What happens when a hazmat placard lacks required class/division ID? Direct answers on OOS rates, CSA points, citations, and what to do next.
Ranks #710 of 3,146 FMCSR codes by citation frequency • OOS rate of 4.8% is below the FMCSR-wide average of 33.3%.
Required class or division identification number not displayed on hazmat placards.
Direct answers grounded in TruckCodex inspection data
No. Only 4.9% of drivers cited for 172.332 are placed out of service — well below the all-FMCSR average OOS rate of 31.4%. Across 13 million inspection records, we see 52 out-of-service placements against 1,019 total citations for this violation. Your truck will likely remain in-service, but the violation still counts against your safety record and carrier metrics.
This violation carries a CSA severity weight of 4. Your actual CSA points depend on when the inspection occurred and how many similar violations you've accumulated in the past 30 days — FMCSA applies a multiplier based on frequency. One citation for a missing hazmat ID number typically results in 4 base points, but repeat violations within 30 days can increase the impact.
First, verify all hazmat placards on your vehicle display the correct class or division identification number before moving. Our data shows 172.332 frequently co-occurs with lighting defects (393.9 appears in 21 shared inspections) and brake issues (393.45B2UV in 16 shared). Check:
Once corrected, document the fix with photos for your carrier's safety team.
No, it's relatively minor. Peer hazmat violations show dramatically higher OOS rates: general loading/unloading (177.834A-HMC) hits 99.2% OOS; placarding violations (177.817(a)) reach 75.1%. By contrast, 172.332's 4.9% rate ranks it among the lightest hazmat enforcement outcomes. The violation is still recordable and affects your CSA score, but it's far less likely to remove you from service than most hazmat infractions.
Yes. FMCSA's DataQs system allows you to contest roadside inspection records. Since 172.332 is an observable equipment finding (missing or illegible placard identification), your challenge should focus on documentation: photos proving the number was present and visible at the time of inspection, maintenance records, or evidence of display method. Requests must be filed within 90 days of the inspection.
Texas leads enforcement for this violation. Our inspection records show 126 citations in Texas over the last 180 days, with only 1 resulting in out-of-service placement (0.8% OOS rate). Texas represents the majority of 172.332 citations in our database, reflecting higher hazmat transport volume through border regions and petrochemical corridors.
Moderately urgent. While 172.332 carries a low OOS rate, it's still being cited — our data shows 208 citations in the last 12 months and 68 in the past 90 days. Recent months (February 2026: 39 citations, March 2026: 25) show elevated enforcement activity. Correct missing or illegible class/division numbers before your next hazmat load to avoid repeat violations and accumulating CSA points.
Both. FMCSA records the violation against both the driver's record and the carrier's safety profile through the CSA program. This means the citation affects your personal driving history and the carrier's Hazardous Materials BASIC score. Carriers with high 172.332 rates may face increased inspection frequency and regulatory scrutiny, so report corrective actions to your safety team immediately.
Where 172.332 is most commonly cited (last 180 days)
Other violations commonly found on the same inspection (last 90 days)
TruckCodex aggregates official public-sector datasets. See the Source registry for dataset-level coverage and the Freshness log for last-import timestamps.
Census, SAFER, SMS, Licensing & Insurance (L&I), roadside inspections, crashes, and authority history.
Vehicle recall campaigns, defect investigations, and consumer safety complaints (SCRS).
Cross-border carrier registry and Canadian recall campaigns where applicable.
TruckCodex is an independent aggregator; it is not affiliated with FMCSA, NHTSA, EIA, or Transport Canada. Always verify compliance-critical information directly with the originating agency.