FMCSR 393.45PC: Brake Tubing/Hoses Inadequate — Driver FAQ

It can, but it's not guaranteed. Across 2,957 all-time citations in our inspection records, 393.45PC resulted in an out-of-service order 33.6% of the time — meaning roughly 1 in 3 cited vehicles was parked on the spot. That's slightly above the all-FMCSR average OOS rate of 31.4%. The code is technically not classified as automatically OOS-eligible, so the inspector's judgment on the severity of the damage — worn, chafed, crimped, or otherwise compromised brake tubing or hoses — determines whether you drive away or stay put. Don't assume you'll keep rolling just because it's not an automatic OOS.

393.45PC carries a severity weight of 7 in the CSA scoring system, which is on the higher end of the 1–10 scale. That base weight gets multiplied depending on how recently the inspection occurred: violations from the last 6 months carry a 3× time-weight multiplier, dropping to 2× between 6 and 12 months, and 1× from 12 to 24 months. So a fresh citation can effectively count as 21 weighted points before any other adjustments. This feeds into your Vehicle Maintenance BASIC score, which FMCSA monitors for intervention thresholds. Getting cited twice in a short window compounds the damage quickly.

Get the brake tubing or hoses inspected and repaired before your next dispatch. Here's a practical checklist based on what our inspection records show happens during these stops:

1. Document everything — photograph the cited tubing/hose location before any repair.
2. Check for co-occurring issues. In the last 90 days, 79 inspections with 393.45PC also flagged 393.9 (inoperable required lamp), 50 flagged 393.78 (windshield condition), and 49 flagged 393.55E (coupling device defects). Have a technician look at all of these.
3. Get a signed repair receipt — you'll need this if you contest through DataQs or if a follow-up inspection occurs.
4. Notify your safety manager so the CSA hit is tracked and factored into your fleet's maintenance BASIC.

Yes — its OOS rate is notably higher than most peer codes in the Vehicle Maintenance category. Our database shows that 393.45PC's 33.6% OOS rate compares unfavorably to several high-volume peer violations: 393.9 (Inoperable Required Lamp) comes in at just 6.9% OOS across 180,097 citations, and 393.11 (Lighting devices/reflectors) sits at only 1.8% across 179,734 citations. Even 393.78 (Windshield condition defective), cited 157,894 times, has a 0.3% OOS rate. Brake tubing violations are treated far more harshly by inspectors because compromised brake lines directly affect stopping ability. The 7-point severity weight reflects that seriousness in CSA scoring as well.

Yes, you can submit a challenge through FMCSA's DataQs system (the Request for Data Review, or RDR process). Because 393.45PC is an equipment finding — not a missing-document violation — a successful challenge typically requires evidence that the condition either did not exist at the time of inspection or was misidentified. Strong submissions include timestamped repair invoices, pre-trip inspection logs, or a certified mechanic's written assessment showing the tubing met standards. Submit your RDR at the FMCSA DataQs portal with the inspection report number from your Driver Vehicle Examination Report. If the challenge is upheld, the citation is removed from your PSP record and your carrier's BASIC score.

Texas is by far the most active state for 393.45PC enforcement. Looking at the last 180 days in our inspection records, Texas issued 645 citations — dwarfing every other state. New Mexico was second with 162 citations, and Illinois came in third with 9 citations. Iowa and North Carolina also appeared in the data but at very low volumes (6 and 1 citations, respectively). Notably, New Mexico's OOS rate of 49.4% is significantly higher than Texas's 29.5%, meaning if you're cited in New Mexico you're far more likely to be parked. The concentration in Texas and New Mexico strongly reflects high cross-border commercial traffic corridors.

Extremely urgent — enforcement volume is high and trending active. Our inspection records show 1,809 citations in just the last 12 months, with 346 issued in the last 90 days alone. Monthly citation counts over the past year have ranged from 117 to 187, with no sign of a sustained slowdown. With a 33.6% OOS rate, more than 1 in 3 of those cited vehicles was taken out of service immediately. Freightliner trucks account for 1,040 all-time citations — the most of any make — followed by Kenworth (458) and Peterbilt (361). Pre-trip inspections should specifically include flexing and visually tracing all brake tubing and air hoses for wear, chafing, or crimping.

Both the driver and the carrier are affected, but in different ways. Under FMCSA's CSA methodology, equipment violations like 393.45PC are attributed to the carrier's Vehicle Maintenance BASIC score, since the carrier is responsible for keeping the vehicle roadworthy. However, the citation also appears on the driver's Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) record, which prospective employers can access. Carriers accumulate the BASIC score impact; drivers carry the inspection history on their PSP. If a driver is repeatedly cited across different carriers for the same equipment violations, it signals a pre-trip inspection problem that follows them regardless of who owns the truck.