Violation code

396.3A1-TAOCV

Tires - All others, in contact with a part of the vehicle.

Vehicle Maintenance8Non-OOS· SMS Appendix A v3.20

396.3A1-TAOCV is a Tires violation under 49 CFR §396.3A1-TAOCV. It falls in the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC with a severity weight of 8/10. Nationally it was cited 6,257 times in the last five years, with an OOS rate of 98.8%.

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National roadside inspection stats

as of 9/20/2026

Inspections

5,451

that found this code

Violations

6,257

total written

OOS rate

98.8%

6,182 OOS

Source: FMCSA roadside inspection data (last 5 years). The OOS rate is the share of these violations that led the officer to mark the driver or vehicle out of service.

Violation group: Tires
Regulation §: 396.3A1-TAOCV
Severity weight: 8
Used in SMS: Yes
Status: Active
Updated: 9/20/2026

Last updated September 2026

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Notes

DSMS: Y | Comment: Added in 3.15 | Footnote: As of February 1, 2023, the violations in this table are included in SMS. Only violations cited on or after February 1 are included in SMS calculations. This update aligns SMS with how violations are being cited in a new software used for roadside inspections.

What 396.3A1-TAOCV means — and how to avoid it

In plain English

In plain terms, 396.3A1-TAOCV is cited for tires - All others, in contact with a part of the vehicle. It falls under the FMCSA rules on inspection, repair, and maintenance.

What the inspector checks

•Tread depth (4/32" steer, 2/32" others) and even wear
•Cuts, bulges, sidewall damage, or exposed cord/ply
•Proper inflation and matched duals
•Flat/audible-leak tires — an automatic out-of-service item

How to prevent it

✓Thump or gauge every tire on the pre-trip, including inside duals
✓Replace before tread hits the limit, not after
✓Keep a working gauge in the truck and correct low pressure immediately

How it affects your CSA

up to 24 pts (fresh)

Severity 8/10. A fresh citation counts at the 3× time weight — up to 24 points toward the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC — then tapers to 2× after 6 months and 1× after a year, dropping off the score at 24 months.

General guidance from the violation’s FMCSA classification — not legal advice, and not a substitute for the inspector’s findings or 49 CFR.

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Challenging 396.3A1-TAOCV through FMCSA DataQs

If this violation was written incorrectly, here are the angles trucking-safety managers use to contest it. Playbook: Tires.

Relevant 49 CFR49 CFR § 396.3

Inspection, repair, and maintenance

“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.”

Common ways to challenge this code

Tread measurement disputed
The tread depth measurement was taken at a worn point that is not representative, contrary to NHTSA/FMCSA measurement standards.
Evidence that wins
- ✓Independent tread gauge reading from same tire (multiple positions)
- ✓Photograph of the tire with a reference scale
Inflation context — recent stop or temperature
The under-inflation reading was taken immediately after a long-distance high-temperature run or before warm-up, not at the FMCSA standard measurement state.
Evidence that wins
- ✓Tire-pressure-monitoring system log (TPMS)
- ✓Service receipt showing inflation at start of trip

Common pitfalls — avoid these

⚠Inflation readings can't be challenged with a re-inflation done after the stop — must show original-state evidence

⚡ Draft a challenge for 396.3A1-TAOCV →Read the DataQs guide first

More codes in Vehicle Maintenance

Same BASIC category — ranked by national citation volume

View all Vehicle Maintenance codes →

Other Tires codes

Codes under the same FMCSA violation group

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Frequently asked questions about 396.3A1-TAOCV

What does violation 396.3A1-TAOCV mean?

396.3A1-TAOCV is the FMCSA roadside-inspection violation code for "Tires - All others, in contact with a part of the vehicle.", part of the Tires group, cited under 49 CFR §396.3A1-TAOCV.

What BASIC does 396.3A1-TAOCV affect?

396.3A1-TAOCV falls under the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC in the FMCSA Safety Measurement System (SMS).

What is the CSA severity weight of 396.3A1-TAOCV?

396.3A1-TAOCV carries a severity weight of 8 out of 10. Higher weights indicate violations more closely tied to crash risk, and they count more toward a carrier's Vehicle Maintenance score.

Is 396.3A1-TAOCV an out-of-service (OOS) violation?

No. 396.3A1-TAOCV is not an out-of-service violation, so on its own it does not trigger an out-of-service order at the roadside.

How many CSA points does 396.3A1-TAOCV add to a carrier's score?

The point contribution of 396.3A1-TAOCV depends on its severity weight (8/10) multiplied by a time weight of 3, 2, or 1 based on how recent the inspection is. You can calculate the exact contribution with the CSA points calculator.

How can a driver prevent 396.3A1-TAOCV?

Thump or gauge every tire on the pre-trip, including inside duals; Replace before tread hits the limit, not after; Keep a working gauge in the truck and correct low pressure immediately.

Can 396.3A1-TAOCV be challenged through DataQs?

Yes. If you believe 396.3A1-TAOCV was recorded in error, you can file a Request for Data Review (RDR) through the FMCSA DataQs system with supporting evidence. A successful challenge can remove or correct the violation on your record.

Keep going

CSA points calculator How to challenge a violation Draft a DataQs letter for 396.3A1-TAOCV Vehicle Maintenance BASIC Carrier CSA lookup CSA glossary

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