FMCSR 172.203L: No Marine Pollutant Entry — Q&A

No. Across our 13 million inspection records, not a single citation for 172.203L resulted in an out-of-service order. The 0.0% OOS rate for this violation stands well below the 31.4% all-FMCSR average, which means inspectors are treating this as a documentation or labeling issue rather than an immediate safety threat. Your truck stays on the road, but you'll need to correct the entry and documentation before your next inspection.

Much less serious than core hazmat violations. Our data shows peer placarding and loading violations like 177.834A-HMC carry a 99.2% out-of-service rate and 177.817(a) placarding violations hit 75.1%. By contrast, 172.203L has never triggered an OOS order in our database. That said, this is a hazmat category violation—it flags a compliance gap that FMCSA takes seriously on paper audits and follow-up inspections, even if roadside enforcement is rare.

1. Review your shipping papers and hazmat entry forms—verify the marine pollutant classification is present and matches the package contents.
2. Contact your dispatcher and hazmat compliance officer to confirm whether the cargo actually is a marine pollutant that was omitted.
3. Correct the documentation immediately if the entry is missing.
4. Do not move hazmat cargo with incomplete entries; wait for corrected paperwork.
5. Request a copy of the inspection report to verify exactly what entry was flagged as missing.
6. Consider a DataQs challenge if the entry was actually present but the inspector misread the form.

Our records show 172.203L is extremely rare nationwide. In the last 180 days, we logged citations only in Texas (2 citations). With just 5 all-time citations across 13 million inspections and 4 in the last 12 months, this violation ranks #2406 of 3,036 FMCSR codes. The sparsity actually suggests that either marine pollutant shipments are rarely mishandled in entry, or most carriers catch this in pre-trip compliance checks before roadside inspection.

The severity weight and CSA point multiplier for 172.203L are not publicly disclosed in the FMCSA penalty matrix. Contact your carrier's safety director or the FMCSA customer service line at 1-800-832-5660 to confirm the point value for your citation. Points typically depend on the number of hazmat items with missing marine pollutant entries and your carrier's prior hazmat violations. Your citation notice should also include the assessed violation weight.

Yes—DataQs (Driver Records Review) is your formal dispute channel. Since 172.203L is a documentation/entry violation, not a physical equipment failure, you have solid grounds if: (1) the entry was present and the inspector missed it, (2) the shipment does not actually meet the marine pollutant definition, or (3) the inspector misinterpreted the hazmat classification rules. Submit your original shipping papers, bill of lading, and hazmat certification as evidence. DataQs typically resolves challenges within 30–60 days.

Extremely low and stable. Our 12-month trend shows sporadic single citations: one each in July 2025, August 2025, November 2025, and December 2025. Zero citations in the last 90 days. With only 5 all-time citations in our database of 13 million inspections, this is one of the rarest hazmat violations. Unless you're moving bulk marine pollutants regularly, your risk of citation is minimal—but compliance is still mandatory.

FMCSA hazmat violations appear on both driver and carrier CSA records. Your carrier's hazmat BASIC score includes all hazmat violations from their fleet, while your individual driver profile captures violations cited to you personally. A single 172.203L citation will have minimal impact on either score given the rarity of enforcement, but hazmat compliance issues can trigger deeper audits of your carrier's hazmat safety programs.