What 393.201A-FRMS means in plain language
This citation means an inspector found your truck's frame to be cracked, loose, broken, or sagging in a way that compromises safe operation. The frame is the structural backbone of your vehicle—it carries the engine, cab, and cargo. When the frame has significant damage, it can affect steering response, brake performance, and load stability.
Inspectors are looking for visible cracks in the frame rails, loose welds or fasteners, or excessive sag that indicates structural compromise. This isn't about surface rust or minor cosmetic damage; it's about defects that make the truck unsafe to operate.
What our enforcement data actually shows
Across our 13 million inspection records, we've documented 510 all-time citations for 393.201A-FRMS frame damage. In the last 12 months, that number was 297 citations, with 60 citations issued in just the last 90 days. This code ranks #912 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume.
The enforcement consequence is severe: our data shows a 92.7% out-of-service rate for this violation—meaning inspectors placed the vehicle out of service in 473 of 510 all-time cases. For context, the average out-of-service rate across all FMCSR codes is 31.4%. This code's OOS rate is nearly three times the all-FMCSR average. When cited for frame damage, your truck is almost certainly getting pulled from the road immediately.
Who gets cited most
Our inspection records over the last 180 days show California leads with 21 citations, followed by Georgia with 15 citations, and Washington with 10 citations. California's OOS rate was 76.2%, while both Georgia and Washington had 100% out-of-service placement. Pennsylvania followed with 7 citations and an 85.7% OOS rate.
The data shows that major fleets such as K1K TRANS LLC (with 5 all-time citations) and FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION (with 4 citations) have experienced this violation. This reflects the reality that frame damage can affect carriers of all sizes when preventive maintenance lapses.
How severe is this compared to similar codes
Frame damage sits in the vehicle maintenance category alongside other structural and system codes. For comparison: the inoperable required lamps code (393.9(a)) has accumulated 660,737 citations with a 15.4% out-of-service rate, inspection/repair/maintenance violations (396.3(a)(1)) have 236,919 citations with a 45.3% OOS rate, and no proof of periodic inspection (396.17C-PI) has 212,081 citations with a 0.0% OOS rate.
While frame damage citations are less frequent than lamp or inspection record violations, their out-of-service consequence is dramatically higher. The 92.7% rate places it well above the 45.3% rate for general maintenance violations and infinitely higher than inspection-record citations that carry no OOS consequence.
How to avoid it
Frame damage often emerges alongside other maintenance gaps. Our inspection data from the last 90 days shows frame citations frequently co-occur with fuel system leaks (10 shared inspections), suspension defects (9 shared inspections), and brake system failures (8 shared inspections). This pattern suggests frame issues develop when routine undercarriage inspection and maintenance are deferred.
Before you roll:
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Walk the frame rails and welds. Use a flashlight and physically inspect the full length of both frame rails under the truck for visible cracks, separation, or bent sections. Feel for movement at fastener points.
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Check suspension and steering components. Suspension damage often precedes frame damage. If your truck is pulling, bouncing excessively, or handling loose, have the frame and suspension independently inspected before rolling.
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Review your maintenance records monthly. Frame damage doesn't appear overnight—it develops from impact (pothole hits, loading accidents) or metal fatigue. If you've had a hard hit, get the frame checked even if the truck still drives.
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Inspect fuel, brake, and electrical lines under the frame. The co-occurrence data shows fuel leaks and brake defects appearing with frame citations. A cracked or sagging frame can pinch or damage these systems, compounding the violation.
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Know your truck's age and history. Our data shows FREIGHTLINER (86 citations), VOLVO (39), and KENWORTH (38) models were cited most frequently for frame damage. If you operate an older model or one with prior frame work, prioritize quarterly frame inspections rather than annual.
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Report frame concerns immediately to dispatch or maintenance. Frame damage gets worse under load and speed. The moment you notice unusual steering feel, excessive cab vibration, or visible gaps opening between panels, park the truck and request inspection.