What 172.202B means in plain language
When you transport hazardous materials, federal law requires that your shipping papers contain a complete and accurate description of what you're carrying. That description must include the proper shipping name, the hazard class, the UN/NA ID number, and the packing group assigned to that material.
A 172.202B citation means that when an inspector reviewed your shipping papers at roadside, one or more of these four components was missing or blank. For example, your papers might have listed the material name and ID number but omitted the hazard class, or they could have been missing the packing group entirely. Even one missing element triggers the violation.
This is a documentation violation—the hazmat itself may have been properly packaged and marked on your vehicle, but your paperwork didn't tell the full story that regulators, emergency responders, and subsequent shippers need.
What our enforcement data actually shows
Across 13 million inspections in our database, we have recorded 200 all-time citations for 172.202B. In the last 12 months, inspectors issued 117 citations for this code, and in the last 90 days, we saw 29 citations.
What stands out about this violation: the out-of-service rate is 0.0%. Not a single citation for 172.202B resulted in the vehicle being placed out of service. This is dramatically different from the all-FMCSR average OOS rate of 31.4%, making 172.202B one of the lowest-consequence citations by that measure. Inspectors treat incomplete shipping paper descriptions as a fixable paperwork problem rather than an immediate safety threat to the vehicle itself.
172.202B ranks #1212 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume, placing it well below the most-frequently cited violations but still consistently appearing in roadside inspections.
Who gets cited most
Our inspection records from the last 180 days show that Texas leads by a significant margin, with 50 citations and a 0.0% out-of-service rate. New Mexico follows with 3 citations, also at 0.0% OOS. Both states show the same pattern: inspectors issue the citation but do not remove vehicles from service.
Looking at carriers across all years of data, our database shows fleets such as Central Transport LLC (USDOT 661173) with 7 citations and Indiana Transport SA de CV (USDOT 1509690) with 6 citations. These numbers reflect exposure—carriers moving higher volumes of hazmat through inspection zones naturally accumulate more citations—rather than a systematic compliance gap unique to any single fleet.
How severe is this compared to similar codes
Hazmat-related violations span a wide severity range. Placarding violations (code 177.834A-HMC for general loading/unloading hazmat) generated 3,954 citations with a 99.2% out-of-service rate, meaning nearly every vehicle cited for that violation was removed from service. Placard deterioration (177.817(e)) produced 2,038 citations at a 5.2% OOS rate.
By contrast, 172.202B sits at the lower end. With 200 all-time citations and a 0.0% OOS rate, it is enforced far less frequently than placarding violations and carries no immediate vehicle removal consequence. Code 172.602(c)(1), which addresses emergency response information maintenance, shows 1,464 citations and also a 0.0% OOS rate, placing it in the same enforcement category as 172.202B—documented but not imminently dangerous.
How to avoid it
Before you accept a hazmat load and before you depart, take these concrete steps:
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Read and verify every shipping paper element. Your shipper must provide the proper shipping name, hazard class, UN/NA ID number, and packing group on the papers before you leave the dock. If any field is blank or illegible, do not take the load. Ask the shipper to complete the paperwork.
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Cross-check against your placards and labels. The hazard class and UN/NA ID on your shipping papers must match the placards on your vehicle. If they do not, stop and resolve the discrepancy with your shipper or dispatcher before moving the vehicle.
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Keep papers in the cab, legible and accessible. Our data shows that incomplete descriptions often occur when shipper paperwork is sloppy or rushed. Ensure your papers are in the place required by regulation and that you can hand them to an inspector immediately without searching or excusing illegibility.
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Inspect coupling, fuel, and brake systems as part of pre-trip. Our enforcement data shows that 172.202B commonly appears alongside mechanical violations: coupling device defects, fuel system leaks, and brake tubing issues. A thorough pre-trip inspection catches these before an inspector does, reducing your likelihood of being stopped and inspected in the first place.
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Pay special attention if you drive a Freightliner, Kenworth, or Peterbilt. Our records show these makes (FRHT, KW, PTRB) account for the majority of 172.202B citations. This likely reflects their prevalence in hazmat fleets, but it also means if you operate one of these trucks, you should assume a higher likelihood of roadside hazmat inspection and prepare accordingly.
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If you haul for a carrier, verify your company's shipper audit program. Incomplete papers often originate at the shipper, not the driver. If your fleet has a pattern of incomplete paper citations, work with your safety manager to audit the shippers you use and require them to complete all fields before you pick up a load.