What 173.24a(b) means in plain language
FMCSR 173.24a(b) is a hazardous materials regulation that governs specific requirements for how hazmat shipments must be prepared and documented before transport. The regulation focuses on the proper completion and accuracy of shipping papers and documentation that accompany hazardous cargo.
When you're transporting hazmat, your shipping papers must contain complete and accurate information about the materials being carried. This includes proper description, classification, packaging group, and other details that emergency responders and enforcement officers need to know instantly. The regulation ensures that every piece of information required by DOT is present, legible, and correct before the vehicle ever leaves the facility.
If you receive a citation for 173.24a(b), it means an inspector found that your hazmat shipping papers were missing required information or contained inaccurate data that could create confusion about what you're actually hauling.
What our enforcement data actually shows
Across our 13 million+ inspection records, 173.24a(b) has generated only 1 citation all-time. In the last 12 months, there have been 0 citations, and in the last 90 days, 0 citations. This makes 173.24a(b) ranked #2796 of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume—one of the least-cited hazmat documentation codes in the entire regulatory framework.
When this violation has been cited, it has never resulted in an out-of-service order. The OOS rate for 173.24a(b) is 0.0%, meaning every inspection resulting in this citation allowed the driver to continue operating. This is substantially below the all-FMCSR average OOS rate of 31.4%, suggesting that enforcement officers view this violation as documentational rather than safety-critical in the field.
The extreme rarity of this citation (1 all-time) means you should treat it as a lower-frequency risk compared to more commonly cited hazmat codes, but still take it seriously during your pre-trip and hazmat load verification process.
Who gets cited most
Our inspection records show that 173.24a(b) citations are too infrequent to identify a geographic or carrier pattern. The single documented citation in our database was issued to VICTOR ESCOBAR LANDSCAPE CORP (USDOT 2143317). This does not indicate any systemic issue with that carrier—it represents a single isolated citation event in our 13 million-record dataset.
Because citation volume is so low, we cannot reliably compare OOS rates across states or identify which regions are enforcing this code more heavily. This actually works in your favor: if you maintain basic hazmat documentation standards, the likelihood of receiving this citation is very small.
How severe is this compared to similar codes
Within the hazardous materials category, several peer codes see far higher citation volume and much stricter enforcement.
177.834A-HMC (General loading/unloading hazmat) has generated 3,954 citations all-time with a 99.2% OOS rate—meaning nearly every citation results in an immediate out-of-service order. 177.834(a) (also general loading/unloading hazmat) shows 3,839 citations with a 97.9% OOS rate. These codes address physical loading and unloading practices and carry severe enforcement consequences.
177.817(a) (Placarding violation) has 2,274 citations with a 75.1% OOS rate, showing that missing or incorrect placards are taken very seriously.
By contrast, 173.24a(b)'s 0.0% OOS rate and minimal citation volume indicate that paperwork documentation issues are handled less aggressively than physical hazmat handling violations. Still, the fact that you were cited means you should correct the documentation deficiency immediately.
How to avoid it
Before you accept a hazmat load:
- Verify that all shipping papers are completely filled out with no blank fields. Every required data element (proper shipping name, hazard class, UN/ID number, packing group, total quantity) must be legible and accurate.
- Cross-check the shipping papers against the physical cargo. If the papers say you're hauling one product and the boxes/drums say something else, do not accept the load. Stop and clarify with the shipper.
- Confirm that all hazmat certifications and signatures are present. Unsigned or undated papers are incomplete papers.
- If you notice any erasures, corrections made with liquid paper, or handwritten entries that are hard to read, request corrected documents. Inspectors will scrutinize these during roadside stops.
- Keep shipping papers in the cab within arm's reach, not buried in a bag or tucked under cargo. During an inspection, an officer needs to access them instantly.
During your pre-trip:
- Before leaving the facility, do a final 60-second review: shipping papers match cargo, all required blanks are filled, all required signatures are present.
- If you transport hazmat regularly, develop a simple checklist and run through it before every trip. This takes two minutes and prevents citations.
The extreme rarity of this citation in our data suggests that most drivers are meeting this standard easily. Focus on the items above and you will have addressed the core compliance requirement.