393.81 — Horn inoperable
FMCSA violation code under Vehicle Maintenance. 14,795 events recorded in roadside inspections. Severity weight: 2.
Violation Description
Horn on commercial motor vehicle is inoperable or not functioning properly.
About This Violation Code
Code 393.81 falls under the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC category in FMCSA's Safety Measurement System (SMS). It carries a severity weight of 2 (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 393.81 in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.
Top Enforcing States
Where 393.81 is most commonly cited (last 180 days)
Click a state to see roadside inspection activity, top stations, and carrier profiles in that jurisdiction.
Citation Trend (12 months)
Monthly count of 393.81 citations. Red bars mark months with OOS-triggering citations.
Most Active Stations
Inspection stations citing 393.81 most often (last 180 days)
Often Cited Together
Other violations commonly found on the same inspection (last 90 days)
Citation patterns suggest related root causes (e.g., HOS violations paired with logbook errors).
Top Carriers Cited
Ranked by frequency • 11,857 carriers total • Page 1 of 475
Top Carriers with 393.81 Violations
Showing 25 of 11,857
Recent Inspections
Latest inspections where 393.81 was cited • 14,795 total events • Page 1 of 592
Recent Inspections with 393.81
Showing 25 of 14,795
| Date | Report # | State | Level | OOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2, 2026 | 87486447 | NC | Level 2 | No |
| Apr 2, 2026 | 87486379 | NC | Level 2 | No |
| Apr 1, 2026 | 87487967 | TX | Level 2 | No |
| Apr 1, 2026 | 87477438 | IA | Level 2 | No |
| Apr 1, 2026 | 87485945 | NC | Level 2 | No |
| Apr 1, 2026 | 87478762 | TX | Level 1 | No |
| Apr 1, 2026 | 87486106 | NC | Level 2 | No |
| Mar 31, 2026 | 87487451 | TX | Level 1 | No |
| Mar 31, 2026 | 87487784 | TX | Level 2 | No |
| Mar 31, 2026 | 87478911 | TX | Level 2 | No |
| Mar 31, 2026 | 87479735 | TX | Level 1 | No |
| Mar 31, 2026 | 87468860 | TX | Level 1 | No |
| Mar 31, 2026 | 87467639 | TX | Level 1 | No |
| Mar 31, 2026 | 87469146 | TX | Level 2 | No |
| Mar 30, 2026 | 87438858 | NC | Level 2 | No |
| Mar 29, 2026 | 87468011 | TX | Level 2 | No |
| Mar 29, 2026 | 87468597 | TX | Level 2 | No |
| Mar 28, 2026 | 87468237 | TX | Level 2 | No |
| Mar 28, 2026 | 87466464 | TX | Level 2 | No |
| Mar 28, 2026 | 87478814 | TX | Level 1 | No |
| Mar 27, 2026 | 87440931 | TX | Level 1 | No |
| Mar 27, 2026 | 87453307 | IA | Level 1 | No |
| Mar 27, 2026 | 87479536 | TX | Level 1 | No |
| Mar 27, 2026 | 87469004 | TX | Level 1 | No |
| Mar 27, 2026 | 87468737 | TX | Level 2 | No |