What 395.20(b) means in plain language
FMCSR 395.20(b) requires motor carriers to maintain time records for short-haul drivers. Short-haul operations have different hours-of-service rules than long-haul freight, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration expects carriers to document when drivers are on duty, off duty, and the total distance traveled during each shift.
When an inspector cites you for 395.20(b), it means your carrier either didn't keep those records at all, or the records that exist don't meet federal requirements. This is a carrier-level violation—the responsibility sits with fleet management to establish and enforce a record-keeping system—but drivers can be affected if the violation is discovered during a roadside inspection of their vehicle or logbook.
What our enforcement data actually shows
Across our 13 million+ inspection records, 395.20(b) is one of the least-cited violations in the hours-of-service category. All-time, we see 1,514 citations for this code, ranking it #601 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume. More importantly: in the last 12 months, there have been 0 citations recorded, and in the last 90 days, there have been 0 citations. This dramatic drop suggests either improved compliance among carriers or a shift in enforcement focus.
When 395.20(b) citations do occur, they almost never result in an out-of-service order. Our inspection records show an out-of-service rate of 0.3% for this code—meaning only 5 out of 1,509 non-OOS citations ever led to a vehicle or driver being placed out of service. For comparison, the all-FMCSR average out-of-service rate is 31.4%, so 395.20(b) violations are treated as administrative infractions far more often than operational safety issues.
Who gets cited most
Our data shows that larger carrier fleets have accumulated the most citations for this violation historically. J B HUNT TRANSPORT INC (USDOT 80806) leads with 24 all-time citations for 395.20(b), followed by NATIONWIDE CARGO INCORPORATED (USDOT 2037668) with 15 citations, and FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION (USDOT 86876) with 8 citations. The presence of major carriers in this list likely reflects the scale of their operations and short-haul divisions rather than systemic non-compliance—larger fleets operate more short-haul routes and process more inspections overall.
The most-cited vehicle makes in 395.20(b) citations are Freightliner (186 citations), Freightliner (136 citations), and utility trailers (95 citations). These are common short-haul tractor and trailer configurations, so the citation pattern reflects the types of equipment typically used in regional and short-haul freight operations.
How severe is this compared to similar codes
Within the hours-of-service category, 395.20(b) sits at the lighter end of enforcement activity and consequence. For context:
- 395.24 (HOS ELD Form and Manner) has seen 106,486 citations but maintains a 0.0% out-of-service rate, similar to 395.20(b)'s administrative character.
- 395.8(e)(1) (hours-of-service violations) generated 78,276 citations with a 26.0% out-of-service rate—substantially higher, indicating those violations are viewed as direct safety threats.
- 395.8A1-HOSP (HOS Property - Failing to have a record of duty status) has 52,266 citations but a 92.9% out-of-service rate, one of the highest in the category, showing that missing records on property carriers trigger immediate removal from service.
The data suggests that 395.20(b) is treated as a recordkeeping deficiency—important for audit and compliance, but not an immediate operational hazard like missing duty-status records on long-haul operations.
How to avoid it
Since 395.20(b) is a carrier-level violation, your primary defense is ensuring your fleet's timecard and record-keeping system is documented, accessible, and compliant:
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Verify your carrier maintains a short-haul record system. At the start of each shift, confirm you know how your carrier documents your on-duty time, off-duty time, and miles. This may be a paper logbook, electronic logbook (ELD), or carrier-specific software. If you're unsure, ask your dispatcher or safety manager.
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Complete and sign off on all time entries daily. Whether your carrier uses electronic or paper records, ensure every shift is logged and, if required, certified by you. Gaps or unsigned entries invite inspector scrutiny and give auditors grounds to question the whole system.
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Keep your own backup records. Even if your carrier maintains official records, maintain a personal copy of your short-haul trips—dates, start and end times, total miles, and duty status changes. If an inspector questions the carrier's records during a roadside stop, a driver-maintained backup can clarify your compliance.
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Report record-keeping issues to your safety manager. If you notice that your carrier is not asking for or logging your short-haul hours, or if the system is unclear, escalate it internally. A citation at roadside will trace back to the carrier, but drivers who proactively flag compliance gaps demonstrate accountability.
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Understand the short-haul exemption thresholds. Short-haul operations have relaxed record-keeping rules if certain distance and time limits apply. Make sure you and your carrier both understand whether your route qualifies for those exemptions. If it does, fewer records may be required; if it doesn't, full daily timecards are mandatory.
Because this violation has been cited 0 times in the last 90 days, it suggests that roadside enforcement has largely moved away from this particular citation. However, carrier audits and safety reviews may still flag record-keeping gaps, so staying diligent protects both you and your fleet.