FMCSR 393.87: Warning Flags on Projecting Loads—Q&A

No. Across our inspection database, 393.87 has never resulted in an out-of-service placement—the OOS rate is 0.0%. This violation carries a CSA severity weight of 3, meaning it adds points to your BASIC score, but it does not trigger an immediate roadside removal. You can continue operating, but you must correct the flagging deficiency before your next inspection.

This citation adds a CSA severity weight of 3 points to your Vehicle Maintenance BASIC score. In the CSA scoring system, these points accumulate over 12 months within a rolling window. The actual impact on your overall CSA percentile depends on your carrier's total citation volume and your peer group—but each 393.87 citation counts as 3 points toward the Vehicle Maintenance category.

First: Document the citation details, time, and inspection location. Second: Inspect your load projections and secure missing or damaged warning flags immediately. Third: If the flags are damaged or missing, repair or replace them before your next trip. Fourth: Take photos showing compliance for your records. Fifth: Review your cargo loading procedures to prevent future citations. Since this is a maintenance-type violation, immediate physical correction is your priority—there's no grace period for roadside safety.

In context: 393.87 has zero out-of-service citations in our records, while comparable vehicle maintenance codes show much higher enforcement activity. For example, inoperable required lamps (393.9(a)) has 660,737 citations with a 15.4% OOS rate, and inspection/repair/maintenance violations (396.3(a)(1)) reach 45.3% OOS. This code is citation-eligible but rarely cited and never results in immediate removal, making it less severe than structural or brake-related violations.

Yes, you can file a DataQs (Data Quality Submission) challenge if you believe the citation was issued in error. The FMCSA DataQs process allows drivers and carriers to contest roadside inspection findings within 90 days. For a 393.87 citation, you would challenge it if: the flags were actually present and visible, weather or handling during transport created the violation (not pre-trip state), or the inspector misidentified your cargo dimensions. Submit documentation and photos supporting your case.

This violation is extraordinarily rare in enforcement. Across our 13 million+ inspection records, there are zero citations for 393.87 in the last 12 months and zero in the last 90 days. All-time, the total is 0 citations. This is far lower than common vehicle maintenance violations—for comparison, inoperable lamps (393.9(a)) alone has 660,737 all-time citations. Your citation appears to be part of a very small subset of flagging-related enforcement.

Very urgent. Even though the OOS rate is 0%, a repeat citation creates compounding CSA points and demonstrates a pattern to the FMCSA. Each citation adds 3 points to Vehicle Maintenance. If you're cited twice in 12 months, that's 6 points—and repeated violations can escalate inspection frequency and carrier safety ratings. Correct flagging deficiencies before you leave the lot: check all projecting load boundaries, ensure flags are secure, visible, and compliant with 49 CFR 393.87 requirements.

Both. The citation goes on your driver's inspection record and your carrier's CSA profile simultaneously. Your Vehicle Maintenance BASIC category is shared—the FMCSA tracks safety metrics at both the driver level (for hiring decisions) and the carrier level (for carrier ratings and audit risk). A 393.87 violation on your record signals to future employers that you were cited for improper load securing practices. Your current carrier's Vehicle Maintenance BASIC is also affected by the citation count.