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DOT violation code lookup
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The inspector hands you a report full of cites like 393.75(a)(3) and drives off. What did it actually mean, how hard does it hit your safety record, and is it on you or the company? This lookup answers from FMCSA's own violation list — all 2,400+ codes with their official severity weights and CSA categories — plus what to do about it.
The code is in the "Section" column of the roadside inspection report — dots and brackets don't have to match exactly.
Where these answers come from
Every code, description, severity weight and category on this page comes verbatim from FMCSA's SMS Methodology Appendix A violation list (version 3.21, retrieved 2026-09-06) — the same table the Safety Measurement System scores carriers with. Nothing is our estimate. Where the official data ends, we say so: out-of-service criteria belong to CVSA, CSA percentiles aren't public, and fine amounts live with the citing state — not in federal safety data.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find the violation code on my inspection report?
On the Driver/Vehicle Examination Report the inspector hands you, each violation line starts with a "Section" cite — something like 393.75(a)(3) or 395.8A-ELD. Type it here as written; spacing, dots and brackets don't have to match exactly. If you can't read the code, type what the violation says instead ("tire tread depth", "log not current").
What does the severity weight mean?
Every violation in FMCSA's Safety Measurement System carries an official severity weight from 1 (least severe) to 10 (most severe) — it's how much the violation counts inside its CSA BASIC category, where it stays in the carrier's record for two years with recent events weighing more. The weights shown here are FMCSA's own, from the SMS Appendix A list (version 3.21), not our judgment.
Will this violation put me out of service?
This lookup can't tell you that, and won't pretend to: out-of-service criteria are maintained by the CVSA as a separately published (licensed) document, and OOS is decided at the inspection based on the specific condition found. What we do show is the official severity weight and category — and whether the cite counts against the driver's own record in addition to the carrier's.
The violation on my report is wrong — can I get it removed?
If the DATA is wrong — wrong vehicle, wrong carrier, a code that doesn't match what happened — you can file a DataQs Request for Data Review at dataqs.fmcsa.dot.gov, and states do correct genuine errors. Two honest caveats: fixing the underlying problem after the stop does not make the violation incorrect, and nobody can promise a removal. Keep the inspection report and any evidence either way.
Does a violation mean a fine?
Not by itself. A roadside inspection violation goes into FMCSA's safety data; a fine comes separately — a state citation with its own court and amount, or a federal enforcement case. Public FMCSA data doesn't carry fine amounts, so this tool never shows one. If you got a paper citation, the amount, court and due date are printed on it.
Related
Violations show up after the stop — deadlines you can see coming
TruePermit watches the compliance calendar your operation actually has — IFTA quarters, MCS-150, UCR, state accounts — and emails you before each deadline, so paperwork never becomes the reason you're at the roadside longer. Free for one truck.
Start freeSeverity weights and categories are FMCSA's published values; how a specific inspection is scored can depend on adjudication and data review outcomes. Out-of-service determinations are made at the inspection under CVSA criteria not shown here. Not legal advice — for contesting a citation in court, talk to counsel.