FMCSR 172.204(d): Emergency Response Phone Number Missing

No. This violation will not result in an out-of-service order. Across our inspection records, the 0.0% out-of-service rate for 172.204(d) shows that inspectors consistently issue citations without placing the vehicle OOS. This contrasts sharply with the 31.4% national average OOS rate across all FMCSR codes, making this one of the least severe hazmat shipping paper violations you can receive.

A single citation for 172.204(d) carries a severity weight of 5 CSA points. These points are added to your carrier's Hazmat Compliance BASIC within a rolling 12-month window. The 30-day multiplier applies: if you receive multiple violations within 30 days, the point value increases. A single citation is manageable, but repeated violations compound quickly in your carrier's safety profile.

First: photograph the shipping papers as they were presented. Second: contact your dispatcher or compliance manager with the citation number and inspector name. Third: review the exact shipping papers the inspector cited—verify whether an emergency phone number was actually present and legible. Fourth: pull your hazmat training records to confirm current certification. Fifth: prepare documentation for your carrier's safety team within 24 hours. Do not ignore the citation; file it in your records and inform your carrier immediately.

No, it ranks among the least severe hazmat citations. Our inspection records show 172.204(d) is cited only 4 times all-time and ranked #2480 of 3,036 FMCSR codes—making it extremely rare. Compare this to peer violations: placarding violations (177.817(a)) hit 2,274 citations with a 75.1% OOS rate, and general loading violations (177.834A-HMC) reach 3,954 citations with a 99.2% OOS rate. A missing emergency number on shipping papers is a documentation gap, not an operational safety emergency.

Yes. This violation is contestable through FMCSA's DataQs system because it depends on whether the emergency number was actually present and legible on the shipping papers at the time of inspection. If you have a photograph or copy showing the number was there, or if the inspector's documentation is incomplete, you can file a Request for Reconsideration (RDR) within 90 days of the citation date. Gather all shipping paper copies and any communications with your carrier's hazmat coordinator to support your challenge.

Our inspection records show only 4 citations all-time for this violation, spread across four different carriers—all with single citations each: Christensen Inc (USDOT 65033), Pilot Travel Centers LLC (USDOT 91805), IMG Trucking Inc (USDOT 1943083), and Interlogistics de Mexico S de RL de CV (USDOT 3932007). The violation is too rare to identify geographic hot spots. This reflects how uncommon missing emergency numbers are in actual roadside enforcement.

Low urgency for immediate repair, but high urgency for process review. Zero citations have been issued in the last 12 months across 13 million+ inspections, suggesting this violation is extremely rare in enforcement. However, if your carrier was cited, audit all shipping papers to ensure emergency contact numbers are present, legible, and compliant with 49 CFR 172.204(d) requirements. A single citation carries only 5 CSA points—manageable if you correct the process quickly.

Both. The citation records against your vehicle in the FMCSA database and against your carrier in the Safety Management System. Your carrier's Hazmat Compliance BASIC is affected by the 5-point severity weight. However, the violation itself—missing emergency response information on shipping papers—is typically a carrier-side documentation responsibility. Work with your carrier's hazmat compliance team to prevent future citations; ensure your carrier's shipping paper process is audited and corrected.