What happens if you're cited for 172.512A? Get direct answers on OOS risk, severity, and next steps based on 13M+ inspection records.
Ranks #2,811 of 3,146 FMCSR codes by citation frequency • OOS rate of 0.0% is below the FMCSR-wide average of 33.3%.
Freight container not placarded
Direct answers grounded in TruckCodex inspection data
No. Across our inspection database, 172.512A citations have resulted in a 0.0% out-of-service rate—meaning no trucks cited for this violation were placed out of service. For context, the national average OOS rate across all FMCSR codes is 31.4%, so this violation sits well below the enforcement threshold for immediate roadside removal.
172.512A is substantially less serious than related hazmat placard violations. Our records show that 177.817(a) (general placarding violation) has a 75.1% OOS rate across 2,274 citations, while 172.516(c)(6) (placard damaged or obscured) shows a 1.6% OOS rate. 172.512A ranks #2796 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation frequency, indicating it is a rare citation in the hazmat category.
Enforcement of this code is extremely rare. Our database shows only 1 citation all-time, with 0 citations in the last 12 months and 0 in the last 90 days. While the violation remains on the books, roadside inspectors are not currently citing it, suggesting either strict compliance across the industry or a shift in enforcement priorities toward higher-risk placarding violations.
First: Request a copy of the inspection report and citation from the inspector or state agency within 10 days. Second: Verify the specific freight container that was cited—confirm it matches your load documentation and shipping papers. Third: Document that placarding has been or will be corrected, and retain photos of the container with proper placards. Fourth: Keep all documentation for potential DataQs appeal or future disputes with your carrier.
Yes. If you believe the citation was issued in error—for example, if the container was placarded and the inspector missed it, or if the placard was applied correctly per the hazmat regulations—you can file a DataQs (Motor Carrier Management Services) appeal within 30 days of the citation. Provide photographic evidence or the shipping documentation showing compliance at the time of inspection. DocumentationErrors and equipment condition disputes are the strongest grounds for appeal.
Given that our database shows only 1 citation all-time for 172.512A, geographic distribution data is not meaningful. The single citation on record was issued to a carrier with USDOT 2420517 (Eduardo Jimenez Marroquin). Rather than focusing on state trends, drivers should assume 172.512A compliance is expected nationwide wherever hazmat freight is being transported.
Hazmat placard violations are recorded against both the driver and the carrier under FMCSA's Safety Management System. Your driving record with the USDOT will reflect the citation; your new employer can see it in a Background Records Request (BRR). However, because the 0.0% OOS rate indicates minimal regulatory severity, a single 172.512A citation is unlikely to disqualify you from employment or significantly harm your CSA profile compared to major violations.
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.
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