FMCSR 397.17 Hazmat Tire Inspection: What Drivers Need to Know

No. Across our 13 million inspection records, 397.17 citations have resulted in an out-of-service rate of 0.0%—none of the 7 all-time citations in our database led to an OOS placement. This is significantly lower than the all-FMCSR average OOS rate of 31.4%, making it one of the least enforceable violations in terms of vehicle quarantine. However, the citation itself will still appear on your record.

A single 397.17 citation carries a CSA severity weight of 3 points. In the CSA scoring system, this weight is then multiplied by the number of violations within a rolling 30-day window—so if you receive multiple 397.17 citations in one month, the total points scale accordingly. One citation alone contributes 3 points to your carrier's Hazardous Materials BASIC score.

Immediate steps:

1. Document the inspection. Get a copy of the roadside inspection report (VOSID) showing the exact tire condition observed.
2. Inspect your tires thoroughly. Check tread depth, sidewall damage, and proper inflation on all wheels carrying hazmat cargo.
3. Repair or replace. Address any defects before your next hazmat transport.
4. Review your pre-trip routine. 397.17 requires tire examination each time the vehicle is parked with hazmat—establish a checklist.
5. Inform your carrier. If you're leased, notify them immediately so they can flag the vehicle if needed.

Since this is not an out-of-service violation, you can typically continue operations once defects are corrected.

No, 397.17 is one of the least-cited and least-serious hazmat violations in our data. Across our 13 million inspections, it ranks #2312 of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume, with only 7 all-time citations. Compare this to peer hazmat codes: general loading/unloading violations (177.834A-HMC) show 3,954 citations with a 99.2% OOS rate, and placarding violations (177.817(a)) have 2,274 citations with 75.1% OOS. The 0.0% OOS rate on 397.17 reflects that inspectors rarely cite it and never ground vehicles for it.

Yes. The FMCSA DataQs (Crash, Inspection, and Roadside Inspection Data Quality System) allows you to contest roadside inspection violations. For equipment-based findings like tire condition, you'll need to provide evidence that the tires met regulatory standards at the time of inspection—photographs, maintenance records, or a post-inspection inspection report showing the defect was not present or was incorrectly documented. Submit your challenge through your carrier's SafetyNet account within the DataQs submission window.

Extremely uncommon. Our inspection records show only 7 citations for 397.17 all-time, with zero citations in the last 12 months and zero in the last 90 days. This extremely low enforcement volume suggests that either inspectors rarely conduct detailed tire examinations on hazmat vehicles at roadside, or most carriers maintain compliant tire programs. If you receive this citation, you're part of a very small sample of drivers cited for this specific offense.

397.17 requires you to examine the tires on your commercial vehicle each time the vehicle is parked while transporting hazardous materials. This is a pre-operation inspection requirement specific to hazmat transport—you must look for signs of damage, wear, proper inflation, and tread depth before you leave a parking area with hazmat cargo aboard. The regulation is about active inspection, not just visual awareness. Document your inspections in your vehicle maintenance log to demonstrate compliance if questioned.

A 397.17 citation affects both you and your carrier. In the CSA system, roadside violations appear under the Hazardous Materials BASIC for both the driver's profile and the carrier's profile. Your individual violation contributes to your safety record as a hazmat driver; your carrier's violation contributes to their fleet-level Hazmat BASIC score. If you're independent or leased, ensure your carrier reports this correctly to the FMCSA to avoid scoring discrepancies.