FMCSR 393.203C: Hood Not Securely Fastened — Driver Q&A

Almost certainly not. Across all 6,766 all-time citations in our inspection records, only 13 resulted in an out-of-service order — a 0.2% OOS rate. For context, the average OOS rate across all FMCSR codes is 31.4%, meaning 393.203C sits roughly 157 times below the national average. In the last 12 months alone, 4,360 citations were issued and the OOS pattern held: drivers were almost universally allowed to continue operating after the citation. You'll get the violation on your record, but your wheels keep turning.

FMCSA's CSA program scores violations using a severity weight multiplied by a time weight — inspections in the most recent 6 months count more than older ones. The 393.203C violation falls under the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC. A citation issued today carries the full time-weight multiplier, which steps down at the 6-month and 12-month marks. Our inspection records show 393.203C is ranked #288 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume, indicating it's an actively enforced item. Because the specific severity weight for this code was not published in the data available, check FMCSA's SMS BASIC methodology directly for the exact point value.

Step 1: Physically secure the hood before moving the truck. This is the single fastest fix — latches, safety catches, or supplemental straps must hold the hood down under highway speed airflow.

Step 2: Check the items most often cited on the same inspection. Our data from the last 90 days shows 393.203C frequently appears alongside:

• 393.9 (inoperable lamp) — 438 shared inspections
• 393.78 (windshield defect) — 283 shared inspections
• 396.5B (fuel system leak) — 221 shared inspections
• 396.17C (no proof of periodic inspection) — 147 shared inspections

Address all four areas before your next stop. One pull-over that reveals multiple open violations compounds your CSA exposure significantly.

Relative to peers, it's one of the lowest-risk violations in the Vehicle Maintenance category. Compare its 0.2% OOS rate against other frequently cited codes in the same category: 396.3(a)(1) (inspection/repair/maintenance — general) carries a 45.3% OOS rate across 236,919 citations, and 393.9(a) (inoperable required lamps) carries a 15.4% OOS rate across 660,737 citations. Even 393.9 (inoperable required lamp, a closely related code) sits at 6.9% OOS. A loose hood is a real defect that warrants immediate repair, but the data shows inspectors consistently treat it as a correctable non-OOS item.

Yes, you can submit a Request for Data Review (RDR) through FMCSA's DataQs system if you believe the citation was issued in error. Because 393.203C is an equipment condition finding — not a missing document — a successful challenge typically requires evidence that the hood was, in fact, properly secured at the time of inspection (photos taken immediately after the stop are the most useful). DataQs reviews are handled by the issuing state agency. If the state agrees the finding was inaccurate, it can be masked from your CSA SMS score. Note that a citation that was accurate is very unlikely to be removed; DataQs corrects data errors, not enforcement disagreements.

Texas dominates enforcement volume by a wide margin. Our inspection records for the last 180 days show:

Texas accounts for the overwhelming majority of recent activity. If you run cross-border routes through the Southwest corridor — particularly through Texas and into New Mexico — hood security is a documented inspection priority. Illinois rounds out the top three, suggesting major interstate freight lanes are where inspectors flag this most.

Fix it before you leave the inspection site if at all possible. While the 0.2% OOS rate means you're unlikely to be parked on the spot, our records show citation volume for this code has been climbing: from 139 citations in April 2025 to a recent high of 446 in October 2025, with 913 citations in just the last 90 days. Enforcement attention is increasing, not decreasing. A second citation for the same defect — especially within the CSA 12-month scoring window — stacks points in your Vehicle Maintenance BASIC and can push a carrier toward an FMCSA intervention threshold.

Both. FMCSA's CSA system attributes roadside inspection violations to the carrier through the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC, which affects the carrier's Safety Measurement System (SMS) percentile. The driver also carries the violation in their Driver Safety Measurement System (DSMS) record, which FMCSA and carriers can review. Our records show that several of the carriers with the highest all-time 393.203C citation counts — including SERVICIO INTERNACIONAL DE ENLACE TERRESTRE SA DE CV (30 citations) and VRP TRANSPORTES DE MEXICO S DE RL DE CV (23 citations) — accumulate these violations across multiple drivers, illustrating how a recurring equipment issue affects carrier-level scores regardless of which driver is behind the wheel.