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FMCSA Violation Code

393.75A — Flat tire or audible air leak

49 CFR 393 • Vehicle Maintenance BASIC • Severity 8/10

Out-of-service eligible Vehicle citation CSA weight 8
OUT-OF-SERVICE eligible
Code
393.75A
CFR section
49 CFR 393
BASIC
Vehicle Maintenance
Severity
8/10
Out-of-Service
Yes
Unit type
Vehicle

What this violation means

Tire is flat or has an audible leak. 8 SMS points, OOS. Inspector tests with a tire-thumper or ear. Driving on a flat damages the casing irreparably ($600+ casing loss), can shred the inner liner (creating shrapnel for adjacent tires), and on dual wheels can twist the rim.

How often this is cited (last 24 months)

In the last 24 months, 393.75A was cited 14,048 times at roadside inspections against 9,221 carriers, and 90.3% of those citations were out-of-service violations. It ranks #17 among the violation codes in our records by citation count. Most recent citation on record: Oct 13, 2026.

Why this gets cited

Picking up a nail/screw without noticing (most common on outside duals — driver can't see them). Slow leak from valve stem. Tire bead leak after curb strike.

How to fix / prevent

Daily pre-trip tire hammer-tap (each tire) catches most slow leaks. TPMS retrofit ($800-1,500 fleet-wide) catches them in real-time. Don't drive on a known flat — call road service.

Out-of-service criteria

Yes — this violation IS out-of-service eligible. When an inspector finds 393.75A during a Level 1, 2, or 3 inspection, they can place the Vehicle 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 Vehicle Maintenance 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

393.75A carries a severity weight of 8/10 in FMCSA's Safety Measurement System (SMS). Higher weights mean faster CSA percentile movement. Combined with a time-weighting factor (3× 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 393.75A in FMCSA inspection records (rolling 24-month window).

  • SWIFT TRANSPORTATION COMPANY OF ARIZONA LLC
    DOT #54283 • last cited 2026-08-02
    65×
  • FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION
    DOT #86876 • last cited 2026-09-24
    63×
  • SCHNEIDER NATIONAL CARRIERS INC
    DOT #264184 • last cited 2026-09-23
    61×
  • J B HUNT TRANSPORT INC
    DOT #80806 • last cited 2026-10-11
    58×
  • US XPRESS INC
    DOT #303024 • last cited 2026-06-29
    47×
  • WESTERN EXPRESS INC
    DOT #511412 • last cited 2026-09-18
    44×
  • CRETE CARRIER CORPORATION
    DOT #73705 • last cited 2026-08-28
    37×
  • UNITED PARCEL SERVICE INC
    DOT #21800 • last cited 2026-07-30
    31×
  • WERNER ENTERPRISES INC
    DOT #53467 • last cited 2026-09-30
    30×
  • EVANS DELIVERY COMPANY INC
    DOT #38111 • last cited 2026-07-17
    30×
Other violations in Vehicle Maintenance
396.9C2OOS
Operating vehicle declared out-of-service
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)
393.71OOS
Coupling devices not maintained

Related

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I be placed out of service for 393.75A?
Yes. 393.75A 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 Vehicle 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 393 before pulling onto the road — that's the only reliable way to avoid this one.
How long does 393.75A affect my CSA score?
393.75A stays in your CSA Vehicle Maintenance 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 8/10, so each citation contributes 24 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.
What's the difference between 393.75A and similar codes?
393.75A is in the 8-code group sharing the same BASIC. The closest siblings are: <strong>396.9C2</strong> (Operating vehicle declared out-of-service); <strong>393.75A1</strong> (Tire ply or belt material exposed); <strong>393.75A3</strong> (Tire with fabric 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 393.75A cited?
In the last 24 months, 393.75A was cited 14,048 times at roadside inspections against 9,221 carriers, and 90.3% of those citations were out-of-service violations. It ranks #17 among the violation codes in our records by citation count. Most recent citation on record: Oct 13, 2026.

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