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

No. Across our 13 million inspection records, only 3 trucks out of 117 all-time citations for this code were placed out of service—a 2.6% OOS rate. For context, the national average OOS rate across all FMCSR codes is 31.4%, so this violation is significantly less likely to result in immediate OOS placement. Most inspectors cite it as a warning or maintenance defect rather than an emergency roadside shutdown.

This code carries a severity weight of 3 CSA points. Under FMCSA's Safety Management Guidelines, points are typically multiplied by a factor based on the 30-day inspection frequency at your carrier level, so your total impact depends on how often your company is inspected. One citation on its own adds 3 points; multiple violations within 12 months can compound the total. Check your carrier's CSA BASIC score in your company's FMCSA profile for your specific impact.

First, verify that any load projecting beyond your vehicle's rear or sides is properly flagged with warning devices (typically red flags, reflectors, or lights). Our inspection data shows this code often co-occurs with brake tubing defects (3 shared inspections in the last 90 days) and coupling device issues (3 shared inspections), so inspect those systems too. Document your correction with photos and timestamps, then request a re-inspection if your jurisdiction offers one. File a DataQs (Driver Record Request) challenge within 30 days if you believe the citation was issued in error.

Not particularly. At 2.6% OOS rate, 393.87B is far less serious than similar codes: inoperable required lamps (393.9) have a 6.9% OOS rate, general inspection/repair/maintenance violations (396.3(a)(1)) carry a 45.3% OOS rate, and slack adjuster defects (393.47E) hit 0.0% OOS despite higher citation volume. Our database shows 393.87B ranked #1374 of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume, placing it in the lower-frequency violation category.

Yes. You can file a DataQs (Driver Record Request) challenge within 30 days of citation. Since 393.87B is a correctable equipment/documentation finding (not a criminal offense or safety-critical failure), you have grounds to contest if: the flag/warning device was present, properly installed, or if the measurement of your load projection was inaccurate. Provide photographic or maintenance records as evidence. Approval of your challenge results in the violation being removed from your CSA record.

Across the last 180 days, Texas leads enforcement with 28 citations (10.7% OOS rate), followed distantly by Illinois and North Carolina with 2 citations each (0.0% OOS). Texas accounts for the vast majority of 393.87B citations in our database, so if you operate there, flagging projecting loads correctly is especially important during inspections.

Our 12-month trend shows moderate volatility but no sustained spike. Citations ranged from a low of 1 (June 2025) to a high of 9 (May 2025 and January 2026). In the last 90 days, inspectors have issued 16 citations. The low citation volume overall—71 citations in the last 12 months—suggests this is not a high-enforcement priority nationally, but Texas remains an exception with aggressive citation activity.

Both. FMCSA assigns violations to the driver record and the carrier record simultaneously under the Safety Management Guidelines. Your individual CSA Driver Improvement history records the citation, and your carrier's BASIC scores are also affected. If you move to a different carrier, the citation stays on your history; it does not transfer to your new employer's record, but your personal CSA profile will reflect it during future inspections.