What 172.602C1 means in plain language
This citation relates to maintaining and keeping accessible emergency response information on your hazardous materials vehicle. When you transport hazmat, federal law requires you to have specific emergency contact and response data readily available—both for inspection and for actual emergency responders if something goes wrong.
The regulation covers ensuring that emergency response documents, placards, shipping papers, and related hazmat information are properly maintained and can be accessed by enforcement officials or emergency personnel during an incident. If an inspector found your emergency response materials missing, illegible, incorrectly stored, or difficult to locate during a roadside inspection, you may have received this citation.
This is a documentation and accessibility issue, not a safety failure in how you're hauling the load itself. It's about proving you have the right information where it needs to be.
What our enforcement data actually shows
Across 13 million inspections in our database, 172.602C1 ranks #834 by citation volume among all 3,036 FMCSR codes. You're not dealing with a high-volume violation.
Our records show 656 all-time citations for this code, with 326 citations in the last 12 months and 65 in the last 90 days. Most importantly: zero drivers have been placed out of service for 172.602C1. The OOS rate is 0.0%—compare that to the all-FMCSR average of 31.4%. This violation does not trigger immediate removal of your vehicle from service. It's a citation and a correctable defect, not a roadworthiness failure.
The citation trend shows activity picking up in early 2026, with 49 citations recorded in January and 28 in February, suggesting increased enforcement focus in certain regions during that period.
Who gets cited most
Our data shows enforcement of this code is heavily concentrated in Texas, which recorded 146 citations over the last 180 days—far outpacing other states. Iowa follows with 4 citations and North Carolina with 3 citations. All three states show a 0.0% OOS rate, indicating uniform enforcement philosophy: cite and correct, don't impound.
Historically, carriers such as Luis Basilio Mendoza Gollas (USDOT 3220053) with 13 all-time citations and Petrolificos de Monterrey SA de CV (USDOT 3910464) with 10 citations appear more frequently in our records, suggesting these operations may run larger hazmat fleets or operate in high-enforcement zones like Texas.
How severe is this compared to similar codes
Your citation sits within the Hazardous Materials category. To put severity in perspective:
172.602(c)(1) (the broader "Maintenance/accessibility of Emergency Response information" code) shows 1,464 all-time citations and a 0.0% OOS rate—identical enforcement outcome to your specific citation.
By contrast, 177.834A-HMC (General loading/unloading hazmat) has 3,954 citations with a 99.2% OOS rate—nearly every citation results in immediate out-of-service status. 177.817(a) (Placarding violation) shows 2,274 citations with a 75.1% OOS rate. Your citation is in the lower-severity tier: it's correctable on the spot and doesn't ground your vehicle.
How to avoid it
Our co-occurring violation patterns reveal what inspectors find alongside 172.602C1 citations:
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Inoperable Required Lamp (393.9) co-occurs in 19 shared inspections, and Emergency equipment – fire extinguisher missing/defective (393.95A) in 13. This suggests inspectors are checking overall vehicle readiness, not just hazmat paperwork. Before every trip, verify your placards are visible and undamaged, your emergency contact information (bill of lading, shipping papers, emergency response guide) is legible and accessible in the cab, and your emergency equipment (fire extinguisher, spill kit if required) is on board and functional.
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Placard deteriorated/damaged (177.817E) co-occurs in 12 shared inspections. Clean, readable, properly affixed placards on all four sides are non-negotiable. Replace any placard that's faded, peeling, or damaged—don't rely on tape or repair.
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Brake tubing/hoses inadequate (393.45B2UV) and Tire issues (393.75A3) co-occur in 8 and 11 inspections respectively. This suggests inspectors are doing full mechanical reviews when they stop hazmat vehicles. Include brake and tire condition in your pre-trip walkaround.
Vehicle-specific note: Freightliners (FRHT) appear in 168 of these citations, Kenworths (KW) in 145, and other makes following. Vehicle type doesn't determine risk, but if you drive one of these common rigs, ensure your emergency documentation is organized and easy to produce.
Actionable steps before your next trip:
- Confirm all hazmat shipping papers are in the cab, legible, and match your load.
- Verify your emergency response guide (orange book) is current and accessible.
- Check that all placards are clean, properly positioned, and readable from a distance.
- Confirm your emergency equipment list (extinguisher, spill kit, etc.) matches what the shipper documented and is physically on board.
- During pre-trip, walk your vehicle and inspect placard condition on all sides.