What you need to know about 173.25A citations: out-of-service risk, next steps, and how it compares to other hazmat violations.
Ranks #2,259 of 3,146 FMCSR codes by citation frequency • OOS rate of 0.0% is below the FMCSR-wide average of 33.3%.
Failed to meet overpack conditions
Direct answers grounded in TruckCodex inspection data
No. Across our 13 million+ inspection records, 173.25A has never resulted in an out-of-service order. The OOS rate for this violation is 0.0% — none of the 9 all-time citations in our database led to immediate roadside removal. For perspective, the national average OOS rate across all FMCSR codes is 31.4%, so 173.25A is significantly less likely to ground your truck than most violations.
173.25A means you failed to properly use or prepare an overpack container when shipping hazardous materials. An overpack is an outer container used to consolidate hazmat packages that are damaged, leaking, or non-compliant with packaging rules. If inspectors find your hazmat shipment doesn't meet the regulatory overpack conditions, you'll be cited. This is a documentation and packaging issue, not an equipment defect.
First, secure any leaking or damaged hazmat packages and isolate them from the load. Review your overpack preparation procedures — our data shows 173.25A often appears alongside placarding violations (172.504A) and general loading/unloading breaches (177.834A). Contact your hazmat coordinator or shipping manager to verify your overpack labeling, marking, and closure methods match 49 CFR 173.25 requirements. Document your corrective action in writing and keep it with your inspection report for potential DataQs contest or future audits.
173.25A is one of the least enforcement-heavy hazmat violations. Our data shows only 9 citations all-time, ranking #2230 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes. Compare this to peer hazmat codes: 177.834A (general loading/unloading) has 3,954 citations with a 99.2% OOS rate, and 177.817(a) (placarding) has 2,274 citations with 75.1% OOS. 173.25A's 0.0% OOS rate and minimal citation volume indicate inspectors treat this as a lower-severity documentation issue.
Across the last 180 days, our inspection records show 173.25A citations concentrated in Texas (2 citations) and New Mexico (1 citation). Texas accounts for two-thirds of recent enforcement. Neither state placed any of these citations out of service. If you operate hazmat routes in these states, ensure your overpack procedures are documented and that your team understands the marking and closure requirements specific to damaged or non-compliant packages.
No. Our 12-month trend shows enforcement declining. We recorded 3 citations in June 2025, but only 1 citation each in January, February, and March 2026. Over the last 90 days, just 2 citations appeared in our 13 million+ inspection database. This suggests 173.25A is not a priority enforcement focus for FMCSA or state DOT teams, though compliance is still required.
Yes, you can submit a DataQs (FMCSA's Roadside Data Reporting Challenge system) request to contest or clarify your citation. Since 173.25A is a documentation and procedure issue — not equipment failure — your contest should focus on whether your overpack actually met the regulatory conditions at the time of inspection. Gather evidence: photos of the overpack, your shipping documentation, your packing checklist, and any procedures your company follows. Submit through the FMCSA DataQs portal within the allowed timeframe.
Our all-time data shows Precision NDT LLC (USDOT 4116914) received 2 citations for 173.25A, the highest count. Seven other carriers appear once each: E F Corporation, Continental Battery Company, Crosscountry Freight Solutions Inc, Greenwood Motor Lines Inc, Kleen Rite Transportation LLC, GTM Transport LLC, and Roofline Inc. Most hazmat carriers avoid this violation entirely, suggesting it stems from specific procedural gaps rather than systemic industry noncompliance.
Where 173.25A is most commonly cited (last 180 days)
TruckCodex aggregates official public-sector datasets. See the Source registry for dataset-level coverage and the Freshness log for last-import timestamps.
Census, SAFER, SMS, Licensing & Insurance (L&I), roadside inspections, crashes, and authority history.
Vehicle recall campaigns, defect investigations, and consumer safety complaints (SCRS).
Cross-border carrier registry and Canadian recall campaigns where applicable.
TruckCodex is an independent aggregator; it is not affiliated with FMCSA, NHTSA, EIA, or Transport Canada. Always verify compliance-critical information directly with the originating agency.