Violation codes / 396.3A1

396.3A1

What the rule actually says

This violation cites 49 CFR 396.3, inspection, repair, and maintenance. The regulation reads:

(a) General. Every motor carrier and intermodal equipment provider must systematically inspect, repair, and maintain, or cause to be systematically inspected, repaired, and maintained, all motor vehicles and intermodal equipment subject to its control.

(1) Parts and accessories shall be in safe and proper operating condition at all times. These include those specified in part 393 of this subchapter and any additional parts and accessories which may affect safety of operation, including but not limited to, frame and frame assemblies, suspension systems, axles and attaching parts, wheels and rims, and steering syste…

The section continues.

49 CFR 396.3, Inspection, repair, and maintenance. Read the full section on eCFR

Quoted verbatim from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Nothing here is a paraphrase, and nothing here is legal advice on a citation.

How often this comes up

This violation was recorded 107,591 times across the roadside inspections in the FMCSA file, making it the 25th most frequently cited code. Whether a given instance puts a vehicle or driver out of service is decided at the roadside by the inspector, not by the code itself, so the same violation can end a trip or simply be noted.

It sits under 49 CFR Part 396, which covers inspection, repair and maintenance. To see it in context, look up a carrier and read its inspection history: the same code appearing repeatedly is a different signal from a single occurrence.

Look up a carrier's inspection record

Other inspection, repair and maintenance violations

• 396.17C-PI Operating a CMV without documentation of a p…
• 396.17C Operating a CMV without proof of a periodic …
• 396.5B-L Lubrication - Oil or grease leak
• 396.5B Oil and/or grease leak
• 396.3A1-BOS Brake - Defective brake(s) are equal to or g…
• 396.3A1BOS BRAKES OUT OF SERVICE: The number of defecti…
• 396.3A1-BALAC Brake - Audible air leak from a brake chambe…
• 396.3A1B Brakes (general) Explain:
• 396.9D2-FTF Failing to correct the violation(s)/defect(s…
• 396.3A1-ALBV Air Brake - Any leak from a brake valve
• 396.5B-HWSL Hubs - Wheel seal leaking
• 396.3A1BL Brake system pressure loss

Counts are from the FMCSA Inspections and Violations file via data.transportation.gov. This describes how the violation is recorded, and is not legal advice on a citation.