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Historical textIn force on Oct. 1, 2003Source: annual CFR edition 2003

§ 396.9 Inspection of motor vehicles in operation.

Wording in the annual edition revised as of Oct. 1, 2003, superseded by the 2004 annual edition.

govinfo, 2003 edition ↗
Before Jan. 1, 2017 the record is one snapshot per annual CFR edition, revised as of October 1. This is the 2003 edition's wording. An amendment that took effect between Oct. 1, 2003 and Oct. 1, 2003 would not appear until the next edition, so check the citations below and the Federal Register for exact effective dates.
What changedOct. 1, 2001 wording → Oct. 1, 2003 wording+13 added−7 removedHide

(a) Personnel authorized to perform inspections. Every special agent of the FMCSA (as defined in appendix B to this subchapter) is authorized to enter upon and perform inspections of motor carrier's vehicles in operation.
(b) Prescribed inspection report. The Driver-Equipment ComplianceVehicle CheckExamination Report shall be used to record results of motor vehicle inspections conducted by authorized FMCSA personnel.
(c) Motor vehicles declared “out of service.” (1) Authorized personnel shall declare and mark “out of service” any motor vehicle which by reason of its mechanical condition or loading would likely cause an accident or a breakdown. An “Out of Service Vehicle” sticker shall be used to mark vehicles “out of service.”
(2) No motor carrier shall require or permit any person to operate nor shall any person operate any motor vehicle declared and marked “out of service” until all repairs required by the “out of service notice” have been satisfactorily completed. The term “operate” as used in this section shall include towing the vehicle, except that vehicles marked “out of service” may be towed away by means of a vehicle using a crane or hoist. A vehicle combination consisting of an emergency towing vehicle and an “out of service” vehicle shall not be operated unless such combination meets the performance requirements of this subchapter except for those conditions noted on the DriverVehicle EquipmentExamination Compliance CheckReport.
(3) No person shall remove the “Out of Service Vehicle” sticker from any motor vehicle prior to completion of all repairs required by the “out of service notice”.
(d) Motor carrier disposition. (1) The driver of any motor vehicle receiving an inspection report shall deliver it to the motor carrier operating the vehicle upon his/her arrival at the next terminal or facility. If the driver is not scheduled to arrive at a terminal or facility of the motor carrier operating the vehicle within 24 hours, the driver shall immediately mail the report to the motor carrier.
(2) Motor carriers shall examine the report. Violations or defects noted thereon shall be corrected.
(3) Within 15 days following the date of the inspection, the motor carrier shall—
(i) Certify that all violations noted have been corrected by completing the “Signature of Carrier Official, Title, and Date Signed” portions of the form; and
(ii) Return the completed roadside inspection form to the issuing agency at the address indicated on the form and retain a copy at the motor carrier's principal place of business or where the vehicle is housed for 12 months from the date of the inspection.
(49 U.S.C. 3102; 49 CFR 1.48(b))
[44 FR 38526, July 2, 1979, as amended at 49 FR 38290, Sept. 28, 1984; 57 FR 40964, Sept. 8, 1992; 68 FR 56208, Sept. 30, 2003]

49 CFR § 396.9 — Inspection of motor vehicles in operation.. Text in force on October 1, 2003. This wording effective October 1, 2003 to October 1, 2004. Source: govinfo, 2003 edition, https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/CFR-2003-title49-vol4/CFR-2003-title49-vol4-sec396-9. Retrieved from FMCSR.com, https://fmcsr.com/reg/396.9?asof=2003-10-01, on October 26, 2026. Unofficial compilation; verify against the official source.

(a) Personnel authorized to perform inspections. Every special agent of the FMCSA (as defined in appendix B to this subchapter) is authorized to enter upon and perform inspections of motor carrier's vehicles in operation.

(b) Prescribed inspection report. The Driver Vehicle Examination Report shall be used to record results of motor vehicle inspections conducted by authorized FMCSA personnel.

(c) Motor vehicles declared “out of service.” (1) Authorized personnel shall declare and mark “out of service” any motor vehicle which by reason of its mechanical condition or loading would likely cause an accident or a breakdown. An “Out of Service Vehicle” sticker shall be used to mark vehicles “out of service.”

(2) No motor carrier shall require or permit any person to operate nor shall any person operate any motor vehicle declared and marked “out of service” until all repairs required by the “out of service notice” have been satisfactorily completed. The term “operate” as used in this section shall include towing the vehicle, except that vehicles marked “out of service” may be towed away by means of a vehicle using a crane or hoist. A vehicle combination consisting of an emergency towing vehicle and an “out of service” vehicle shall not be operated unless such combination meets the performance requirements of this subchapter except for those conditions noted on the Vehicle Examination Report.

(3) No person shall remove the “Out of Service Vehicle” sticker from any motor vehicle prior to completion of all repairs required by the “out of service notice”.

