FMCSA Violation Code

393.84 — Floor in unsafe condition (cracked, rusted)

49 CFR 393 • Vehicle Maintenance BASIC • Severity 1/10

Vehicle citation CSA weight 1

Low severity

Code

393.84

CFR section

49 CFR 393

BASIC

Vehicle Maintenance

Severity

1/10

Out-of-Service

Unit type

Vehicle

What this violation means

Cab floor rusted through, cracked, or otherwise unsafe. 1 SMS point. Mostly applies to old trucks where rust has eaten through to road below.

How often this is cited (last 24 months)

In the last 24 months, 393.84 was cited 365 times at roadside inspections against 319 carriers, and 1.1% of those citations were out-of-service violations. It ranks #50 among the violation codes in our records by citation count. Most recent citation on record: Oct 5, 2026.

Why this gets cited

Rust over 1M+ miles in salt-belt regions. Damage from cargo (in cab-over straight trucks).

How to fix / prevent

Patch rust holes with sheet metal or floor pan replacement.

Out-of-service criteria

No — this violation is not typically out-of-service eligible. The inspector will note 393.84 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 1/10 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

393.84 carries a severity weight of 1/10 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 393.84 in FMCSA inspection records (rolling 24-month window).

INTERNACIONAL DE RENTAS VENTAS Y SERVICIOS SA DE CV
DOT #2872063 • last cited 2026-06-08
5×
NORA NELLY TERRAZAS ZARATE
DOT #2592666 • last cited 2026-04-15
5×
TRANSPORTES RAPIDOS DEL DESIERTO SA DE CV
DOT #1059158 • last cited 2026-04-02
5×
MOISES DE LOERA LOPEZ
DOT #3449001 • last cited 2026-05-18
4×
JOSE BELISARIO RUBIO ARIZPE
DOT #558393 • last cited 2026-05-08
4×
JOSE ISABEL CASTILLO MEDINA
DOT #2526208 • last cited 2026-01-26
4×
MANUEL RODRIGUEZ ESPINOZA
DOT #4456326 • last cited 2026-06-10
3×
MONARCA CARRIERS LLC
DOT #3558681 • last cited 2026-06-01
3×
GABRIELA GUERRA BARRERA
DOT #886218 • last cited 2026-04-08
3×
ACME TRUCK LINE INC
DOT #52767 • last cited 2025-11-06
3×

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 393.84?

No — 393.84 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 393.84 plus a brake violation, they're putting you OOS for the brake issue, not this one.

How long does 393.84 affect my CSA score?

393.84 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 1/10, so each citation contributes 3 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 393.84 and similar codes?

393.84 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 393.84 cited?

CSA scores rising? Get a compliance audit.

(682) 978-8641 Send a message

393.84 — Floor in unsafe condition (cracked, rusted)

What this violation means

Related

Frequently Asked Questions

CSA scores rising? Get a compliance audit.

Ready to Grow Your Trucking Business?