What 393.209A-STSWSCM means in plain language
When you received this citation, an inspector found that one or more wheels or rims on your vehicle had visible cracks or breaks. A cracked or broken wheel or rim is a structural defect that compromises the integrity of your vehicle's wheel assembly and creates a safety risk—the wheel could fail under load, potentially causing loss of control or a tire blowout.
The regulation requires that every wheel and rim on a commercial motor vehicle be free from cracks and breaks. This is a straightforward mechanical condition: if the inspector observed damage during the roadside inspection, the citation was issued. The focus is on the physical condition of the wheel or rim itself, not on fasteners, tire pressure, or other wheel-related systems.
Unlike some vehicle maintenance violations, this code does not automatically place your truck out of service. However, it is still a defect that must be corrected before you continue operating that vehicle safely.
What our enforcement data actually shows
Across our 13 million+ inspection records, 393.209A-STSWSCM is cited relatively infrequently. We have recorded 19 citations all-time for this code, with 10 citations in the last 12 months and 2 in the last 90 days. This ranks 393.209A-STSWSCM at #1962 of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume—a low-frequency violation.
The out-of-service rate for this code is 0.0%. None of the 19 citations in our database resulted in an out-of-service order. This is significantly lower than the all-FMCSR average OOS rate of 31.4%. The reason is straightforward: while a cracked wheel or rim is a defect that must be fixed, it is not automatically deemed unsafe to operate for the purpose of roadside enforcement. However, you should treat it as an urgent repair item and not delay fixing it.
The citation trend over the past 12 months shows sporadic enforcement: 1 citation in June 2025, 1 in August, 1 in September, 2 in October, 2 in November, 1 in December, 1 in January 2026, and 1 in February 2026. This pattern suggests that citations are tied to individual pre-trip or roadside inspections where the defect is visible, rather than a seasonal or systemic enforcement wave.
Who gets cited most
Our data shows citations for 393.209A-STSWSCM are distributed across multiple states. In the last 180 days, Pennsylvania leads with 2 citations (0.0% OOS rate), followed by California, Nevada, South Carolina, and Tennessee, each with 1 citation and 0.0% OOS rates. The small sample size reflects the overall rarity of this violation.
Across all-time enforcement, we have recorded citations from ten different carriers. These include operations such as BNSF Railway Company (USDOT 281683), J & J Baumhardt Trucking Inc (USDOT 286496), and H Eugene Koontz Trucking Inc (USDOT 300458), each with 1 citation in our database. The distribution is so sparse that no single carrier exhibits a pattern of repeated violations for cracked or broken wheels.
How severe is this compared to similar codes
In the vehicle maintenance category, 393.209A-STSWSCM sits at the lower end of enforcement volume and severity. By comparison:
393.9(a) — Inoperable required lamps has been cited 660,737 times with a 15.4% OOS rate. This is far more common and carries a higher out-of-service risk.
396.3(a)(1) — Inspection/repair/maintenance, general has 236,919 citations and a 45.3% OOS rate, indicating that broad maintenance defects carry substantial enforcement and out-of-service consequences.
393.78 — Windshield condition defective has 157,894 citations with a 0.3% OOS rate, closer to the frequency and severity profile of wheel/rim defects.
The key difference is that 393.209A-STSWSCM is rarely cited—likely because cracked or broken wheels are visually obvious and drivers who conduct proper pre-trip inspections catch them before roadside enforcement. This low citation volume should not be mistaken for low importance; it reflects good driver behavior and preventive maintenance practices.
How to avoid it
Prevent a 393.209A-STSWSCM citation by catching wheel and rim defects during your pre-trip inspection:
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Walk around the entire vehicle and inspect every wheel and rim. Look for visible cracks, splits, or pieces missing from the wheel or rim. Do this in daylight or with a flashlight. If you see any damage, do not operate the vehicle—mark it out of service and notify your maintenance team immediately.
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Check wheel fasteners and hub areas carefully. Our data shows that cracked/broken wheel defects sometimes co-occur with wheel fastener issues (code 393.205C) and suspension defects (code 393.207A). If fasteners are loose or missing, the wheel is under stress and more likely to crack. Tighten or replace fasteners as part of routine pre-trip checks.
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Include wheel and rim inspection in your regular maintenance schedule. Wheels and rims degrade over time, especially if your routes involve heavy loads, rough road surfaces, or repeated hard braking. Do not wait for roadside inspection to catch problems—proactive replacement or repair of damaged wheels prevents citations and road failures.
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Pay attention if you receive co-occurring citations. Our inspection records show that cracked/broken wheels sometimes appear on the same vehicle as brake issues (codes 393.45B2, 393.45D, 393.48A), suspension defects (code 393.207A), tire problems (codes 393.75A3, 393.75C), and lighting or windshield defects. If you are cited for one of these, request a detailed wheel and rim inspection as well.
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Monitor vehicle makes with higher citation counts in our data. Peterbilt (4 citations), Freightliner (3 citations), and Kenworth (2 citations) appear most often in our wheel/rim defect records. If you operate these makes, establish a more frequent wheel inspection protocol. This is not a criticism of the manufacturers but rather a reflection of the total population of these vehicles in commercial service.
The bottom line: a cracked or broken wheel or rim is simple to prevent. A thorough pre-trip inspection that includes a visual walk-around of every wheel will catch this defect before an inspector does. Fix the wheel immediately if you discover damage, and you will avoid this citation entirely.