393.70A — Coupling devices defective

FMCSA violation code under Vehicle Maintenance. 67 events recorded in roadside inspections. Severity weight: 8.

Severity Weight
8
OOS Eligible
No
BASIC Category
Vehicle Maintenance
Total Events
67
Code
393.70A
Code System
FMCSR
BASIC Category
OOS Eligible
No
Severity Weight
8
Violation Group
Total Events
67
Carriers Cited
66

Violation Description

Coupling devices and towing methods are defective, including fifth wheel, kingpin, pintle hook, and drawbar.

About This Violation Code

Code 393.70A falls under the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC category in FMCSA's Safety Measurement System (SMS). It carries a severity weight of 8 (scale 1-10, higher = more severe).

When this violation is cited during a roadside inspection, it contributes to the carrier's Vehicle Maintenance BASIC score. Carriers with high BASIC percentiles may be prioritized for FMCSA interventions including warning letters, investigations, or compliance reviews.

Regulatory Reference

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations

This violation references 49 CFR 393.70A in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.

Events (all time)
67
OOS Events
5
OOS Rate
7.5%
Top State (180d)
Texas
20 events

Top Enforcing States

Where 393.70A is most commonly cited (last 180 days)

1.Texas
20
OOS 5.0%
2.Illinois
1
OOS 100.0%

Click a state to see roadside inspection activity, top stations, and carrier profiles in that jurisdiction.

Citation Trend (12 months)

Monthly count of 393.70A citations. Red bars mark months with OOS-triggering citations.

1
Apr
8
May
4
Jun
3
Jul
2
Aug
3
Sep
5
Oct
3
Nov
4
Dec
5
Jan
4
Feb
4
Mar

Most Active Stations

Inspection stations citing 393.70A most often (last 180 days)

1.US287
2
OOS 0.0%
2.1158 TX97 SB
1
OOS 0.0%
3.4590 FM707
1
OOS 0.0%
4.756M FM2246
1
OOS 0.0%
5.TX327 NB SVC RD
1
OOS 0.0%
7.I-64
1
OOS 100.0%
8.US 96
1
OOS 0.0%

Often Cited Together

Other violations commonly found on the same inspection (last 90 days)

Top Carriers Cited

Ranked by frequency • 66 carriers total • Page 1 of 3

Top Carriers with 393.70A Violations

Showing 25 of 66

fmcsa-violations

Recent Inspections

Latest inspections where 393.70A was cited • 67 total events • Page 1 of 3

Recent Inspections with 393.70A

Showing 25 of 67

fmcsa-inspections
Recent Inspections with 393.70A
DateReport #StateLevelOOS
Mar 18, 202687385013TXLevel 2No
Mar 15, 202687315602TXLevel 2No
Mar 4, 202687216319TXLevel 2No
Mar 3, 202687215982TXLevel 2No
Feb 19, 202687103211TXLevel 2Yes
Feb 19, 202687100937ILLevel 1Yes
Feb 12, 202687065497TXLevel 2No
Feb 4, 202686979970TXLevel 2No
Jan 31, 202686996970TXLevel 2No
Jan 29, 202686949167TXLevel 2No
Jan 16, 202686842332TXLevel 2No
Jan 15, 202686819917TXLevel 2No
Jan 14, 202686820103TXLevel 2No
Dec 19, 202586644432TXLevel 2No
Dec 11, 202586583226TXLevel 2No
Dec 11, 202586572726TXLevel 2No
Dec 9, 202586530208TXLevel 2No
Nov 21, 202586618040TXLevel 2No
Nov 13, 202586364578TXLevel 2No
Nov 9, 202586301855TXLevel 2No
Oct 30, 202586208752TXLevel 2No
Oct 15, 202586071735TXLevel 2No
Oct 14, 202586060233TXLevel 2No
Oct 8, 202586004222NCLevel 1Yes
Oct 4, 202586006024TXLevel 2No

Data sources & freshness

FMCSA Vehicle Inspections and Violations
Unknown freshness
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (49 CFR)
Unknown freshness