Is Your Truck Legal – or Just Optimistic?
The Most Common Vehicle Violations for Movers (and Why FMCSA Is Side-Eyeing Your Fleet)
You know that one truck in your fleet?
The one that starts if you sweet-talk it, shakes like it’s possessed, and has a “check engine” light that’s basically permanent décor?
Yeah… FMCSA knows about it too.
Between roadside inspections, safety audits, and the DOT officer who can smell a missing inspection sticker from 300 feet away, movers rack up thousands of vehicle violations every year. So let’s break down the most common ones – mover-style.
1. Brakes That Braked Better Yesterday
Joke: “If your brakes squeal louder than your dispatcher on month-end, FMCSA will notice.”
This is the big one. Brake violations are consistently among the most cited issues in HHG roadside inspections. Worn pads, air leaks, bad chambers – name it, someone’s rolling with it.
Recent inspection stats: In the 2025 CVSA Roadcheck, brake-system failures made up 24.4% of all vehicle out-of-service violations… and when you include “20% defective brakes,” brake issues accounted for 40%+ of all OOS flags.
FMCSA doesn’t care that “it still stops… mostly.” If the system doesn’t meet spec, your truck – and your day – is done.
2. Lights: Works When It Wants To™
Joke: “If your marker light only turns on when you hit a pothole, that’s not a feature.”
Burnt-out lights, cracked lenses, mismatched bulbs… inspectors love this stuff.
It’s the low-hanging fruit of violations, and movers somehow still forget to do a pretrip walkaround.
Recent inspection stats: Lighting defects are consistently top-tier issues, representing roughly 12–13% of all vehicle OOS violations.
Pro tip: Flash your hazards. If your truck looks like a half-dead Christmas tree, fix it.
3. Tires Thinner Than Your Patience
Joke: “If you can see fabric threads showing, congratulations – you’ve invented the world’s saddest racing slick.”
Bald tires, sidewall damage, exposed cords, improper inflation… Movers burn through tires fast, and FMCSA is waiting with a gauge.
Recent inspection stats: Tire violations were the second most common OOS category in 2025 – accounting for 21.4% of all vehicle failures.
There’s a minimum tread depth, and no, “I’ll replace them next week” is not a legal defense.
4. Cargo Securement: The ‘Hope and a Prayer’ Method
Joke: “If your strap is older than your newest hire, it’s not holding a dresser, it’s holding a grudge.”
Mattresses flapping, boxes leaning, dollies rolling freely… Securement issues are a goldmine for violations.
Even HHG trucks get cited for unsecured pads, tools, and ramps.
Recent inspection stats: Cargo-securement problems accounted for ~9–11% of all vehicle OOS violations in recent CVSA inspections.
Tie it, strap it, or stash it – because nothing ruins a day like a DOT officer asking,
“So… does this look secure to you?”
5. Missing Annual Inspections (A.K.A. ‘I Thought We Did That?’)
Joke: “If your annual inspection sticker expired two presidents ago, FMCSA has some questions…”
Every CMV needs a documented annual inspection.
No sticker? No paperwork? Inspector’s mood instantly improves. Yours does not.
Recent inspection insight: Missing/expired annual inspections aren’t always listed separately, but they are a frequent root cause behind other OOS orders. A huge share of brake, tire, and mechanical failures trace back to overdue inspections.
6. Fluid Leaks That Would Worry a Plumber
Joke: “If the only thing not leaking is the coffee cup, the truck needs maintenance.”
Oil, coolant, power steering, brake fluid – pick your poison.
Visible leaks = fast violation.
Massive puddle = surprise vacation while you wait for a tow.
Recent inspection context: While “leaks” span multiple categories, they make up a recurring portion of “vehicle mechanical condition” OOS findings in roadside inspections. Translation: inspectors spot these fast.
7. Mirrors & Windshields Held Together by Hope (and Tape)
Joke: “If your mirror wiggles like it’s dancing to ‘Move It, Move It,’ fix it before FMCSA does.”
Cracked windshields and loose mirrors are not “character.”
They’re violations – easy ones.
Recent inspection context: Mirror/windshield defects fall under “vehicle mechanical” and “unsafe operations,” making them among the most quickly cited violations during walkarounds.
8. Emergency Gear Missing Everything Except the Dust
Joke: “Three triangles, a fire extinguisher, and maybe a little dignity – bring all of it.”
Outdated extinguisher? Missing triangles?
FMCSA loves these almost as much as light violations.
Recent inspection stats: Emergency equipment issues consistently rank alongside lighting and securement in the top 10 OOS categories during CVSA roadchecks.
Why Movers Get Cited So Much
Because HHG trucks live rough lives:
- Tight streets
- Weird driveways
- Heavy loads
- Constant stops
- Drivers who swear they “checked everything” but really just kicked a tire
FMCSA sees the patterns. And the fines? They’re very real.
How to Stay Legal Without Losing Your Mind
- Do pre-trip inspections like you actually mean it.
- Replace broken stuff now, not “after peak season.”
- Track annual inspections on a calendar – not on a sticky note.
- Teach new drivers what a real walkaround looks like.
- Retire trucks before they become OSHA fan fiction.
The goal isn’t perfection – it’s avoiding the kind of violations that make your Safety Rating blush.
Bottom Line
Your truck may be a beast, a legend, or a moving museum piece…
But FMCSA doesn’t care. If it’s not legal, it’s not rolling.
Keep it inspected, keep it repaired, keep it compliant –
and the only thing your crew will have to explain at roadside stops is why their playlist is 90% ABBA.
What do you think – got a story, gripe, or joke of your own? Drop it in the comments.