Resource / Regulatory Reference

Federal Fleet
Inspection Rules.

The federal layer. What FMCSA requires. What CVSA looks for at roadside. Where to find the current text, where to watch for changes, and what technicians actually check when prepping a vehicle.

Last reviewed
May 2026
Coverage
FMCSA & CVSA
Scope
Annual + roadside
01 / The two regimes

One body writes the rule.
Another decides if you pass.

Authority

FMCSA

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration / U.S. DOT
Program
49 CFR Part 393 (parts and accessories) and 49 CFR Part 396 (inspection, repair, maintenance). Appendix A to Part 396 lists the components covered by the annual periodic inspection.
Cadence and scope
  • Annual periodic inspection under 49 CFR 396.17. Every commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce: over 10,000 lbs GVWR, 16 or more passengers including driver, or hazmat placarded.
  • Driver vehicle inspection report at the end of each driving day under 49 CFR 396.11.
  • Brake inspector qualification standard under 49 CFR 396.19.
  • Buses: pushout windows, emergency doors, and emergency door marking lights at least every 90 days.
  • Inspection certificate kept with the vehicle. Records retained 14 months.
Revision rhythm
No fixed calendar. FMCSA amends through rulemaking, with notices published in the Federal Register. Cadence is irregular and driven by docket activity.
Where to read the rule
Pass / Fail

CVSA

Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance / North America
Program
North American Standard Inspection Program plus the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria. The criteria set the threshold inspectors use at roadside to decide pass or fail.
Cadence and scope
  • Criteria revised annually, effective April 1.
  • Proposed changes communicated to members in fall, ratified in October, handbook published in February, in force April 1.
  • Inspection Levels I through VIII cover full, walk around, driver only, special study, terminal, jurisdictional mandated, and others.
  • International Roadcheck, a three day annual enforcement blitz, scheduled for May 12 to 14 in 2026.
2026 edition
Seventeen changes approved by CVSA members in October 2025 and effective April 1, 2026. Topics include brake hose / tubing reclassification under the 20 percent rule, hydraulic and electric brake lining alignment with federal standards, parking and emergency brake heading, ELD tampering as a separate condition, and alcohol threshold clarification.
Where to read the criteria
02 / Tracking changes

Watch these feeds.
One for the rule, one for the verdict.

Source
Endpoint or URL
Use it for
Federal Register API
federalregister.gov/developers
Free, no API key. JSON or CSV. Filter by agency (FMCSA), document type, CFR title. Best for catching new and proposed FMCSA rules the day they post.
eCFR API
ecfr.gov/developers
Free, no key, updated daily. Pulls current text plus version history. Good for diffing the present 49 CFR 396 against an earlier date.
Regulations.gov API
open.gsa.gov/api/regulationsgov
Free with key. Best for tracking dockets and comment periods on proposed rules before they hit the Federal Register.
FMCSA Federal Register page
fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations
FMCSA's own filtered listing of its rules and notices. Good for human review.
CVSA news page
cvsa.org/news
No public API confirmed. Watch for the fall member letter outlining next year's changes and the February webinar walkthrough.
CVSA Out-of-Service Criteria app
App Store / Google Play
Paid. Reference copy of the current year handbook with examples and bulletins.

Common workflow

Poll the Federal Register and eCFR APIs nightly for changes to 49 CFR 393 and 396. Subscribe to the CVSA news page and watch for the fall letter. Update internal tech references in March, before the April 1 OOSC effective date.

03 / Checks before the inspector arrives

What techs actually ask
before the inspector pulls up.

01 / Brakes

Lining, slack, leaks

Lining thickness, slack adjuster travel, air loss rate during static test, hose chafing, and gladhand or service air connection condition. The 2026 OOSC moves several brake conditions under the 20 percent defective brakes rule.

49 CFR 393.40 to 393.55 / OOSC Part II Item 1
02 / Tires

Tread, sidewall, pressure

Minimum tread depth: 4/32 inch on any steer axle, 2/32 inch elsewhere. Sidewall cuts or bulges exposing cord. Sidewall leaks are now OOS regardless of automatic tire inflation systems.

49 CFR 393.75 / OOSC Part II Item 12
03 / Lights and reflectors

All required positions

Headlamps, tail, stop, turn, clearance, identification, side marker, reflectors. Trailer lighting circuit through the seven pin connector. Verify all positions function before the inspector starts.

49 CFR 393.9, 393.11
04 / Steering and suspension

Play, U-bolts, springs

Steering wheel lash, tie rod and drag link condition, U-bolt torque, leaf spring fractures, missing or broken shocks, air bag leaks.

49 CFR 393.207, 393.209 / OOSC Part II Items 9, 11
05 / Coupling and frame

Fifth wheel, kingpin, cracks

Fifth wheel mounting, locking jaws, kingpin wear, safety devices. Frame cracks, sagging, missing fasteners. Cargo securement chains, binders, and tiedown count for the load.

49 CFR 393.70, 393.100 / OOSC Part II Items 3, 4
06 / Exhaust and fuel

Leaks, mounting, caps

Exhaust leaks forward of or directly below the driver compartment on a truck. Any exhaust leak on a bus is OOS. Fuel cap presence, tank mounting, no visible drip.

49 CFR 393.83, 393.65
07 / Wheels, rims, hubs

Cracks, loose fasteners

Visible cracks in rim or wheel. Loose, broken, or missing lug nuts. Hub oil level and seal condition. Wheel and rim conditions were updated in the 2026 OOSC.

49 CFR 393.205 / OOSC Part II Item 13
08 / Emergency equipment

Triangles, extinguisher, fuses

Three reflective triangles. Fire extinguisher charged and mounted. Spare fuses if the electrical system uses them. Hazmat placards, if applicable, in good condition.

49 CFR 393.95

READ THIS FIRST. This page is a working reference, not a substitute for the source documents. Always verify against the current eCFR text and the current year CVSA Out-of-Service Criteria handbook before making a maintenance, training, or compliance decision.

State programs may add requirements that go beyond the federal baseline. See the state pages for the layer that applies to your terminal.

Page maintained by YardWise. Updates reflect federal regulatory text and CVSA published criteria as of the review date above.