FMCSR 172.514B: Bulk Package Hazmat Placard Violation

Yes—but not always. Across our inspection records, 172.514B results in an out-of-service placement 40.9% of the time. That's higher than the all-FMCSR average of 31.4%. In the last 90 days, we've seen 2 citations for this violation; both resulted in OOS placements. If an inspector determines the bulk package with hazmat residue poses an immediate safety risk due to improper placarding, your truck stays parked until corrected.

First: inspect every bulk package on your vehicle for proper hazmat placards and residue compliance. Second: photograph the vehicle and the package condition—this becomes evidence if you contest the citation. Third: check your shipping documentation against the actual placards on each package. Our data shows 172.514B frequently co-occurs with placarding violations (177.817A appears in 2 of the last 90 days' citations). Fourth: if you were placed OOS, do not move the vehicle until the inspector signs you back in. Fifth: contact your carrier's compliance team immediately with photos and documentation.

172.514B is less severe than major hazmat loading violations but more serious than placard deterioration alone. In our database, 172.514B ranks #1898 of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation frequency (22 all-time citations). Compare that to similar codes: general loading/unloading hazmat violations (177.834A) have a 99.2% OOS rate, placarding violations (177.817) sit at 75.1%, and movement of damaged packages (177.823) is 51.8%. Your 40.9% OOS rate indicates a moderate-risk finding—not automatic shutdown, but a serious compliance issue.

Yes. Texas leads by far. In the last 180 days, Texas accounted for 6 of the citations we've recorded for 172.514B, with a 66.7% out-of-service rate in that state. That's significantly higher than the national OOS rate of 40.9%. If you operate in Texas with bulk hazmat loads, heightened inspector attention to placard condition and residue disclosure is expected.

Possibly. The DataQs RDR (Roadside Inspection Data Query) process allows you to challenge factual errors in how the violation was recorded—for example, if the placard was actually present and legible, or if the hazmat residue was properly documented on the bill of lading. You have 90 days from the inspection date. However, DataQs cannot overturn an inspector's safety judgment. If the inspector observed genuinely missing or illegible placarding on a bulk package with hazmat residue, the citation will likely stand. Work with your carrier's compliance team to gather evidence before submission.

Our 90-day data reveals patterns. Placarding violations (177.817A) appear together with 172.514B in 2 inspections. Emergency response information gaps (172.602A) co-occur in 1. Movement of damaged hazmat packages (177.823A) and general equipment defects (393.78 windshield, 396.3A1 maintenance) each appear once. This tells you: when inspectors find improper placarding on bulk hazmat, they're also looking hard at emergency response docs, package condition, and vehicle maintenance. Fix all three areas.

Citations are infrequent but steady. In the last 12 months, we recorded 11 citations for 172.514B. In the last 90 days, 2 citations. The monthly trend shows sporadic enforcement: no citations in most months, but December 2025 and January 2026 each saw 2 citations with 100% OOS rates in both months. This suggests enforcement is low-volume but trending slightly upward. If you haul bulk hazmat, assume regular placard and residue audits during roadside stops.

Both. FMCSA records hazmat violations under both the driver and the motor carrier in the Safety Management Analysis. A citation for improper placarding affects your driving record, your carrier's hazmat BASIC category, and the carrier's CSA score. If you're an owner-operator, it directly impacts your profile. If you're an employee driver, the violation flags your carrier for compliance review and may trigger internal training or reassignment from hazmat loads until retraining is complete. Either way, treat it as a shared responsibility.