What happens if you're cited for 172.325(a)? Our 13M inspection records show this violation is rare and almost never results in out-of-service placement.
Ranks #2,259 of 3,146 FMCSR codes by citation frequency • OOS rate of 0.0% is below the FMCSR-wide average of 33.3%.
Elevated temperature material not marked "Hot"
Direct answers grounded in TruckCodex inspection data
No. Across our 13 million roadside inspection records, the 0.0% out-of-service rate for this code means trucks cited for elevated temperature material not marked Hot are not placed out of service. Compare this to the 31.4% average out-of-service rate across all FMCSR codes—this violation sits at the lowest severity tier. All 9 citations in our all-time database resulted in warnings or citations with no vehicle removal.
It's significantly less serious than most hazmat placarding and loading violations. Peer codes in the Hazardous Materials category show stark differences: general loading/unloading violations (177.834A-HMC) hit a 99.2% out-of-service rate with 3,954 citations, while placarding violations (177.817(a)) reach 75.1% OOS. The 172.325(a) rate of 0.0% places it among the least-enforced and least-severe hazmat codes in the system.
This code is rarely cited. Our inspection records show just 9 all-time citations for elevated temperature material not marked Hot, with zero citations in the last 12 months and zero in the last 90 days. It ranks #2230 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume—placing it in the bottom 25% of enforcement activity. This is not a high-frequency violation inspectors are looking for.
First, understand the violation: you transported elevated temperature material without proper "Hot" marking on the package or vehicle. Immediate steps: (1) review your hazmat load documentation to confirm the material's temperature classification; (2) verify all elevated temperature shipments now include required "Hot" markings before departure; (3) contact your dispatcher to flag this for future loads; (4) document the corrective action taken. Since this is not an out-of-service violation, your truck can continue operating once you've corrected the marking.
Yes. FMCSA's DataQs (DataQuality.FMCSA.DOT.gov) allows drivers and carriers to formally contest roadside inspection findings within 90 days of citation. For marking violations like 172.325(a), contestation works best if you have evidence that: (1) the material was properly marked at the time of inspection, (2) the marking became obscured or damaged during transit, or (3) the marking was not required for that specific material under the regulations. Document your challenge with photos or shipping records.
Our database shows 9 carriers cited once each across all-time inspection records: GEO A HALL INC, TOM HASSEL TRANSPORT INC, LAKELAND CARTAGE INC, W C TRANSPORT INC, ASPHALT & FUEL TRANSPORT LLC, ROBERTO FLORES, SANDERS GOLD EAGLE TRANSPORTATION LLC, SOLIZ HAULING INC, and CLEAN EARTH MATTERS. No single carrier dominates citations for this violation, indicating it occurs sporadically across different operations.
Low urgency from an enforcement perspective. The zero citations in the last 90 days and absence of out-of-service consequences mean this is not a critical safety stop. However, from a compliance standpoint, fix it immediately: ensure all elevated temperature materials on your truck or in your fleet carry proper "Hot" markings before your next hazmat load. The fact that this code is rarely cited doesn't mean inspectors won't flag it if they find unmarked hot materials during future inspections.
Our inspection data shows tanker and specialty transport vehicles predominate: Kenworth (KW) appears in 2 of the 9 citations, followed by single citations on ETNY, FALN, BUTLER MFG, MACK, PTRB, and TRLR. Because elevated temperature materials are typically liquids or heated cargo transported in tankers, you'd expect specialized equipment to appear more frequently—which the data confirms.
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Cross-border carrier registry and Canadian recall campaigns where applicable.
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