(d) Motor carrier disposition. (1) The driver of any motor vehicle receiving an inspection report shall deliver it to the motor carrier operating the vehicle upon his/her arrival at the next terminal or facility. If the driver is not scheduled to arrive at a terminal or facility of the motor carrier operating the vehicle within 24 hours, the driver shall immediately mail the report to the motor carrier.

(2) Motor carriers shall examine the report. Violations or defects noted thereon shall be corrected.

(3) Within 15 days following the date of the inspection, the motor carrier shall—

(i) Certify that all violations noted have been corrected by completing the “Signature of Carrier Official, Title, and Date Signed” portions of the form; and

(ii) Return the completed roadside inspection form to the issuing agency at the address indicated on the form and retain a copy at the motor carrier's principal place of business or where the vehicle is housed for 12 months from the date of the inspection.

(49 U.S.C. 3102; 49 CFR 1.48(b))

[44 FR 38526, July 2, 1979, as amended at 49 FR 38290, Sept. 28, 1984; 57 FR 40964, Sept. 8, 1992; 68 FR 56208, Sept. 30, 2003]

Amendment history

12 distinct wordings on file since Oct. 1, 1996
  1. July 22, 2026 → presenteCFR, day-precisediff vs. previous
    [73 FR 76824, Dec. 17, 2008, as amended at 75 FR 17252, Apr. 5, 2010; 77 FR 28451, May 14, 2012; 78 FR 58485, Sept. 24, 2013; 81 FR 47731, July 22, 2016; 88 FR 80193, Nov. 17, 2023; 91 FR 37056, June 22, 2026]
  2. June 22, 2026 → July 22, 2026eCFR, day-precisediff vs. previous
    [73 FR 76824, Dec. 17, 2008, as amended at 75 FR 17252, Apr. 5, 2010; 77 FR 28451, May 14, 2012; 78 FR 58485, Sept. 24, 2013; 81 FR 47731, July 22, 2016; 88 FR 80193, Nov. 17, 2023]
  3. Nov. 17, 2023 → June 22, 2026eCFR, day-precisediff vs. previous
    [73 FR 76824, Dec. 17, 2008, as amended at 75 FR 17252, Apr. 5, 2010; 77 FR 28451, May 14, 2012; 78 FR 58485, Sept. 24, 2013; 81 FR 47731, July 22, 2016; 88 FR 80193, Nov. 17, 2023]
  4. Oct. 1, 2016 → Nov. 17, 2023annual edition 2016diff vs. previous
    [73 FR 76824, Dec. 17, 2008, as amended at 75 FR 17252, Apr. 5, 2010; 77 FR 28451, May 14, 2012; 78 FR 58485, Sept. 24, 2013; 81 FR 47731, July 22, 2016]
  5. Oct. 1, 2013 → Oct. 1, 2016annual editions 2013–2015diff vs. previous
    [73 FR 76824, Dec. 17, 2008, as amended at 75 FR 17252, Apr. 5, 2010; 77 FR 28451, May 14, 2012; 78 FR 58485, Sept. 24, 2013]
  6. Oct. 1, 2012 → Oct. 1, 2013annual edition 2012diff vs. previous
    [73 FR 76824, Dec. 17, 2008, as amended at 75 FR 17252, Apr. 5, 2010; 77 FR 28451, May 14, 2012]
  7. Oct. 1, 2010 → Oct. 1, 2012annual editions 2010–2011diff vs. previous
    [73 FR 76824, Dec. 17, 2008, as amended at 75 FR 17252, Apr. 5, 2010]
  8. Oct. 1, 2009 → Oct. 1, 2010annual edition 2009diff vs. previous
    [73 FR 76824, Dec. 17, 2008]
  9. Oct. 1, 2004 → Oct. 1, 2009annual editions 2004–2008diff vs. previous
    [44 FR 38526, July 2, 1979, as amended at 49 FR 38290, Sept. 28, 1984; 57 FR 40964, Sept. 8, 1992; 68 FR 56208, Sept. 30, 2003]
  10. Oct. 1, 2003 → Oct. 1, 2004annual edition 2003diff vs. previousviewing
    [44 FR 38526, July 2, 1979, as amended at 49 FR 38290, Sept. 28, 1984; 57 FR 40964, Sept. 8, 1992; 68 FR 56208, Sept. 30, 2003]
  11. Oct. 1, 2001 → Oct. 1, 2003annual editions 2001–2002diff vs. previous
    [44 FR 38526, July 2, 1979, as amended at 49 FR 38290, Sept. 28, 1984; 57 FR 40964, Sept. 8, 1992]
  12. Oct. 1, 1996 → Oct. 1, 2001annual editions 1996–2000
    [44 FR 38526, July 2, 1979, as amended at 49 FR 38290, Sept. 28, 1984; 57 FR 40964, Sept. 8, 1992]

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.