393.207C-SSLMS: Missing Spring Leaf Suspension — Citations & OOS Rate

Yes, almost certainly. Across 13 million inspections, our records show a 99.6% out-of-service rate for missing or separated spring leaves—far above the 31.4% average across all FMCSR codes. Of 446 all-time citations for this violation, 444 resulted in immediate removal from service. This is one of the most consistently enforced vehicle defects in roadside inspections.

First: do not operate the vehicle. The citation will trigger an out-of-service order in 99.6% of cases. Second: contact your carrier's maintenance team or a certified repair facility immediately—spring leaf suspension defects must be corrected before the truck can return to service. Third: document the repair with photos and a certified repair receipt. Our data shows this code frequently co-occurs with brake and lighting defects (9–8 shared inspections in the last 90 days), so have the inspector note all defects found in that same stop.

Yes, significantly. This code ranks #959 by citation volume but has a 99.6% out-of-service rate—triple the all-FMCSR average of 31.4%. Compare this to peer maintenance codes: inoperable lamps (660,737 citations, 15.4% OOS rate) and windshield defects (157,894 citations, 0.3% OOS rate). Missing spring leaves trigger immediate removal because they directly compromise braking and stability, making them a critical safety event, not a correctable deficiency.

Our inspection database recorded 227 citations in the last 12 months and 47 in the last 90 days. Monthly citations have ranged from 7 (April 2025) to 27 (August 2025), with 22–27 citations common from May through November 2025. The pattern shows steady enforcement with seasonal peaks in late summer and fall, suggesting increased inspection activity during higher-volume shipping periods.

New York leads enforcement with 20 citations in the last 180 days (100% OOS rate), followed by California with 15 citations (100% OOS) and Georgia with 10 citations (100% OOS). Pennsylvania, Washington, New Jersey, and South Carolina each recorded 4–6 citations with uniform out-of-service outcomes. Every state in our top-10 list enforced this violation with a 100% OOS rate.

When cited for missing spring leaves, drivers frequently face additional violations in the same stop. Our data shows operator fatigue (392.2, 9 co-occurrences), inoperable lamps (393.9A, 9 co-occurrences), and tire inflation defects (393.75A3, 8 co-occurrences) appear together in the last 90 days. Brake system failures (396.3A1, 7 co-occurrences) and fuel leaks (396.5B, 7 co-occurrences) also cluster with suspension defects. This pattern suggests inspectors finding one major defect often uncover others during the same roadside check.

Federal Express Corporation has the highest citation count for this violation (7 all-time), followed by Fully Loaded Logistics LLC and P&M Trucking Inc (4 each). While citation frequency alone does not determine CSA scoring or compliance status, accumulating multiple out-of-service events for the same defect category can elevate a carrier's vehicle maintenance BASIC score and trigger FMCSA oversight. Repeated suspension defects indicate a fleet-wide maintenance gap that requires systematic corrective action.

Yes. Missing or separated spring leaves are a physical equipment condition, and you may contest the citation if you believe the inspection was inaccurate, the defect was not present, or the inspector's measurement or observation was incorrect. Use the FMCSA's DataQs (Record Dispute Resolution) process within 90 days of the citation. Submit photographic evidence, dated repair receipts, or certified pre-inspection documentation showing the component was serviceable. Objectivity of the finding (equipment vs. operator judgment) strengthens contestability, though the 99.6% OOS rate reflects how clearly this defect is identified in the field.