What happens if you're cited for 172.203(b)? Will your truck go out of service? Get answers backed by 13 million+ roadside inspection records.
Ranks #2,664 of 3,146 FMCSR codes by citation frequency • OOS rate of 0.0% is below the FMCSR-wide average of 33.3%.
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Direct answers grounded in TruckCodex inspection data
No. Across our inspection records, 172.203(b) has never resulted in an out-of-service placement—the OOS rate is 0.0%. This is significantly lower than the all-FMCSR average of 31.4%, meaning this violation is treated as a warning-level finding rather than a safety-critical defect. You'll receive a citation, but your truck will not be ordered off the road.
No. 172.203(b) is among the least serious hazmat violations in the category. Compare: placarding and loading violations like 177.834A-HMC hit 99.2% OOS rates, while 172.203(b) has triggered 0 out-of-service actions across 2 all-time citations. It ranks #2651 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by enforcement frequency, indicating inspectors encounter this violation rarely and treat it as a documentation or marking issue, not a cargo safety emergency.
CSA point values vary by severity weight assigned at the time of citation. The STATISTICS block provided does not include severity weight data for this code. Contact the issuing agency or your carrier's safety department to confirm the specific point value assigned to your citation. You can also review your SAFER account online or file a DataQs dispute if you believe the points were assigned incorrectly based on the inspection finding.
Yes. If you believe the citation is factually incorrect or unsupported by the roadside inspection, you can file a Data Quality (DataQs) appeal through the FMCSA Safety Data System. You'll need to submit evidence—such as photos of proper labeling, shipping records, or hazmat documentation—that contradicts the inspector's finding. The burden is on you to prove the violation did not occur. Many 172.203(b) findings are documentation-based, so clear records are your strongest defense.
Our inspection records show only 2 all-time citations for 172.203(b) nationally, so enforcement is extremely sparse. The violations were issued to American Builders & Contractors Supply Co Inc (USDOT 251000) and Hector Osvaldo Lopez Rodriguez (USDOT 3695179), each with 1 citation. This code is rarely cited in roadside enforcement, reflecting either strong hazmat marking compliance across the industry or very narrow applicability of this specific violation.
No. Our records show 2 citations all-time, 0 in the last 12 months, and 0 in the last 90 days. This suggests 172.203(b) enforcement is essentially inactive in current roadside inspection practice. If you're seeing this code cited, it may reflect a one-time compliance gap rather than an industry-wide enforcement trend. Focus on your own hazmat labeling procedures rather than anticipating frequent audits.
Hazmat violations under FMCSR Part 172 are recorded under the carrier's USDOT number in the FMCSA Safety Data System. However, responsibility for compliance rests on both driver and carrier: the driver must ensure cargo markings are complete and readable before departure, and the carrier must train drivers and maintain hazmat procedures. If you move to a new carrier, the citation stays with the issuing carrier's record, but any safety pattern or training gap may be flagged during your employment background review.
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Census, SAFER, SMS, Licensing & Insurance (L&I), roadside inspections, crashes, and authority history.
Vehicle recall campaigns, defect investigations, and consumer safety complaints (SCRS).
Cross-border carrier registry and Canadian recall campaigns where applicable.
TruckCodex is an independent aggregator; it is not affiliated with FMCSA, NHTSA, EIA, or Transport Canada. Always verify compliance-critical information directly with the originating agency.