C.F.R. » Title 49 » CHAPTER III—FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION › SUBCHAPTER B—FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY REGULATIONS › PART 396—INSPECTION, REPAIR, AND MAINTENANCE

49 C.F.R. § 396.17

Periodic inspection

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(a) Every commercial motor vehicle must be inspected as required by this section. The inspection must include, at a minimum, the parts and accessories set forth in appendix A to this part. The term commercial motor vehicle includes each vehicle in a combination vehicle. For example, for a tractor semitrailer, full trailer combination, the tractor, semitrailer, and the full trailer (including the converter dolly if so equipped) must each be inspected.

(b) Except as provided in § 396.23 and this paragraph, motor carriers must inspect or cause to be inspected all motor vehicles subject to their control. Intermodal equipment providers must inspect or cause to be inspected intermodal equipment that is interchanged or intended for interchange to motor carriers in intermodal transportation.

(c) A motor carrier must not use a commercial motor vehicle, and an intermodal equipment provider must not tender equipment to a motor carrier for interchange, unless each component identified in appendix A to this part has passed an inspection in accordance with the terms of this section at least once during the preceding 12 months and documentation of such inspection is on the vehicle. The documentation may be:

(1) The inspection report prepared in accordance with § 396.21(a), or

(2) Other forms of documentation, based on the inspection report (e.g., sticker or decal), which contains the following information:

(i) The date of inspection;

(ii) Name and address of the motor carrier, intermodal equipment provider, or other entity where the inspection report is maintained;

(iii) Information uniquely identifying the vehicle inspected if not clearly marked on the motor vehicle; and

(iv) A certification that the vehicle has passed an inspection in accordance with § 396.17.

(d) A motor carrier may perform the required annual inspection for vehicles under the carrier's control which are not subject to an inspection under § 396.23(a)(1). An intermodal equipment provider may perform the required annual inspection for intermodal equipment interchanged or intended for interchange to motor carriers that are not subject to an inspection under § 396.23(a)(1).

(e) In lieu of the self-inspection provided for in paragraph (d) of this section, a motor carrier or intermodal equipment provider responsible for the inspection may choose to have a commercial garage, fleet leasing company, truck stop, or other similar commercial business perform the inspection as its agent, provided that business operates and maintains facilities appropriate for commercial vehicle inspections and it employs qualified inspectors, as required by § 396.19.

(f) Vehicles passing periodic inspections performed under the auspices of any State government or equivalent jurisdiction in the Canadian Provinces, the Yukon Territory, and Mexico, meeting the minimum standards contained in appendix A to this part, will be considered to have met the requirements of an annual inspection for a period of 12 months commencing from the last day of the month in which the inspection was performed.

(g) It is the responsibility of the motor carrier or intermodal equipment provider to ensure that all parts and accessories on commercial motor vehicles intended for use in interstate commerce for which they are responsible are maintained at, or promptly repaired to, the minimum standards set forth in appendix A to this part.

(h) Failure to perform properly the annual inspection required by this section shall cause the motor carrier or intermodal equipment provider to be subject to the penalty provisions of 49 U.S.C. 521(b).

[73 FR 76825, Dec. 17, 2008, as amended at 81 FR 47732, July 22, 2016; 83 FR 22881, May 17, 2018; 86 FR 57077, Oct. 14, 2021]
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 15 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1992–2026 · leading case: FFE Transp. Servs., Inc. v. Fulgham, 154 S.W.3d 84 (Tex. 2004).
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FFE Transp. Servs., Inc. v. Fulgham, 154 S.W.3d 84 (Tex. 2004). “…federal motor carrier safety regulations required only that trailer inspections be conducted on an annual basis. See 49 C.F.R. § 396.17 (1997).”
State v. McClure, 74 S.W.3d 362 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2001). · cites it 3× “See 49 C.F.R. § 396.17 (a), App. G. We have found no other rules or regulations relating to safety inspections in the rules and regulations filed with the court by the State, nor has the State asserted that any other rules or regulations are applicable.”
Est. of Moore v. Carroll, 159 F. Supp. 3d 1002 (D.S.D. 2016). · cites it 2× “Furthermore, 49 CFR § 396.17 (a) requires that [e]very commercial motor vehicle must be inspected as required by this section.”
Interstate Towing Ass'n, Inc. v. City of Cincinnati, Ohio, 6 F.3d 1154 (6th Cir. 1993). “Trucks must be inspected at least once annually, 49 C.F.R. § 396.17 , inspectors must meet minimum qualifications, 49 C.”
Craft v. Graebel-Oklahoma Movers, Inc., 2007 OK 79 (Okla. 2007). “49 C.F.R. §§ 396.17 (e) & 396.19. Anyone who is required to make a record and makes a false record faces a fine of $10,000 for each violation.”
San Francisco Unified Sch. Dist. Ex Rel. Contreras v. First Student, Inc., 224 Cal. App. 4th 627 (Cal. Ct. App. 2014). “(b) [incorporating Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria]; 49 C.F.R. § 396.17 (a) (2013); 49 C.F.R., ch.”
Claim of Choto v. Consol. Lumber Transp., Inc., 82 A.D.3d 1369 (N.Y. App. Div. 2011). “12 [j] [1]), that Consolidated had the right to inspect claimant’s equipment at its discretion (see 49 USC § 14102 [a] [3]; 49 CFR 396.17) and that claimant was required to display Consolidated’s logo on his truck (see 49 CFR 376.”
Midwest Crane & Rigging, Inc. v. Fed. Motor Carrier Saf. Admin., 603 F.3d 837 (10th Cir. 2010). “See 49 C.F.R. § 396.17 , revised by 73 Fed.Reg.”
Nat'l Tank Truck Carriers, Inc. v. Fed. High. Admin. of the United States Dep't of Transp., 170 F.3d 203 (D.C. Cir. 1999). “See 49 C.F.R. § 396.17 ; 49 C.F.R. Ch. Ill, Subch.”
Greer v. Waste Connections of Tennessee, Inc. (W.D. Tenn. 2023). · cites it 8× “(2) Of its entire 100+ truck fleet, Waste Connections is not in possession of a single annual inspection report as required by 49 C.F.R. 396.17 covering the time period between January 1, 2016 and September 22, 2020.”
Interstate Towing Ass'n, Inc. v. Cincinnati, 799 F. Supp. 805 (S.D. Ohio 1992). “All tow trucks subject to the FMCSRs must be inspected at least annually by an inspector qualified pursuant to 49 C.F.R. § 396.17 and inspected daily pursuant to 49 C.”
Avery v. MG Logistics Inc (D.S.C. 2025). · cites it 2× “]” 49 C.F.R. § 396.17 (e). The court therefore agrees with MGL’s contention that it is not required to directly perform the inspections, as allowed by the FMCSRs.”
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