If you’ve ever looked at a roadside inspection report and seen a 392.2 violation, you probably scratched your head for a second. What on earth is that?
Think of it as the federal government’s “catch-all” ticket. It’s not one specific rule. Instead, it’s a broad category that sweeps up any state or local traffic law you might break while operating a commercial vehicle.
What a 392.2 Violation Means for Your Fleet
When you get dinged for a §392.2 violation, what actually happened could be one of hundreds of different things. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) basically uses this rule to say, “Hey, whatever the local law is where you’re driving, you have to follow it.”
That’s exactly why it’s one of the most common violations you’ll ever see. A simple speeding ticket in Ohio, an expired tag spotted in Texas, or an improper lane change out in California—if it’s illegal locally, it gets rolled up and recorded federally under §392.2. These are usually received when the local police officer doesn’t have the certification to inspect a CMV.
This pie chart gives you a pretty clear picture of where the biggest risks are for most fleets.
As you can see, easily preventable issues like speeding and registration problems make up the lion’s share of these citations.
Each one of these seemingly minor local tickets has a direct impact on your CSA scores. Rack up enough of them, and you’ll see it reflected in your overall DOT safety rating.
The key isn’t to train for one specific action; it’s about building a solid, proactive system to manage hundreds of potential local issues before they happen. That’s how you keep your trucks rolling, your scores clean, and your business protected from unnecessary headaches.
The Top 10 Most Common 392.2 Violations
To sidestep a §392.2 violation, you have to know what inspectors are looking for on the roadside. It’s a “catch-all” rule, which sounds intimidating because it can cover hundreds of different state and local laws. But here’s the reality: only a handful of these issues cause the vast majority of problems for your fleet.
Let’s look at the numbers. According to FMCSA roadside inspection data for calendar year 2024, there were 878,779 total §392.2 violations recorded nationwide.
The good news? The ten most common infractions make up a huge chunk of that total. If you focus your prevention efforts on these specific areas, you’ll be tackling your biggest risks head-on. Together, these top ten categories account for the vast majority of all §392.2 violations.
Top 10 Roadside Violations Under §392.2
Drilling down into the data, we can see exactly what gets you into trouble most often. This table highlights the top violations cited under §392.2 and gives you some real-world advice on how to keep them off your record.
| Violation Code | Description & Percentage | Real-World Example | How You Can Prevent It |
|---|---|---|---|
| 392.2SLLSR | State or local registration/tag violation (13.49%) | An inspector notices the registration sticker on your license plate expired last month. | Implement a tracking system that sends automated alerts 60-90 days before any vehicle registration expires. |
| 392.2RG | State vehicle registration or license plate violation (6.62%) | An officer discovers your truck’s license plate is missing or you can’t produce the physical registration card. | Make it a pre-trip checklist item to physically verify the plate is secure and the registration is in the permit book. |
| 392.2SLL | General state or local laws violation (5.72%) | You get cited for a large crack in the windshield or a mud flap that doesn’t meet that specific state’s requirements. | Integrate state-specific equipment rules into your driver training and pre-trip inspection policies. |
| 392.2SLLTCD | Failure to obey a traffic control device (5.55%) | You run a red light, roll through a stop sign, or ignore a yield sign, often caught on an officer’s dash cam. | Use telematics and event-triggered dash cam footage to identify risky driving behaviors and provide immediate coaching. |
| 392.2SLLEQP | Violation of state or local equipment laws (4.80%) | A headlight is burned out, or a section of conspicuity tape is peeling off, which violates a particular state’s law. | Reinforce the importance of thorough pre-trip and post-trip inspections every single day. No exceptions. |
| 392.2SLLS2 | Speeding 6–10 mph over the limit (4.60%) | You fail to slow down when entering a town with a reduced speed limit, triggering a common speeding ticket. | Set up alerts in your telematics system to notify both you and your drivers in real-time when they exceed posted speed limits. |
| 392.2SLLEWA1 | Excessive weight, 1–2,500 lbs over (4.43%) | At a scale house, your truck’s steer axle is found to be 1,500 pounds over the legal limit due to poor load distribution. | Train on proper axle weight distribution and strongly encourage the use of CAT scales before leaving a shipper. |
| 392.2SLLIFTA | Fuel tax or IFTA violation (4.07%) | An inspector finds that the IFTA decal on the truck is expired or you don’t have the proper IFTA license in the cab. | Apply new IFTA decals as soon as they arrive and ensure a copy of the current license is in every truck’s permit book. |
| 392.2SLLIRP | IRP apportioned tag or registration violation (3.64%) | You are operating in a state that is not listed on your IRP cab card, making the trip illegal in that jurisdiction. | Regularly audit your IRP documents to ensure all operating states are correctly listed and you always have the current cab card. |
| 392.2W | General excessive weight violation (3.63%) | Your truck is found to be significantly overweight on its gross vehicle weight, beyond the 1-2,500 lbs category. | Have a clear, firm policy for what to do if you suspect a load is overweight before you ever hit the road. |
As you can see, many of these top citations aren’t related to dangerous driving but to simple administrative slip-ups. These are often the “low-hanging fruit” for inspectors but also the easiest to prevent with solid systems in place.
Whether it’s a paperwork oversight or a moving violation, each of these can contribute to the many types of DOT violations that hurt your CSA scores and increase your chance of an audit. Staying on top of these common issues is one of the smartest things you can do for your fleet’s safety and profitability.
