What 178.245-6 means in plain language
178.245-6 is a hazardous materials regulation governing specific requirements for how certain hazmat shipments must be prepared, marked, or documented before transport. The rule focuses on compliance with packaging, labeling, and pre-shipment procedures that fall under the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR).
If you were cited for this code, a roadside inspector found that your vehicle or cargo documentation did not meet the preparation standards outlined in the regulation. This could involve improper marking on packages, incomplete shipping papers, or non-compliance with packaging specifications for the hazmat class you were transporting.
Unlike some hazmat violations that can trigger immediate out-of-service orders, this particular code is not OOS-eligible under current FMCSR enforcement policy. That means the citation itself will not pull you off the road on the spot—but it remains a violation that will appear on your safety record and may be subject to fines.
What our enforcement data actually shows
Our inspection records show that 178.245-6 is one of the least-cited FMCSR codes in our 13 million+ citation database. Across all-time enforcement, we have recorded only 3 total citations for this violation. In the last 12 months, we documented 0 citations, and in the last 90 days, we also recorded 0 citations.
Of those 3 all-time citations, none resulted in an out-of-service placement. This gives the code a 0.0% out-of-service rate, which is significantly lower than the all-FMCSR average OOS rate of 31.4%. Nationally, 178.245-6 ranks #2551 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume, placing it in the lowest tier of enforced violations.
The rarity of this citation in real-world roadside enforcement suggests that either drivers and carriers are consistently compliant with this requirement, or inspectors encounter the condition infrequently during their standard inspection protocol.
Who gets cited most
Because only 3 citations for 178.245-6 exist in our database, geographic and carrier distribution is extremely limited. Our data shows fleets such as J D LOGGING LLC (USDOT 2635305) with 1 citation, along with 2J LAND AND EXCAVATING LLC (USDOT 3728945) and J DOUBLE E RENTALS LLC (USDOT 4261820), each with 1 citation.
With such low enforcement volume, we cannot reliably identify state or regional hotspots. The vehicle makes cited included Ford, Freightliner, Peterbilt, and utility vehicles—but again, the small sample size (1 citation each) means these patterns do not reflect systematic risk in any particular segment.
How severe is this compared to similar codes
Within the Hazardous Materials category, 178.245-6 is far less frequently cited than related hazmat violations. For perspective:
- 177.834A-HMC (General loading/unloading hazmat) has 3,954 citations with a 99.2% OOS rate—roughly 1,318 times more citations and a drastically higher severity.
- 177.817(a) (Placarding violation) shows 2,274 citations with a 75.1% OOS rate, also indicating much stricter roadside enforcement.
- 172.502(a)(1) (Placarding general requirements) has 1,820 citations at an 18.5% OOS rate—still far more frequent than 178.245-6.
The contrast is stark: 178.245-6 sits at the low end of hazmat enforcement, while codes addressing loading, unloading, and placarding consume the vast majority of hazmat citations and result in significantly more out-of-service actions.
How to avoid it
Because 178.245-6 focuses on pre-shipment preparation and documentation, prevention begins before you ever load your vehicle:
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Verify shipping papers match the load. Before departure, confirm that all hazmat paperwork (shipping papers, manifests, Emergency Response Information) lists the correct commodity, quantity, UN number, and hazard class. Any mismatch is a violation waiting to happen.
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Inspect package labeling and markings. Examine every hazmat package or container for required DOT labels, proper orientation marks, and legible text. Faded or missing labels can trigger citations. If you notice damage, report it to dispatch before accepting the load.
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Confirm packaging integrity. Check that all hazmat is in DOT-approved packaging appropriate for the hazard class. Damaged or improvised containers must be rejected.
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Review your load's hazard class requirements. Different hazmat classes have different prep rules. Corrosives, flammables, oxidizers, and other classes each have specific marking and documentation standards. A pre-trip review of the HMR requirements for your commodity reduces the chance of non-compliance.
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Work with shippers who take hazmat seriously. Partner with loading facilities and dispatch providers that have strong hazmat compliance processes. Poor shipper practices are often the root cause of documentation and packaging violations.
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Know your vehicle's hazmat capability. Certain vehicle types and configurations may have restrictions on what hazmat they can carry. Confirm before accepting the load that your truck is registered and equipped to transport the commodity.
While 178.245-6 citations are exceedingly rare in our database, the violations that do occur tend to stem from inattention to detail at the loading dock rather than driver negligence during transport. Stay vigilant at pickup, ask questions if something looks wrong, and never roll if the paperwork or packaging doesn't match the rules.