FMCSR 172.602(a): Emergency Response Information — Q&A

No. Across our 13 million inspection records, the 515 all-time citations for 172.602(a) have resulted in a 0.0% out-of-service rate. None of the violations in our database triggered an OOS placement. This contrasts sharply with the all-FMCSR average OOS rate of 31.4%, making this one of the least severe hazmat documentation violations. You will not be immediately sidelined, though the citation will still appear on your record.

It's considerably less severe than most hazmat peer codes. While general loading/unloading violations (177.834A-HMC) carry a 99.2% OOS rate and placarding violations (177.817(a)) hit 97.9%, emergency response information violations have never resulted in an out-of-service order in our data. However, it ranks lower in enforcement frequency too—only 515 all-time citations versus thousands for major hazmat codes—which suggests inspectors cite it selectively when documentation genuinely fails.

First: document the citation details and the specific deficiency inspectors noted. Second: review your vehicle's emergency response information (typically the shipping papers, placards, or emergency contact data) to identify what was incomplete or missing. Third: correct the documentation before your next hazmat load. Fourth: contact your dispatcher or safety manager to flag the violation and prevent recurrence. Unlike OOS violations, you can continue operating, but this should be treated as a documentation audit trigger.

Citations have effectively stopped. Our inspection records show zero citations in the last 12 months and zero in the last 90 days, despite 515 all-time citations in the database. This dramatic drop suggests either improved carrier compliance over time or a shift in inspector enforcement priorities toward other hazmat violations. If you're researching this code because you were recently cited, your violation is a rarity in current enforcement patterns.

The FMCSA DataQs system allows you to contest roadside inspection findings if you believe the violation was incorrectly documented or if circumstances didn't match the regulation. For a documentation violation like incomplete emergency response information, you can submit evidence (corrected paperwork, photos, or carrier records) showing the information was actually present or complete at the time of inspection. Document the specific data field the inspector flagged. Submission deadlines and evidence standards vary; consult your state's FMCSA office for your exact filing window.

Old Dominion Freight Line Inc (USDOT 90849) leads with 5 citations across all our data, followed by Fuel South Express LLC and Petrolificos de Monterrey SA de CV, each with 4 citations. XPO Logistics Freight, Christensen Inc, and Estes Express Lines each show 3 citations. Most major carriers appear only once or twice, indicating this violation is not systemic to any single operation but rather scattered across different fleet types and sizes.

Freightliner trucks dominate the citation list with 37 total citations, followed closely by Ford (32) and Kenworth (32). International trucks account for 18 citations, and Peterbilt for 20. The spread across multiple manufacturers suggests the violation is not tied to a specific truck design or hazmat system but rather to how drivers and carriers manage and maintain emergency response documentation across different fleets.

All violations appear on your record and feed into CSA scoring, but the specific point weighting for 172.602(a) is not disclosed in roadside enforcement data. What we can tell you: the citation will be recorded, but its rarity in enforcement (zero citations in 90 days) and zero out-of-service rate suggest the FMCSA does not treat it as a critical safety issue compared to major hazmat violations. Check your SaferWatch profile for the exact points assigned and monitor your hazmat BASIC score trend over the following months.