FMCSA Violation Code

393.30 — Battery installation deficient

49 CFR 393 • Vehicle Maintenance BASIC • Severity 2/10

Vehicle citation CSA weight 2

Low severity

Code

393.30

CFR section

49 CFR 393

BASIC

Vehicle Maintenance

Severity

2/10

Out-of-Service

Unit type

Vehicle

What this violation means

Battery not secured, missing cover, corroded terminals, or improperly grounded. 2 SMS points.

How often this is cited (last 24 months)

In the last 24 months, 393.30 was cited 4,321 times at roadside inspections against 3,278 carriers, and under 0.1% of those citations were out-of-service violations. It ranks #28 among the violation codes in our records by citation count. Most recent citation on record: Oct 13, 2026.

Why this gets cited

Hold-down strap broken or missing. Terminal corrosion. Battery sliding around in box.

How to fix / prevent

Hold-down strap ($5-15). Terminal cleaner + protector spray. Replace box if corroded through.

Out-of-service criteria

No — this violation is not typically out-of-service eligible. The inspector will note 393.30 on the inspection report (form MCS-63), but the truck/driver can usually continue after the inspection ends. It still counts against the carrier in CSA scoring (severity 2/10 weight, time-weighted over 24 months) and shows on the driver's PSP record. A pattern of these non-OOS violations across multiple inspections is what triggers FMCSA intervention — a single citation rarely does.

CSA / SMS impact

393.30 carries a severity weight of 2/10 in FMCSA's Safety Measurement System (SMS). Higher weights mean faster CSA percentile movement. Combined with a time-weighting factor (1× for citations within the last 6 months, decaying over 24 months), this violation can move your Vehicle Maintenance 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 393.30 in FMCSA inspection records (rolling 24-month window).

TORO OIL HAULERS LLC
DOT #3928866 • last cited 2026-06-26
12×
SELECT DEDICATED SOLUTIONS LLC
DOT #1877140 • last cited 2026-04-03
12×
BRENDA BERENICE SOLANO MOLINA
DOT #4249554 • last cited 2026-05-26
11×
ATS OPERATIONS LLC
DOT #1750006 • last cited 2025-12-24
11×
MARIANO PAEZ ROMERO
DOT #2868297 • last cited 2026-06-30
10×
FORZA TRANSPORTATION SERVICES INC
DOT #2490721 • last cited 2026-06-05
10×
SMVC TRUCKING & LOGISTICS LLC
DOT #3038842 • last cited 2026-06-20
9×
DINORA REYNA GONZALEZ
DOT #2964175 • last cited 2026-03-17
9×
FERROSRB SA DE CV
DOT #4027419 • last cited 2025-05-12
9×
CROSS INTEGRATED TRANSPORT LLC
DOT #2195271 • last cited 2026-06-05
8×

Other violations in Vehicle Maintenance

396.9C2OOS

Operating vehicle declared out-of-service

393.75AOOS

Flat tire or audible air leak

393.75A1OOS

Tire ply or belt material exposed

393.75A3OOS

Tire with fabric exposed

393.75FOOS

Tire on steering axle under 4/32 inch tread

393.75GOOS

Tire on non-steering axle under 2/32 inch tread

393.83A2OOS

Exhaust discharges into cab/sleeper

393.5AOOS

Coupling device defective (fifth wheel, pintle, kingpin)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I be placed out of service for 393.30?

No — 393.30 is not on the standard OOS criteria for most inspectors. You'll be cited on the inspection report (MCS-63), the violation will hit your CSA scores, and the driver's PSP record, but you can usually continue the trip after the inspection wraps. Caveat: an inspector has discretion to escalate to OOS if they observe a separate, more serious condition during the same inspection. If they find 393.30 plus a brake violation, they're putting you OOS for the brake issue, not this one.

How long does 393.30 affect my CSA score?

393.30 stays in your CSA Vehicle Maintenance BASIC for 24 months 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 2/10, so each citation contributes 6 points in the first 6 months and decays from there. On the driver's PSP report, the same citation stays visible for 36 months — 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.

What's the difference between 393.30 and similar codes?

393.30 is in the 8-code group sharing the same BASIC. The closest siblings are: 396.9C2 (Operating vehicle declared out-of-service); 393.75A (Flat tire or audible air leak); 393.75A1 (Tire ply or belt material exposed). 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 often is 393.30 cited?

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393.30 — Battery installation deficient

What this violation means

Related

Frequently Asked Questions

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