Roadside inspection: commercial motor vehicles

For law enforcement and inspectors. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations most often checked at a roadside stop: driver licensing and medical certification, hours of service, drugs and alcohol, brakes, lights, tires, cargo securement and out-of-service rules.

Current through Sep 25, 2026. A starting point, not legal advice: other rules, including state law, may apply.

  1. 49 CFR § 383.23 Commercial driver's license
  2. 49 CFR § 383.51 Disqualification of drivers
  3. 49 CFR § 391.11 General qualifications of drivers
  4. 49 CFR § 391.15 Disqualification of drivers
  5. 49 CFR § 391.41 Physical qualifications for drivers
  6. 49 CFR § 391.43 Medical examination; certificate of physical examination
  7. 49 CFR § 392.2 Applicable operating rules
  8. 49 CFR § 392.3 Ill or fatigued operator
  9. 49 CFR § 392.4 Drugs and other substances
  10. 49 CFR § 392.5 Alcohol prohibition
  11. 49 CFR § 382.201 Alcohol concentration
  12. 49 CFR § 382.213 Controlled substance use
  13. 49 CFR § 392.80 Prohibition against texting
  14. 49 CFR § 392.82 Using a hand-held mobile telephone
  15. 49 CFR § 392.16 Use of seat belts
  16. 49 CFR § 395.3 Maximum driving time for property-carrying vehicles
  17. 49 CFR § 395.5 Maximum driving time for passenger-carrying vehicles
  18. 49 CFR § 395.8 Driver's record of duty status
  19. 49 CFR § 395.13 Drivers ordered out of service
  20. 49 CFR § 395.24 Driver responsibilities—In general
  21. 49 CFR § 393.9 Lamps operable, prohibition of obstructions of lamps and reflectors
  22. 49 CFR § 393.40 Required brake systems
  23. 49 CFR § 393.47 Brake actuators, slack adjusters, linings/pads and drums/rotors
  24. 49 CFR § 393.48 Brakes to be operative
  25. 49 CFR § 393.75 Tires
  26. 49 CFR § 393.95 Emergency equipment on all power units
  27. 49 CFR § 393.100 Applicability and general requirements of cargo securement standards
  28. 49 CFR § 393.104 Standards for cargo securement devices and systems
  29. 49 CFR § 393.106 General requirements for securing articles of cargo
  30. 49 CFR § 393.110 Additional requirements for determining the minimum number of tiedowns
  31. 49 CFR § 396.3 Inspection, repair, and maintenance
  32. 49 CFR § 396.7 Unsafe operations forbidden
  33. 49 CFR § 396.9 Inspection of motor vehicles and intermodal equipment in operation
  34. 49 CFR § 396.17 Periodic inspection