FMCSR 173.443(a): Hazmat Citation Q&A

No. Across our 13 million inspection records, 173.443(a) has a 0.0% out-of-service rate—meaning this citation does not trigger an immediate out-of-service order. The violation is not OOS-eligible under FMCSA rules. However, compare this to peer hazmat codes: placarding violations under 177.817(a) result in OOS 75.1% of the time, and general loading/unloading hazmat violations under 177.834(a) are OOS 97.9% of the time. Your violation is far less severe in enforcement outcome.

Relatively low-severity. Our database shows 173.443(a) ranks #2,796 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation frequency, with only 1 citation on record all-time. The national average OOS rate across all FMCSR codes is 31.4%; 173.443(a) sits at 0.0%. Compare that to related hazmat codes: 177.834(a) (general loading/unloading) has a 97.9% OOS rate with 3,839 citations, and 177.817(a) (placarding) hits 75.1% OOS with 2,274 citations. This violation is significantly less enforced and less severe than comparable hazmat infractions.

1. Document the citation details: note the officer's name, inspection date, specific finding, and vehicle VIN.
2. Request a copy of the inspection report from the officer or your carrier's safety department immediately.
3. Review the regulation: 173.443(a) involves hazmat transport requirements; confirm whether the violation was equipment-based or documentation-based.
4. Contact your carrier's compliance team to report the citation and begin any required corrective action.
5. Check your CSA record within 5–7 days to confirm the citation has been entered correctly.
6. Keep records of any repairs or corrective measures you take.

The specific CSA point weight for 173.443(a) is not disclosed in our citation database, but hazmat violations in the 17x series typically fall under the Hazardous Materials Safety BASIC category. Points are assigned based on severity and violation type. Because 173.443(a) does not result in out-of-service citations (0.0% OOS rate in our data), it is likely classified as a lower-severity finding compared to hazmat codes like 177.834(a), which carry a 97.9% OOS rate. Contact your carrier or an FMCSA-certified safety consultant for the exact point value.

Yes, you can file a DataQs (FMCSA Compliance, Safety, Accountability Quality Assurance) challenge if you believe the citation is inaccurate or unsupported by evidence. DataQs is a formal process for drivers and carriers to correct or dispute roadside inspection findings. You typically have 90 days from the inspection date. The contestability depends on whether the violation was a factual error (vehicle inspection record mismatch) or a documentation issue. Consult your carrier's safety manager or a compliance specialist to review the inspection report and determine if you have grounds for a challenge.

Our all-time data shows only 1 citation for 173.443(a) across all states in our 13 million-record database. This citation is extremely rare in enforcement. The single citation on record was issued to a carrier with a PTRB or UTIL vehicle. Because the violation volume is so low, state-level patterns cannot be reliably identified. If you've been cited, you're in a very small cohort—focus on understanding the specific finding and correcting it with your carrier.

No. In our 13 million-record database, there have been 0 citations for 173.443(a) in the last 90 days, and 0 in the last 12 months. The only citation on record is all-time historical. This is one of the least-cited hazmat codes in FMCSA enforcement. If you are currently facing this citation, it is a rare enforcement event. Focus on documenting the violation thoroughly and working with your carrier to ensure the technical or procedural issue does not recur.

Hazmat violations under 173.443(a) are attributed to the carrier's CSA Safety Management BASIC score and safety record. The violation may also appear on the driver's FMCSA record if the driver was operating the vehicle at the time of inspection. The primary regulatory responsibility lies with the carrier for hazmat compliance and vehicle maintenance. Your carrier's safety standing is the primary target of FMCSA enforcement action. Work with your carrier's compliance team to resolve the violation and prevent similar findings in the future.