FMCSR 172.202B: Incomplete Hazmat Description – Q&A

No. Across our inspection records, 172.202B citations result in an out-of-service rate of 0.0%—none of the 200 all-time citations in our database triggered an OOS placement. This is significantly lower than the 31.4% all-FMCSR average OOS rate and well below peer violations like 177.834A-HMC (99.2% OOS rate) and 177.817(a) (75.1% OOS rate). You will not be ordered off the road for this violation, but you must correct the shipping paper deficiency before your next load.

This violation carries a CSA severity weight of 5 points. That means in any 30-day window, it will contribute 5 points to your Hazardous Materials BASIC score. The exact CSA impact depends on your carrier's broader safety profile and whether you have other violations in the same period, but this single citation will not disqualify you from operating—it adds manageable points relative to more serious hazmat violations.

Take these immediate steps: (1) Review the shipping paper with your shipper and verify the proper shipping name, hazard class, ID number, and packing group are clearly documented before your next load. (2) Check your placarding—our data shows 172.202B often appears alongside 177.817E (placard deterioration) and 172.201D (shipping paper format issues), so inspect physical placards for damage. (3) Report the citation to your carrier's safety team to ensure paperwork procedures are corrected fleet-wide. (4) Keep the citation for your records; you may contest it through DataQs if you believe the shipping papers were actually complete.

It is one of the least serious hazmat violations on record. Our inspection data ranks 172.202B #1212 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume—only 200 all-time citations—and its 0.0% OOS rate places it far below critical hazmat violations. For example, 177.834A-HMC (general loading/unloading hazmat) has a 99.2% OOS rate with 3,954 citations, and 177.817(a) (placarding violations) has a 75.1% OOS rate. Your violation is a documentation defect, not a loading or placarding failure, which is why enforcement is lighter.

Yes. DataQs is the FMCSA's online challenge system for roadside inspection records. You can submit a request if you believe the citation was issued in error—for example, if the shipping paper actually contained the proper shipping name, hazard class, ID number, and packing group, but the inspector miscoded the violation. Document your evidence (a clear photo of the complete shipping paper, shipper confirmation, or manifest copy) and file within the DataQs window. Documentation-based violations like incomplete descriptions are often contestable if you can prove the information was present.

Over the last 180 days, Texas leads enforcement with 50 citations, followed by New Mexico with 3 citations. Our inspection records show 172.202B is heavily concentrated in cross-border and international hazmat operations. If you operate in Texas, apply extra diligence to shipping paper completeness, as that state accounts for the vast majority of citations for this violation.

Enforcement remains steady but sporadic. Over the last 12 months, our database shows 117 citations, averaging about 10 per month. The most recent three months (January–March 2026) saw a spike: 9, 10, and 17 citations respectively. This suggests inspectors are focusing more closely on shipping paper documentation. If you haul hazmat, treat this trend as a signal to tighten your paperwork verification process before every load.

Yes. Our all-time data shows Central Transport LLC (USDOT 661173) leads with 7 citations for 172.202B, followed by Indiana Transport SA de CV (USDOT 1509690) with 6 citations. Several smaller hazmat carriers and owner-operators appear in the top 10, with 2–5 citations each. This pattern suggests hazmat documentation compliance varies widely by carrier and requires strong internal training and audit processes.