What 393.67C4-F means in plain language
You've been cited under FMCSR 393.67C4-F for operating a commercial motor vehicle with tires that have defects. These defects include exposed fabric, bumps, bulges, or cuts in the tire.
This isn't about tread depth alone—it's about structural damage. An inspector looking at your tires is checking for visible damage that compromises the tire's integrity. A bulge in the sidewall, a cut that exposes the tire's inner layers, or any bump that suggests internal damage all fall under this violation.
The regulation exists because a tire with structural defects can fail suddenly, especially under load or at highway speeds. A blowout doesn't just end your run—it risks your safety and everyone around you.
What our enforcement data actually shows
Across our database of 13 million+ roadside inspection records, we've logged 510 all-time citations for code 393.67C4-F. In the last 12 months, inspectors cited this violation 233 times. Over the past 90 days, we recorded 56 citations.
Here's what makes this violation unusual: it has never been placed out of service in our entire dataset. Our records show a 0.0% out-of-service rate for this code. By comparison, the average FMCSR violation carries a 31.4% out-of-service rate. This suggests inspectors are catching these defects early—before they become critical enough to ground the truck.
Ranked by citation volume, 393.67C4-F sits at #912 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes. It's not the most common violation you'll see at a scale house, but it's far from rare.
Looking at the last 12 months, enforcement has remained fairly steady. We saw citations peak at 28 in October 2025 and 25 in both January and September 2026, with lower months around 11–12 citations. This pattern suggests tire defects are being caught year-round, not concentrated in any particular season.
Who gets cited most
Our data shows the vast majority of citations come from the US border region. In the last 180 days, we recorded 106 citations in the US (all with a 0.0% out-of-service rate) and 1 citation in Virginia, also not placed out of service.
Among carriers, our records show fleets such as Ricardo Andres Pena Cota (USDOT 591357) with 20 citations and Jorge Antonio Sepulveda (USDOT 2472739) with 18 citations—both representing the higher end of the citation count in our database for this code. These numbers reflect operational patterns and inspection frequency, not inherent fleet safety failures.
Vehicle makes also show a clear pattern. Kenworth trucks account for 100 citations, Freightliner for 91, and International for 87. These three manufacturers represent roughly half of all 393.67C4-F citations in our records. This likely reflects their prevalence in the trucking fleet overall, especially among long-haul and cross-border operations where tire wear accelerates.
How severe is this compared to similar codes
Within the vehicle maintenance category, tire and lighting violations vary widely in enforcement intensity. For context:
- 393.9(a) (inoperable required lamps) has generated 660,737 citations with a 15.4% out-of-service rate—roughly 1,295 times more citations than 393.67C4-F.
- 393.78 (windshield condition defective) has 157,894 citations but only a 0.3% out-of-service rate—also far more common, but equally unlikely to result in an out-of-service order.
- 393.47E (slack adjuster defective) has 180,363 citations with a 0.0% out-of-service rate, matching this code's enforcement pattern exactly.
The comparison shows that tire defects like yours are taken seriously enough to cite, but not so critical that they automatically require the vehicle to be removed from service at the roadside. Lighting and brake issues, by contrast, are cited far more frequently.
How to avoid it
Our inspection data reveals patterns in what inspectors find alongside 393.67C4-F citations. Here's what to focus on:
Pre-trip tire inspection:
- Walk around your rig and look for visible damage—bulges, cuts, or areas where the rubber looks torn or separated from the carcass. Run your hand along the sidewalls and tread.
- Check all four sides of each tire. Defects on the inner wall are easy to miss if you only look at the road-facing side.
- Don't assume a tire is fine because it has tread. Structural damage is the issue.
Maintenance and replacement timing:
- Our data shows tire defects often co-occur with flat or leaking tires (393.65F-F appeared in 17 shared inspections over the last 90 days). If you're dealing with slow leaks, the tire is already compromised—replace it rather than patch it.
- Similarly, defective tires frequently appear alongside steering and coupling issues (393.55E-B in 9 shared inspections, 393.53B-B in 6). This suggests tire problems accumulate when overall vehicle maintenance is deferred. Don't let tire issues pile up with other repairs.
Vehicle-specific vigilance:
- If you're driving a Kenworth, Freightliner, or International—the three makes most frequently cited for this violation—be especially meticulous. These trucks see high mileage and harsh conditions, so tire wear and damage accelerate.
Border-zone drivers take note:
- Our records show 106 citations in the last 180 days came from US inspections, with a concentration in cross-border operations. If you run the southern border regularly, you'll encounter more frequent inspections. Use that as motivation to keep tires in flawless condition.
The bottom line: a tire defect citation is a warning that your maintenance routine isn't catching early damage. Tighten your pre-trip inspection, replace tires before they fail, and don't ignore minor-looking damage—what looks like a small cut today can turn into a blowout tomorrow.