How 392.2 Violations Hurt Your CSA Scores
A 392.2 violation isn’t just an expensive ticket—it’s a direct hit to your company’s safety reputation. Every citation feeds right into your critical Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) scores, which are out there for the public and the DOT to see 24/7.
Think of these violations as black marks on your fleet’s permanent record. Most moving violations cited under §392.2, like speeding or a sloppy lane change, pile points onto your Unsafe Driving BASIC category.
Too many points can trigger DOT audits, send your insurance premiums through the roof, and make you a “no-go” for top shippers who check safety data before they even think about awarding a contract.
Connecting Violations to CSA Points
Not all violations are created equal in the eyes of the FMCSA. They assign severity points based on how risky an action is, which means some mistakes sting a lot more than others.
Violations under 392.2 get quantified using the CSA points system. For example, some of the most common ones are all worth 5 points each:
- Failure to obey a traffic control device
- Following too closely
- Improper lane change
- Improper passing
The more points you rack up, the higher your CSA score climbs in that category. A high score is basically a giant red flag for the DOT, signaling that you’re a higher-risk carrier. This can lock you into a nasty cycle of more frequent and intense roadside inspections.
Understanding this link is everything. Each point tacked onto your record drives up your liability and operational costs. Preventing these violations isn’t just about dodging fines; it’s one of the smartest investments you can make in your fleet’s long-term health. To really get into the weeds of how this all works, check out our complete CSA points guide. Protecting your scores means protecting your entire business.
Why Traffic Control Violations Are a Major Red Flag
Look, an expired tag is a problem, but some 392.2 violations set off much louder alarm bells for the FMCSA. High-risk infractions, especially failing to obey traffic control devices (TCDs), signal a serious safety problem that inspectors don’t take lightly.
When you run a red light, roll through a stop sign, or blow past an officer directing traffic, it’s not seen as a simple mistake. To an inspector, these are conscious decisions that show a potential disregard for public safety.
Specifically, the violation for failure to obey traffic control devices (392.2TCD) is a huge deal. This covers everything from ignoring a traffic signal to not following instructions from law enforcement. These aren’t just accidents; they’re choices that put everyone on the road at risk. You can get a deeper breakdown of 392.2C violations to see just how they’re viewed on the roadside.
From a Single Ticket to a Fleet-Wide Problem
A few of these high-severity violations can quickly wreck your fleet’s risk profile. Each FTO violation dumps a load of points onto your Unsafe Driving BASIC score. Before you know it, you’re a magnet for more frequent inspections and tougher interventions.
An inspector sees a FTO violation as a conscious decision that could lead to a catastrophic crash. It suggests a potential breakdown in your safety culture, moving beyond a simple administrative error into the realm of dangerous behavior.
Understanding this difference is key. It helps you focus your training on the violations that pose the greatest threat to your operations and your operating authority.
And if a crash does happen? Those prior violations will make a bad situation a whole lot worse. Learning about the Crash Preventability Determination Program is a good step to understanding how fault is assessed and why a clean record is your best defense.
Building Your Proactive Prevention Strategy
The absolute best way to handle a 392.2 violation is to make sure it never happens in the first place. This means getting out of a reactive mindset and building a proactive defense against the citations that wreck your CSA scores and crank up your liability.
This isn’t just about dodging fines. It’s about building a system where compliance is the path of least resistance for everyone in your operation. The easiest place to start? Tackling the low-hanging fruit—those pesky administrative errors that account for a huge chunk of §392.2 tickets.
Systems and Technology
First things first, you need a bulletproof system for tracking your critical documents. Set up a digital calendar or use your fleet management software to send you—and anyone else who needs to know—automated alerts for vehicle registrations, permits, and IFTA credentials. Give yourself a 90-day cushion before they expire. Taking this one simple step can all but eliminate an entire category of violations.
Next, it’s time to use the technology you’re already paying for inside your trucks. Telematics and dash cams are incredibly powerful tools for keeping a finger on the pulse of real-time driving behaviors.
- Speeding Alerts: Configure your system to send a notification to you and your driver the moment they go over the posted speed limit.
- Harsh Events: Data from harsh braking or jackrabbit starts is a goldmine. Use it to pinpoint drivers who need coaching on issues like following too closely.
- Positive Reinforcement: Don’t forget to recognize the good stuff. Reward your safest drivers who consistently operate without any incidents.
Training and Culture
A rock-solid defense requires more than just good tech. To really minimize the risk of a 392.2 violation and other regulatory headaches, you have to invest in your people. This means implementing effective compliance training strategies that tackle the specific, real-world risks your drivers actually face.
A proactive safety culture doesn’t just happen by accident. It’s built brick-by-brick through consistent training, clear communication, and holding everyone accountable—from the driver’s seat to the corner office.
Tailor your training to focus on things like route-specific laws and the seasonal challenges you’ll encounter. When you combine smart systems with ongoing, relevant education, you’re laying the foundation for a top-tier trucking company safety program. Before you know it, your entire team becomes an active part of your compliance solution.
Your Questions About 392.2 Violations Answered
Is a 392.2 violation just a speeding ticket?
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Stop chasing paperwork and start getting ahead of violations. My Safety Manager provides a complete DOT compliance solution, covering everything from CSA score management to driver qualification files, all for a flat, predictable fee. See how we can protect your safety rating by visiting us at https://www.mysafetymanager.com today.
