What 173.24B means in plain language
When you transport hazardous materials, the package itself must be able to contain the product safely. That includes the outer container, inner packaging, closures, and any protective systems. If an inspector finds that your hazmat package does not meet integrity requirements, you'll be cited for 173.24B.
This isn't about labeling or placards—those are separate violations. Instead, 173.24B focuses on the physical condition and construction of the package. A package fails integrity if it has visible damage, deterioration, leaks, or structural defects that could allow the hazmat to escape during transport, loading, or unloading.
If you were cited, it means an inspector determined your package did not meet the technical standards required to safely contain its contents. Addressing this violation typically means either repackaging the material in a compliant container or removing that shipment from transport entirely.
What our enforcement data actually shows
Across 13 million inspections in our database, 173.24B is a low-volume citation. All-time, we have recorded 7 citations for this code. In the last 12 months, there has been 1 citation, and in the last 90 days, none.
When this code is enforced, it ranks #2312 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by total citation volume, making it among the least frequently cited violations. However, the consequence of a citation—placement out of service—occurs at a 14.3% rate. This is substantially lower than the all-FMCSR average OOS rate of 31.4%. Our data shows that in 6 out of 7 cases, the vehicle was not placed out of service, suggesting that many citations are issued for correctable package defects that don't prevent the load from continuing once remedied.
The rarity of enforcement and the low OOS rate both indicate that package integrity violations are caught infrequently, but when they are, inspectors often allow the carrier to address the issue at the roadside.
Who gets cited most
Because only 7 citations for 173.24B appear in our all-time records, the citation distribution is highly dispersed. Our data shows fleets such as ALTOM TRANSPORT INC, GEO DRILLING FLUIDS INC, IMPERATIVE CHEMICAL PARTNERS INC, BUCCI EXPRESS INC, O2 LOGISTICS LLC, BULK TRANSFER INT S DE RL DE CV, and MOBILE FORCE REFUEL LLC each received 1 citation. No single carrier has a pattern of repeat violations for this code.
Vehicle makes cited include a range of truck types: FRHT appears in 2 citations, with GDAN, BREN, POLA, PTRB, TRAO, and KW each appearing once. This spread suggests that 173.24B citations are not concentrated in a particular vehicle category or manufacturer.
How severe is this compared to similar codes
173.24B sits within the hazardous materials enforcement landscape alongside several related codes. By comparison, loading and unloading violations are far more frequently cited: 177.834A-HMC shows 3,954 citations with a 99.2% OOS rate, and 177.834(a) has 3,839 citations with a 97.9% OOS rate. These represent the highest-severity hazmat enforcement.
Placarding violations also appear regularly. 177.817(a) (general placarding violation) has 2,274 citations at a 75.1% OOS rate, while 177.817(e) (placard deteriorated or damaged) shows 2,038 citations but only a 5.2% OOS rate—similar to 173.24B's low OOS outcome.
Movement of damaged hazmat packages (177.823(a)) sits in the middle with 1,829 citations and a 51.8% OOS rate. Package integrity (173.24B) is enforced at a fraction of the frequency of these codes, but when it is cited, the proportion of OOS orders is lower than the hazmat average.
How to avoid it
Package integrity violations stem from physical condition problems. Here's what you can do:
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Inspect before loading. Before accepting a hazmat shipment, examine the outer container, lid or closure, seals, and any protective wrapping for cracks, leaks, dents, or corrosion. If you see damage, refuse the load or request repackaging.
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Check for leaks or residue. Look for visible liquid staining, powder residue, or odors around the package seals. These are signs the integrity has already been compromised.
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Verify closure integrity. Ensure lids are tightly sealed, bungs are secure, and any protective caps or covers are in place before departure. Loose closures are a common cause of citations.
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Handle during loading and unloading. Rough handling, stacking incompatible packages, or dropping loads during load securement can damage integrity. Use proper handling equipment and secure loads to prevent movement and collision.
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Monitor environmental conditions. If your trailer is exposed to extreme temperature swings, moisture, or prolonged sun exposure during a long delay at a shipper or receiver, re-inspect the package before moving it.
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Document your pre-trip inspection. Record the condition of the package when you take custody of the shipment. This protects you if damage occurs in the shipper's yard and creates a baseline for your inspection.
Since 173.24B enforcement is rare but occurs across diverse carrier and vehicle types, the best defense is treating every hazmat pre-trip inspection seriously. Your ability to spot package defects before an inspector does will keep you moving and keep your safety record clean.