What happens when you're cited for 172.203A? Our inspection data covers 25 all-time citations. Find out if it's an out-of-service violation and what to do next.
Ranks #1,880 of 3,146 FMCSR codes by citation frequency • OOS rate of 0.0% is below the FMCSR-wide average of 33.3%.
"DOT-SP" or special permit number not entered on shipping paper
Direct answers grounded in TruckCodex inspection data
No. Across our inspection records, this violation has never resulted in an out-of-service order—the OOS rate is 0.0%. Of the 25 all-time citations for 172.203A in our database, all 25 were issued as cited violations without a vehicle being placed out of service. This is significantly more lenient than the all-FMCSR average OOS rate of 31.4%, meaning inspectors treat this as a documentation error rather than an immediate safety shutdown.
First, verify the shipment paperwork and confirm the DOT-SP or special permit number is correctly documented. Document the correction in your records. Contact your dispatcher or compliance team to ensure all future shipments of regulated hazmat materials include the required permit number on the shipping papers before dispatch. Review your pre-trip procedures to catch this before inspection. While this citation won't ground your truck, it signals a documentation gap that could escalate if hazmat handling violations co-occur—our data shows 172.203A sometimes appears alongside more serious packaging violations.
172.203A is one of the least-enforced hazmat violations—it ranks #1860 of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume with only 25 all-time citations. Compare that to peer violations: general loading/unloading hazmat (177.834A-HMC) has 3,954 citations with a 99.2% OOS rate, and placarding violations (177.817) average 75.1% OOS. At 0.0% OOS rate, 172.203A is treated as an administrative/paperwork issue, not a critical safety violation. However, the rarity of enforcement doesn't mean it's optional—it's a required element of hazmat shipping compliance.
Our 180-day data shows 3 citations in Texas, which represents the highest concentration of enforcement for this code. No other states appear in the top citation list during this period. Texas accounted for all documented enforcement activity, though the small volume (3 citations) suggests this violation is not a widespread state-level focus. If you operate in Texas with hazmat loads, ensure DOT-SP numbers are on every shipping paper.
Not urgently. Our 12-month trend shows only 9 citations for 172.203A nationwide, and the last 90 days recorded just 1 citation. This is a very low-frequency violation, suggesting it's not a systematic enforcement priority. However, it's inexpensive to prevent: add a checklist item requiring the DOT-SP number on all hazmat shipping papers before the load leaves your facility. Since this code never triggers out-of-service status, the primary risk is accumulating multiple minor violations during a single inspection.
Imperative Chemical Partners Inc (USDOT 1796904) leads with 3 citations, followed by Kenergy Oilfield Solutions LLC (USDOT 2568936) and Central Transport LLC (USDOT 661173), each with 2 citations. These are the only carriers appearing multiple times in our 25 total citations for this code. If you work for or partner with a chemical or oilfield transport company, this citation type may reflect a systemic paperwork procedure issue rather than an isolated driver mistake.
Yes, you can dispute any roadside inspection record through the DataQs portal. Since 172.203A is a documentation violation (the permit number was missing from the shipping paper, not that you lack the permit itself), your contest has a strong foundation if the number was actually included and the inspector simply missed it, or if the shipment was not subject to special permit requirements. DataQs allows you to attach corrected paperwork or evidence showing compliance. Documentation errors are often overturned if you provide proof the infraction didn't occur.
The severity weight for this code is not available in our enforcement database. CSA points are assigned by FMCSA based on violation severity, safety impact, and recency—but the exact point value for 172.203A depends on your company's safety profile and how often this appears on your record. Contact your carrier's compliance department or an FMCSA CSA representative for your specific point allocation. What we do know: this violation's 0.0% OOS rate suggests it carries lower severity than hazmat violations that trigger roadside shutdowns.
Where 172.203A is most commonly cited (last 180 days)
TruckCodex aggregates official public-sector datasets. See the Source registry for dataset-level coverage and the Freshness log for last-import timestamps.
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.