What 172.202A5 means in plain language
When you're hauling hazardous materials, the shipping paper that travels with your load must contain a complete and accurate description of what's inside. That description has to include the proper shipping name, the hazard class, the UN/NA ID number, and the packing group. If any of these four elements is missing or incomplete on your paperwork, you've violated 172.202A5.
This isn't about sloppy handwriting or minor typos—it's about whether an inspector can tell at a glance what hazardous material is in the vehicle, what danger it poses, and how to handle it in an emergency. Incomplete shipping paper descriptions create confusion and delay response in a crisis. That's why DOT requires every field to be filled in correctly before the truck leaves the shipper's dock.
What our enforcement data actually shows
Across our database of 13 million roadside inspections, we've recorded 86 all-time citations for 172.202A5. In the last 12 months, inspectors cited this violation 54 times, and in the last 90 days, 12 times. This code ranks #1468 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume—it's not a top enforcement priority nationally, but it does appear regularly.
The most striking finding: only 1 out of 85 cited trucks was placed out of service for this violation, giving it a 1.2% out-of-service rate. This is dramatically lower than the all-FMCSR average of 31.4%. In other words, inspectors almost never consider incomplete hazmat shipping paper description serious enough to stop the truck from operating immediately. Most of the time, you'll receive a citation and be allowed to continue, though you'll face a CSA severity weight of 5.
Who gets cited most
Over the last 180 days, our data shows Texas led enforcement with 28 citations and a 0.0% out-of-service rate. Illinois had 2 citations (0.0% OOS), and Iowa had 1 citation (0.0% OOS). All three of these states' inspectors have not placed any trucks out of service for this code recently, consistent with the national pattern.
Looking at carrier history all-time, our data shows fleets such as Central Transport LLC with 5 citations and Old Dominion Freight Line Inc with 3 citations. This doesn't suggest negligence—it reflects that larger fleets with more frequent hazmat shipments naturally accumulate more citations over time. Smaller carriers and specialized hazmat operators like DFW Propane Exchange LLC and Pugh Lubricants LLC also appear in enforcement records with 2 citations each.
How severe is this compared to similar codes
Compare 172.202A5 to other hazardous materials violations in the same regulatory category. General loading and unloading of hazmat violations (177.834A-HMC) have drawn 3,954 citations with a 99.2% out-of-service rate—nearly mandatory roadside stops. Placard deterioration (177.817E) has 2,038 citations with a 5.2% OOS rate, still higher than 172.202A5's 1.2%. Even 172.602(c)(1), which covers maintenance and accessibility of Emergency Response information, has 1,464 citations, though its OOS rate matches ours at 0.0%.
The data tells you that incomplete shipping paper descriptions are treated as a lower-tier hazmat infraction. Inspectors view it as a documentation failure rather than an immediate safety emergency, but it's still a violation that carries regulatory weight.
How to avoid it
Before you accept a load:
- Check the shipping paper in the cab before departure. Verify that the proper shipping name is complete and legible. Confirm the hazard class, UN/NA ID number, and packing group are all filled in. Don't accept a load with blanks or partial entries—return it to the shipper for correction.
- If you transport hazmat regularly (especially propane, fuels, or chemical products), maintain a checklist of the four required fields. Review it every time you load.
During pre-trip inspection:
- Keep your shipping papers organized and accessible. Inspectors will ask to see them immediately during a hazmat inspection.
- If you notice the paperwork is incomplete while you're already on the road, pull over and contact your dispatcher or the shipper before proceeding. A citation is better than a crash.
Know your vehicle type's pattern:
- Our data shows peterbilt (PTRB) and freightliner (FRHT) models dominate the citation records for this code. If you drive one of these common hazmat platforms, be extra diligent because inspectors may give these vehicles closer scrutiny.
Watch for co-occurring violations:
- When 172.202A5 appears in the same inspection, it frequently co-occurs with placard issues (172.602B, 177.817E) and incorrect shipping paper format (172.201D). If your shipping paper is incomplete, check that your placards are intact and match the description. All three elements—paper, placards, and vehicle markings—must align.