AFTER A ROADSIDE INSPECTION

After an Out-of-Service Order: What to Do in the Next 15 Days

An out-of-service order stops a truck where it stands. Getting it moving again is the first job. Finding out why it happened is the bigger one.

THE KEY FACT After a roadside inspection, the carrier has 15 days to certify that every violation noted was corrected, and must keep a copy of the report. Source: eCFR, 49 CFR 396.9

The truck doesn’t move until it’s fixed

No one may operate a vehicle declared out of service until every repair the notice requires is complete, and the out-of-service sticker stays on until then. Operating includes towing, except by a vehicle using a crane or hoist (49 CFR 396.9).

The 15-day clock

The driver has to get the inspection report to the company. Within 15 days of the inspection, the company certifies that every violation on the report was corrected, returns the form if the state asks for it, and keeps a copy at its principal place of business (49 CFR 396.9). The repairs also belong in the vehicle’s maintenance records (49 CFR 396.3).

What the order says about your program

An out-of-service order is usually a symptom. A brake problem points to inspection and maintenance practices. A driver violation points to qualification files or hours of service records. For a carrier still in its first 18 months, operating a vehicle placed out of service is one of the problems that can bring an expedited safety audit or compliance review (49 CFR 385.308). Fixing the truck closes the order. Fixing the program is the work that’s still waiting after the truck is back on the road.

WHAT YOUR PFM TEAM HANDLES
  • The inspection report collected from the driver the same day
  • The repair tracked to completion, and the 15-day certification ready for your signature and returned on time
  • The repair added to the truck’s maintenance record
  • Every violation reviewed, and challenged through DataQs when it looks inaccurate. The agency decides.
  • The gap behind it found and worked: inspections, maintenance, driver files or hours

Common questions

Can I tow a truck that was placed out of service?Only with a vehicle using a crane or hoist. Otherwise, towing counts as operating it, and the truck can’t be operated until the repairs are done.
How long do I have to certify the repairs?15 days from the date of the inspection, under 49 CFR 396.9(d)(3).
Will an out-of-service order trigger an audit?For new entrants, operating a vehicle placed out of service is one of the violations that can bring an expedited safety audit or compliance review under 49 CFR 385.308.

This page explains the rules in general. It isn’t legal advice, and exemptions depend on the details of your operation.

Find the gap behind the order

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