FMCSR 393.45(d) Brake Tubing/Hoses: OOS Risk, CSA Points & More

Probably not, but it can happen. Across our inspection records, 393.45(d) carries an 11.8% out-of-service rate — meaning roughly 1 in 8 citations resulted in an OOS order. Out of 72,830 all-time citations in our database, 8,605 vehicles were actually placed out of service while 64,225 were not. The code is technically OOS-eligible, so the inspector has discretion based on how severe the damage looks. A lightly chafed hose may get you a citation and a wave-through; a crimped or nearly severed line is a different conversation. Don't assume you're automatically rolling.

A 393.45(d) citation carries a severity weight of 7 in the CSA scoring system. That base number is then multiplied depending on how recently the inspection occurred — violations in the last 6 months carry the heaviest multiplier, with weight decreasing at 6 months and again at 12 months. Because this falls under the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC, the points attach to both the driver and the carrier. At severity weight 7, this is a mid-to-high impact violation — not the worst on the books, but enough to move the needle on your Vehicle Maintenance BASIC percentile, especially if citations are stacking.

Take these steps immediately:

1. Document everything. Photograph the brake tubing or hose flagged by the inspector before any repair is made.
2. Get the repair done and get it in writing. Have a certified mechanic document the specific hose or tubing replaced, with parts and labor receipts.
3. Check for related violations. Our inspection data shows 393.45(d) often appears alongside other brake and maintenance findings — a cited vehicle may have additional issues worth a full pre-trip audit.
4. Pull your inspection report. Confirm the exact condition listed (worn, chafed, crimped, or otherwise damaged) so you know what you're dealing with if you contest.
5. File in DataQs if the finding is inaccurate. See the DataQs question below for process details.

It's moderate relative to peers. The all-FMCSR average OOS rate is 31.4%, and 393.45(d) comes in at 11.8% — well below average, which means inspectors are usually writing the citation without parking the truck. Compare that to 396.3(a)(1), a peer Vehicle Maintenance code in our database, which has a 45.3% OOS rate across 236,919 citations. On citation volume, 393.45(d) ranks #32 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes with 72,830 all-time citations — that's a high-frequency violation, meaning inspectors know exactly what to look for and find it often. High frequency with a below-average OOS rate suggests it's common but usually caught before it becomes catastrophic.

Yes, you can submit a Request for Data Review (RDR) through FMCSA's DataQs system. Because 393.45(d) is an equipment condition finding — not a documentation violation — a successful challenge typically requires evidence that the cited condition did not exist at the time of inspection. That means repair records dated before the inspection, photographs showing the hose was in acceptable condition, or a credible mechanical assessment contradicting the inspector's finding. Documentation-only violations are generally easier to expunge; equipment findings require stronger physical evidence. Submit through the FMCSA DataQs portal and be specific about which element of the finding you're disputing.

Our inspection records show that FRHT and FREIGHTLIN vehicles account for the largest share of citations by make — 7,191 and 5,609 respectively — but the state-level breakdown tells the enforcement story. Based on the carrier patterns visible in our database, heavy enforcement corridors for this violation align with high-volume inspection states. Among the top cited carriers, EVANS DELIVERY COMPANY INC leads all carriers with 209 citations, followed by J B HUNT TRANSPORT INC with 190 and SWIFT TRANSPORTATION CO OF ARIZONA LLC with 161 — fleets that operate national networks, meaning this citation shows up wherever inspectors are active, not just in one region. Note: the statistics block for this code does not break out citation counts by individual state, so a specific state ranking cannot be provided here.

Fix it before the next inspection, full stop. While the 11.8% OOS rate means most cited vehicles kept moving, a repeat citation — or an inspector who judges the damage more severely — could result in a parked truck. More importantly, our inspection records show zero citations for 393.45(d) in both the last 12 months and the last 90 days in the current data snapshot, which suggests this code may be captured under related or updated code designations rather than disappearing as a real-world hazard. Brake tubing failure in service is not a paperwork problem — it's a loss-of-braking event. Repair quickly, document thoroughly, and add a brake line inspection to your standard pre-trip checklist.

Both. Under FMCSA's CSA methodology, a vehicle maintenance violation like 393.45(d) — with its severity weight of 7 — scores against the carrier's Vehicle Maintenance BASIC and against the driver's safety record simultaneously. The carrier takes the hit on their BASIC percentile, which affects SMS alerts and intervention thresholds. The driver carries the violation in their inspection history, which follows them even if they change employers. This dual-impact structure means fleet managers can't treat equipment citations as purely the driver's problem, and drivers can't assume a carrier change wipes the slate clean.