What 172.326C2-HMMS means in plain language
This citation addresses a specific gap in hazmat transportation documentation: when someone offers a portable tank for transport, they must provide the carrier with the tank's ID numbers. These identification numbers are critical because they allow the carrier, driver, and emergency responders to know exactly what container they're dealing with and trace its history and contents.
If you've been cited for 172.326C2-HMMS, it means a roadside inspector found that a portable tank was being offered for transport without those required ID numbers being communicated to your company or driver. This is a marking and identification compliance issue—the infrastructure of hazmat transport documentation itself.
Unlike some hazmat violations that trigger immediate out-of-service orders, this one focuses on the information handoff before the load even leaves the yard. The violation occurs at the point where a shipper or tank owner makes the tank available for transport without completing the required paperwork and identification process.
What our enforcement data actually shows
Across our 13 million+ inspection records, this code ranks #2651 of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume. It is extremely rare: we show only 2 all-time citations for 172.326C2-HMMS, with 0 citations in the last 12 months and 0 in the last 90 days.
Neither of the 2 citations ever resulted in an out-of-service placement—both were issued as violations but allowed the vehicle to continue. This gives the code a 0.0% out-of-service rate. For context, the national average OOS rate across all FMCSR codes is 31.4%, so this violation is enforced but rarely triggers the severity response that other hazmat violations do.
The rarity of this citation means it is not a widespread problem in the industry. When it does occur, it appears to reflect a documentation or communication breakdown rather than a systemic driver behavior issue.
Who gets cited most
Our inspection records show only 2 carriers with citations for this code: Price Gregory International LLC (USDOT 419565) with 1 citation and Emerson Logging Inc (USDOT 1019910) with 1 citation. Both are small samples from our nationwide database, and neither indicates a pattern of non-compliance.
The cited vehicles included a Kenworth and a Utility-brand portable tank unit. These represent isolated enforcement events rather than fleet-wide trends.
How severe is this compared to similar codes
Within the hazmat marking and packaging category, this code is much less severe than related violations. Consider these peer codes:
177.834A-HMC (General loading/unloading hazmat) shows 3,954 citations with a 99.2% out-of-service rate—nearly every citation results in the vehicle being pulled from service immediately. 177.834(a) (also general loading/unloading hazmat) has 3,839 citations with a 97.9% OOS rate. 177.817(a) (Placarding violation) accounts for 2,274 citations with a 75.1% OOS rate.
By contrast, 172.326C2-HMMS at 2 citations with 0.0% OOS rate is fundamentally different in enforcement profile. It sits closer to codes like 172.602(c)(1) (Maintenance/accessibility of Emergency Response information) which has 1,464 citations and 0.0% OOS rate, or 172.516(c)(6) (Placard damaged deteriorated or obscured) at 1,796 citations with only 1.6% OOS rate. The difference is that 172.326C2-HMMS targets the information exchange before transport begins, while codes like 177.834A and 177.834(a) target active loading and unloading violations that pose immediate safety risk.
How to avoid it
Since this violation occurs when a portable tank is offered without ID numbers being provided to the carrier, the prevention strategy centers on paperwork and communication before you ever touch the load:
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Verify tank documentation at pickup. Before accepting any portable tank shipment, confirm that the tank's unique identification number is clearly stated on the bill of lading or tender documents. Do not load or accept a tank if you cannot match the physical tank to a documented ID number in your shipping paperwork.
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Check the manifest against the physical tank. Walk the tank and cross-reference its stamped or affixed ID number with what the shipper provided. If the numbers don't match or if the tank has no visible ID number, contact the shipper and your dispatcher before proceeding.
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Document the handoff. Have the shipper or tank lessor sign off confirming that ID numbers have been provided. Keep this confirmation in your cab or on your mobile device—it protects you if an inspector questions the load.
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Know your common tank providers. Portable tanks for hazmat often come from leasing companies (Utility, Kenworth, etc.). Familiarize yourself with how these companies mark their tanks so you can spot missing or incorrect IDs quickly.
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Report incomplete shipments. If a shipper tries to hand off a tank without ID documentation, document the refusal and notify your safety manager. This is not a load you can accept, and refusing it protects your carrier and license.
This is fundamentally a pre-dispatch safeguard. The violation is rare because most carriers and shippers have the administrative processes in place to exchange this basic information. Staying alert during the pickup phase keeps you clear of this citation.