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TruckingWikiRegulatory reference · Est. 2026
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Front pageEquipment and cargo securement
TW-EQUIP
FEDERAL RULE · 49 CFR PART 393

Equipment and cargo securement

Section 06✓ Sources verified49 CFR § 393.1TW-EQUIP

Part 393 sets the minimum equipment standards a commercial vehicle must meet before it may be operated at all. The duty is placed on the carrier, not only the driver, and it is a condition of operation rather than an inspection item.

1 Key rules

RuleRequirementAuthority
RequirementThe rules establish minimum standards for commercial motor vehicles as defined in § 390.5. No motor carrier may operate a commercial motor vehicle, or cause or permit it to be operated, unless it is equipped in accordance with the requirements and specifications of this part.The prohibition runs against the carrier, so an equipment defect is a carrier violation and not only a driver one.§ 393.1(a), (c)
Exemptions existYes§ 393.1(a)
ExemptionsOnly vehicles meeting the commercial motor vehicle definition in § 390.5 are subject to this part. Requirements referring to a GVWR below 4,536 kg (10,001 pounds) apply only where the vehicle or combination still meets that definition. Intermodal equipment providers carry parallel duties for equipment interchanged to carriers.§ 393.1(a), (b)(2), (d)

2 Sources

  1. Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation — FMCSA
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