughly one-third of all 393.126 citations nationally. If you operate in Texas or frequently cross through it, prioritize cargo securement compliance during pre-trip and post-trip inspections.
Extremely urgent—your truck stays out of service until it's fixed. Over the last 90 days, we've recorded 60 citations for this violation, with recent months (February and March 2026) showing 28 and 20 citations respectively. August 2025 was the peak with 43 citations, indicating seasonal spikes tied to heavy hauling. You cannot legally operate until the cargo securement system is inspected, repaired, and re-certified. Delays cost money in downtime and CSA points; prioritize a certified repair facility immediately.
Both. Vehicle Maintenance (BASIC 5) is a carrier-level category, so the citation's CSA points affect your company's safety profile. However, the driver on duty when the violation occurs is also recorded in the inspection. For fleet safety managers, 393.126 citations are red flags: Evans Delivery (45 all-time citations) and Gulf Winds International (26 citations) appear most frequently in our database, suggesting systemic cargo securement or equipment maintenance gaps. Individual drivers should understand that repeated violations—even as a team—compound carrier safety ratings and trigger audits.
Where 393.126 is most commonly cited (last 180 days)
Other violations commonly found on the same inspection (last 90 days)
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.