§FMCSR.com
Historical textIn force on Oct. 1, 2000Source: annual CFR editions 1996–2008

§ 396.3 Inspection, repair, and maintenance.

Wording first on file in the 1996 annual edition, superseded by the 2009 annual edition.

govinfo, 2000 edition ↗
Before Jan. 1, 2017 the record is one snapshot per annual CFR edition, revised as of October 1. This is the 2000 edition's wording. An amendment that took effect between Oct. 1, 2000 and Oct. 1, 2000 would not appear until the next edition, so check the citations below and the Federal Register for exact effective dates.
49 CFR § 396.3 — Inspection, repair, and maintenance.. Text in force on October 1, 2000. This wording effective October 1, 1996 to October 1, 2009. Source: govinfo, 2000 edition, https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/CFR-2000-title49-vol4/CFR-2000-title49-vol4-sec396-3. Retrieved from FMCSR.com, https://fmcsr.com/reg/396.3?asof=2000-10-01, on October 26, 2026. Unofficial compilation; verify against the official source.

(a) General. Every motor carrier shall systematically inspect, repair, and maintain, or cause to be systematically inspected, repaired, and maintained, all motor vehicles 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 systems.

(2) Pushout windows, emergency doors, and emergency door marking lights in buses shall be inspected at least every 90 days.

(b) Required records—For vehicles controlled for 30 consecutive days or more, except for a private motor carrier of passengers (nonbusiness), the motor carriers shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, the following record for each vehicle:

(1) An identification of the vehicle including company number, if so marked, make, serial number, year, and tire size. In addition, if the motor vehicle is not owned by the motor carrier, the record shall identify the name of the person furnishing the vehicle;

(2) A means to indicate the nature and due date of the various inspection and maintenance operations to be performed;

(3) A record of inspection, repairs, and maintenance indicating their date and nature; and

(4) A record of tests conducted on pushout windows, emergency doors, and emergency door marking lights on buses.

(c) Record retention. The records required by this section shall be retained where the vehicle is either housed or maintained for a period of 1 year and for 6 months after the motor vehicle leaves the motor carrier's control.

[44 FR 38526, July 2, 1979, as amended at 48 FR 55868, Dec. 16, 1983; 53 FR 18058, May 19, 1988; 59 FR 8753, Feb. 23, 1994; 59 FR 60324, Nov. 23, 1994]

Amendment history

3 distinct wordings on file since Oct. 1, 1996
  1. July 21, 2026 → presenteCFR, day-precisediff vs. previous
    [44 FR 38526, July 2, 1979, as amended at 48 FR 55868, Dec. 16, 1983; 53 FR 18058, May 19, 1988; 59 FR 8753, Feb. 23, 1994; 59 FR 60324, Nov. 23, 1994; 73 FR 75824, Dec. 17, 2008; 91 FR 45662, July 21, 2026]
  2. Oct. 1, 2009 → July 21, 2026annual editions 2009–2016diff vs. previous
    [44 FR 38526, July 2, 1979, as amended at 48 FR 55868, Dec. 16, 1983; 53 FR 18058, May 19, 1988; 59 FR 8753, Feb. 23, 1994; 59 FR 60324, Nov. 23, 1994; 73 FR 75824, Dec. 17, 2008]
  3. Oct. 1, 1996 → Oct. 1, 2009annual editions 1996–2008viewing
    [44 FR 38526, July 2, 1979, as amended at 48 FR 55868, Dec. 16, 1983; 53 FR 18058, May 19, 1988; 59 FR 8753, Feb. 23, 1994; 59 FR 60324, Nov. 23, 1994]

A new entry appears whenever the regulatory words change between government snapshots. Day-precise from the eCFR (2017 onward); before that, one snapshot per annual CFR edition (revised as of October 1). Bracketed citations are the Federal Register history printed with the section.