What 393.67C8 means in plain language
You've been cited under 393.67C8 for operating a commercial motor vehicle with tires that have defects beyond normal wear. Specifically, this includes tires where the inner fabric is exposed, or where the tire surface shows bumps, bulges, or cuts.
The distinction matters: this code captures tire damage that goes beyond a simple flat or audible leak. The inspector is saying your tires showed structural damage or deterioration serious enough to indicate the tire should be replaced or repaired before the vehicle operated further.
This is a maintenance violation, not a safety violation that automatically grounds your truck. But it signals that your pre-trip inspection either missed the damage or that the tires were allowed to degrade between inspections.
What our enforcement data actually shows
Across our 13 million+ inspection records, 393.67C8 has generated 88 all-time citations, with 85 citations in the last 12 months and 29 in the last 90 days. This ranks the code at #1459 of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume—a relatively uncommon violation.
Out-of-service placement is rare: only 1 truck out of 87 cited was placed out of service, yielding a 1.1% OOS rate. For context, the all-FMCSR average OOS rate is 31.4%, meaning 393.67C8 citations almost never result in immediate roadside removal. You will most likely be allowed to continue to a repair facility or yard.
The violation activity is not evenly distributed across the year. Our inspection records show a sharp spike in December 2025 (38 citations) and March 2026 (16 citations), suggesting seasonal or inspection-intensity patterns. Recent months show lower counts: 6 citations in January 2026, 9 in February 2026.
Who gets cited most
Our inspection data shows citations concentrated in a single state: Texas accounts for 73 citations in the last 180 days with a 1.4% OOS rate. The remaining 12 citations across the same period were distributed elsewhere, but no other state appears frequently enough in our database to establish a clear pattern.
Among carriers cited multiple times, our records indicate BRANDON SALAZAR SNOWBALL (USDOT 4410818) with 7 citations, followed by MP EXPRESS LOGS SA DE CV (USDOT 4288131) and RAFAEL ALVAREZ CHAVEZ (USDOT 3779168), each with 5 citations. These numbers reflect citation frequency; they do not imply fleet-wide safety issues, only that these operations have been cited more than once across our entire dataset.
How severe is this compared to similar codes
In the Vehicle Maintenance category, 393.67C8 sits well below most peer violations in enforcement frequency. For comparison:
- 393.9(a) (Inoperable required lamps) has been cited 660,737 times with a 15.4% OOS rate—roughly 7,500 times more frequently.
- 396.3(a)(1) (Inspection, repair, and maintenance—general) shows 236,919 citations with a 45.3% OOS rate, meaning those citations are much more likely to result in out-of-service placement.
- 393.78 (Windshield condition defective) has 157,894 citations with only a 0.3% OOS rate, similar to 393.67C8 in rarity of OOS enforcement.
Your citation is uncommon and carries minimal risk of immediate roadside enforcement action.
How to avoid it
Before your next trip:
-
Walk the entire tire circumference on all wheels. Use your hand to feel for bumps, bulges, or cuts. Look for any area where the rubber coating is worn away and inner fabric or cord is visible. Replace any tire showing these signs immediately—do not attempt a temporary repair.
-
Check tire pressure with a reliable gauge. Under-inflated tires deteriorate faster and are more prone to sidewall bulges. Our data shows 11 co-occurring citations for flat or audibly leaking tires, indicating that pressure issues often precede structural defects.
-
Inspect tires after every fuel or rest stop. Damage can occur from road debris, potholes, or curbs. A visual and tactile check takes two minutes and can catch problems before an inspector does.
-
Pay attention to vehicle-specific wear patterns. Our citations include Freightliner (26 citations), International (15 citations), and Kenworth (7 citations) trucks. Older or high-mileage units in these makes may show accelerated tire degradation. If you operate one of these models, increase inspection frequency.
-
Coordinate with your carrier's maintenance team. Our data shows that 396.3(a)(1) (general inspection and maintenance requirements) co-occurs with 393.67C8 in 15 recent inspections, suggesting systemic gaps. If your fleet lacks a formal tire-monitoring schedule, request one. Proactive tire rotation and replacement prevent citations.
-
Document your pre-trip inspection. Write down tire condition—pressure, tread depth, visible damage—before departure. If cited later, this record helps demonstrate due diligence and protects you in any carrier or regulatory inquiry.
Tire defects are 100% preventable through consistent, hands-on pre-trip work. The 1.1% OOS rate means you have time to address the issue, but repeat citations damage your safety record and your carrier's CSA scores.