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FMCSA Violation Code

391.45B — Operating after Med Card expiration

49 CFR 391 • Driver Fitness BASIC • Severity 5/10

Out-of-service eligible Driver citation CSA weight 5
OUT-OF-SERVICE eligible
Code
391.45B
CFR section
49 CFR 391
BASIC
Driver Fitness
Severity
5/10
Out-of-Service
Yes
Unit type
Driver

What this violation means

Driver continued operating after the Med Card expired but before getting re-examined. OOS — same effect as having no Med Card. 5 SMS points.

Why this gets cited

Driver missed renewal date. Schedule slip — exam booked but driver kept driving past expiration.

How to fix / prevent

Track expiration 60 days out. Block dispatch in TMS when Med Card lapses. Same-day exams available at Concentra and most truck-stop clinics.

Out-of-service criteria

Yes — this violation IS out-of-service eligible. When an inspector finds 391.45B during a Level 1, 2, or 3 inspection, they can place the Driver OOS using the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria. OOS means the truck cannot move from the inspection site until the defect is corrected (vehicle OOS) or the driver is replaced (driver OOS). For carriers, every OOS violation adds time-weighted points to your CSA Driver Fitness BASIC — and it shows in the public SMS data within 30 days. For drivers, an OOS event stays on PSP for 3 years.

CSA / SMS impact

391.45B carries a severity weight of 5/10 in FMCSA's Safety Measurement System (SMS). Higher weights mean faster CSA percentile movement. Combined with a time-weighting factor (2× for citations within the last 6 months, decaying over 24 months), this violation can move your Driver Fitness BASIC percentile significantly if it stacks with similar citations across your fleet. The threshold for FMCSA intervention is the 65th percentile for most BASICs (50th for Hazmat and Passenger Carrier). Once you cross that, FMCSA can send a Warning Letter, Off-Site Investigation, or full Compliance Review.

How to read this: a single citation rarely puts you over threshold — it's the pattern. Track your inspection rate per power unit and aim for OOS rate under 5% (industry average is 21%).

Carriers recently cited (last 24 months)

Carriers most-recently cited for 391.45B in FMCSA inspection records (rolling 24-month window).

  • NORTH CAROLINA HARVESTING LLC
    DOT #3450745 • last cited 2025-09-08
    3×
  • AUTOLINEAS PERZA SA DE CV
    DOT #3346939 • last cited 2025-06-09
    3×
  • SOUTH WEST COASTAL SERVICES LLC
    DOT #3331326 • last cited 2025-06-02
    3×
  • MSV TRANSPORT LLC
    DOT #2474188 • last cited 2025-05-09
    3×
  • N1 TRUCKING TRANSPORTATION LLC
    DOT #4159383 • last cited 2025-04-10
    3×
  • JUAN CARLOS RAMOS
    DOT #3639352 • last cited 2025-01-28
    3×
  • CURTIS BAY ENERGY INC
    DOT #1692213 • last cited 2025-01-03
    3×
  • TRANSPORTES LORO SA DE CV
    DOT #881925 • last cited 2024-12-23
    3×
  • SAUCEDOS PONCE TRUCKING LLC
    DOT #3138369 • last cited 2024-11-06
    3×
  • PRECISION AUTO GROUP LLC
    DOT #3820187 • last cited 2026-07-24
    2×
Other violations in Driver Fitness
383.51OOS
Driving while CDL disqualified
383.71OOS
Operating with falsified CDL application
383.23A2OOS
Operating CMV without CDL
391.11B2OOS
Driver does not have proper CDL class for vehicle
383.93OOS
CDL lacks required endorsement
391.41AOOS
Driver lacking required medical certificate
391.41B1OOS
Driver does not meet physical qualifications
391.45AOOS
Operating without a medical exam (no Med Card on file)

Related

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I be placed out of service for 391.45B?
Yes. 391.45B is on the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria list. An inspector who finds this during a Level 1, 2, or 3 inspection can place the Driver OOS at the inspection site. The truck cannot move until the defect is corrected. For vehicle-side OOS, that usually means a mobile mechanic or tow to the nearest shop. For driver-side OOS (HOS, CDL, drug/alcohol), it means the driver is removed from service and a qualified replacement must arrive before the truck can continue. Pro tip: do a thorough pre-trip every shift and address any issue listed in 49 CFR 391 before pulling onto the road — that's the only reliable way to avoid this one.
How long does 391.45B affect my CSA score?
391.45B stays in your CSA Driver Fitness BASIC for <strong>24 months</strong> from the inspection date. The impact is time-weighted: 3× points during months 0-6, 2× during months 7-12, 1× during months 13-24, then it drops off. Severity weight is 5/10, so each citation contributes 15 points in the first 6 months and decays from there. On the driver's PSP report, the same citation stays visible for <strong>36 months</strong> — and a 5-year history of driver violations is available to motor carriers performing a hire review. If the citation is later dismissed in court (DataQs challenge succeeds, or the underlying ticket is dropped), the SMS record can be removed via FMCSA's DataQs portal — but you have to actively file the challenge.
Can I fight a 391.45B citation?
Yes, and you should consider it. FMCSA's DataQs system at dataqs.fmcsa.dot.gov lets carriers (and drivers) challenge any inspection violation. The two strongest grounds are: (1) the underlying state citation was dismissed or reduced in court — submit court paperwork as evidence; (2) the inspector applied the wrong code — for example, citing 391.45B when the correct citation is a different code with lower severity. DataQs has roughly a 35-40% reversal rate when carriers submit clean court documentation. The catch: you have to file within 24 months of the inspection, and the inspector's narrative usually wins ties. Because this is an OOS-eligible violation, the SMS impact is significant — even a successful DataQs reversal is worth it. Budget 2-4 hours per challenge plus any legal cost.
Does 391.45B show on PSP (Pre-Employment Screening)?
Yes. 391.45B is a driver-side violation, so it appears on the driver's PSP (Pre-Employment Screening Program) report and stays visible for <strong>36 months</strong>. Carriers performing hire reviews can see it, and many use it to filter applicants — particularly for over-the-road and hazmat positions. If the driver fights the citation in court and wins, the PSP record can be updated via FMCSA's DataQs portal. If they plead guilty (even to a reduced charge), it stays on PSP. Bottom line: this citation matters for the driver's next job, not just for the carrier's CSA. Drivers should fight any moving violation that risks employment.
What's the difference between 391.45B and similar codes?
391.45B is in the 8-code group sharing the same BASIC. The closest siblings are: <strong>383.51</strong> (Driving while CDL disqualified); <strong>383.71</strong> (Operating with falsified CDL application); <strong>383.23A2</strong> (Operating CMV without CDL). Inspectors often cite multiple sibling codes from the same inspection — for example, a tire condition violation can simultaneously trigger codes for tread depth, sidewall, and inflation pressure. When you get cited under one sibling, check the report for the others before signing — they all count separately against CSA scoring.
How do I prevent 391.45B from getting cited again?
Track expiration 60 days out. Block dispatch in TMS when Med Card lapses. Same-day exams available at Concentra and most truck-stop clinics.

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