What 172.302(c) means in plain language
When you're hauling hazardous materials in bulk, the packaging itself—the tank, container, or vessel—must carry a special permit number issued by the Department of Transportation. This number identifies that the package has been approved for the specific hazmat load inside it.
If an inspector finds your bulk package missing this permit number, you're in violation of 172.302(c). The permit number proves the package is legal for transport; without it, regulators have no way to confirm the container meets safety standards for that particular material.
What our enforcement data actually shows
Across our 13 million roadside inspection records, 172.302(c) has been cited just 5 times in all-time data. In the last 12 months, there were 0 citations, and in the last 90 days, 0 citations. This code ranks #2406 of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume—making it extremely rare in enforcement.
When this violation does appear, the out-of-service rate stands at 20.0%: 1 driver was placed out of service and 4 were not. That 20.0% OOS rate is substantially lower than the all-FMCSR average of 31.4%, suggesting inspectors often treat a missing permit number as correctable rather than a hard stop.
Who gets cited most
Our inspection records show that citations for 172.302(c) are too sparse to identify a clear state pattern. The five all-time citations are distributed across different carriers, with NUCO2 SUPPLY LLC, HOBBS RENTAL LLC, WESTERN TRANSPORT LOGISTICS INC, KEMIRA WATER SOLUTIONS INC, and TDR DEVELOPMENT INC each recorded with one citation.
How severe is this compared to similar codes
172.302(c) sits within hazmat packaging requirements, but it's far less frequently cited than related placarding and loading violations. For comparison:
- 177.834(a) (general hazmat loading/unloading) has 3,839 citations with a 97.9% OOS rate—vastly more serious in enforcement.
- 172.502(a)(1) (placarding general requirements) has 1,820 citations with an 18.5% OOS rate—still more common than 172.302(c) but with similar severity.
- 172.516(c)(6) (placard damaged, deteriorated, or obscured) has 1,796 citations with only a 1.6% OOS rate—more frequently cited but rarely resulting in out-of-service placement.
The data suggests inspectors catch missing permit numbers infrequently and often allow correction without stopping the vehicle.
How to avoid it
Missing a special permit number is preventable with basic pre-trip discipline:
- Before departure, visually inspect all bulk packages for the DOT special permit number. This is a short alphanumeric code that must be conspicuously displayed on the container itself.
- Verify the permit number matches your shipping papers. Cross-check the permit number on the physical package against the hazmat documentation in your cab. Mismatches are red flags.
- Know what you're hauling. If your load requires a special permit, confirm with your dispatch or loader that the approved package is being used. Different hazmat materials require different approved containers.
- Don't assume the previous load's package is legal for your load. Even if a tank or container looks fine, it may not be permitted for the specific hazmat you're transporting this time.
- Request clarity from your carrier or shipper if you see any label or marking that's unclear. A minute spent confirming before the road beats an inspection stop.
The rarity of this citation in our data—5 all-time, 0 in the last year—tells you most drivers get this right. A focused walk-around of your bulk package before rolling out keeps you in that majority.