Roadside inspection checklist — the violations that put trucks out of service

Why the OOS rate is the number that follows you

An out-of-service order means the truck or driver can't move until the problem is fixed. Each one becomes a permanent line in FMCSA's public inspection file for 24 months, and your OOS rate — OOS inspections divided by all inspections — is compared against the national average on every carrier lookup tool, this one included. The current national averages, computed from the SMS file, are shown on every report card here.

What inspectors write most

From CVSA's annual International Roadcheck results, the top vehicle OOS categories are consistently the same handful:

• Brakes — out-of-adjustment and defective brake components together are the largest share every year
• Tires — tread below 2/32" (4/32" on steers), exposed cord, flat or audible leak
• Lights — inoperative required lamps, especially on the trailer
• Cargo securement — insufficient tie-downs, damaged straps
• Defective/missing components — suspension, steering, coupling devices

Top driver OOS reasons: hours-of-service (over hours or false logs), wrong class of license or no CDL for the vehicle, and suspended license. Since 2025, inspectors have also been placing drivers out of service for failing the English-proficiency requirement under 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2).

The 10-minute pre-trip that matters

1. Brakes: listen for air leaks with the brakes applied; check pushrod travel at the slack adjusters if you can see them; look for cracked drums and thin linings.
2. Tires: tread depth gauge on every tire, pressure by gauge not by kicking, no sidewall bulges or exposed belts.
3. Lights: walk around with everything on — headlights, markers, turn signals, brake lights, reflectors, trailer plate light.
4. Securement: count tie-downs against the load's weight and length (49 CFR 393.100–136), check strap wear and edge protection.
5. Paperwork: registration, insurance card, medical card, ELD malfunction sheet, permit book, IFTA, annual inspection sticker on tractor and trailer.
6. ELD: logs certified, unassigned driving resolved, at least the last 7 days available for transfer.

After an inspection

Ask for a copy of the inspection report and read it on the spot. Violations without an OOS order still count toward BASIC measures. If something is wrong — wrong DOT number, a violation that was actually the shipper's, a citation later dismissed — file a DataQs request within the window while you still have photos and paperwork.

Sources: CVSA International Roadcheck, North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria, 49 CFR Part 393.