FMCSR 178.341-5: Citations, OOS Rate & What Happens Next

No. Across our inspection database, the 0.0% out-of-service rate for 178.341-5 shows this violation has never resulted in a truck being placed out of service. Of the 2 all-time citations on record, both were issued without an OOS determination. This contrasts sharply with the 31.4% all-FMCSR average OOS rate, making 178.341-5 a non-critical citation for enforcement purposes.

That said, the hazmat category includes much more serious violations—177.834A-HMC carries a 99.2% OOS rate and 3,954 citations—so context and the specific circumstances of your citation matter.

178.341-5 is one of the least-cited codes in the hazmat category. Our records show only 2 all-time citations, ranking it #2651 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes. Most hazmat violations are far more serious: 177.834A-HMC has logged 3,954 citations with a 99.2% OOS rate, and 177.834(a) shows 3,839 citations at 97.9% OOS.

However, the 0.0% OOS rate for 178.341-5 suggests inspectors treat it as a documentation or administrative issue rather than an immediate safety threat requiring vehicle removal from service.

1. Document the citation. Record the inspector's badge number, inspection location, date, and the specific violation details.
2. Review your hazmat paperwork. Since 178.341-5 falls under hazmat compliance, audit your shipping papers, placarding, and vehicle markings immediately.
3. Contact your carrier's compliance officer. If you're a fleet driver, report the citation for CSA tracking and corrective action.
4. Gather evidence of correction. Take photos or obtain documentation showing remedial steps—this helps if you contest later.
5. Check the RDR deadline. You typically have 30 days from citation issuance to submit a Roadside Dispute Resolution (RDR) challenge if you believe the violation was issued in error.
6. Consult your carrier's legal or safety team before responding to any follow-up communication from enforcement.

Yes, you can contest through the Roadside Dispute Resolution (RDR) process. You have 30 days from the citation date to challenge it. The RDR system allows you to submit evidence showing the violation did not occur or was misidentified.

Since 178.341-5 is a hazmat-specific violation, your best argument will likely involve documentation—proof that your shipping papers were complete, your vehicle was properly placarded, or that you followed required hazmat procedures. Photo evidence, training records, and carrier compliance logs strengthen an RDR submission. Contact your carrier's compliance team or a transportation attorney for guidance on your specific facts.

Our database contains only 2 all-time citations for 178.341-5, both issued to carriers in different regions. With such low national citation volume, there is no meaningful state distribution pattern in the data. This rarity makes the violation difficult to analyze by geography.

If you've been cited, it suggests your specific situation was flagged as an outlier rather than a systemic enforcement focus in your state. Compare this to high-volume hazmat codes like 177.834A-HMC, which appear thousands of times across multiple jurisdictions.

Rarely. Across 13 million roadside inspections in our database, there have been only 2 all-time citations for 178.341-5, with 0 citations in the last 12 months and 0 in the last 90 days. This places it #2651 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by enforcement volume.

The lack of recent activity suggests either the violation is difficult to detect in practice, or enforcement focus has shifted to other hazmat codes. If you've just been cited for 178.341-5, you're in a very small group, and the citation may reflect a specific operational gap the inspector documented.

Two carriers in our records have received citations for 178.341-5: DIESEL DOGS FUEL SERVICE INC (USDOT 1060895) with 1 citation and HADER FARMS PARTNERSHIP (USDOT 1221715) with 1 citation. Both vehicles cited were KENWORTH units or unknown makes, based on inspection data.

With only 2 total citations on record, no carrier shows a pattern of repeat violations for this code. This low frequency reinforces that 178.341-5 is a rare citation in enforcement practice.

The citation will record against both you as a driver and your carrier in the Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) system. Hazmat violations typically appear in carrier BASIC categories related to hazardous materials operations and safety, as well as in your driver violation history.

Since 178.341-5 carries a 0.0% out-of-service rate, it is unlikely to trigger an immediate FMCSA intervention, but it will contribute to your carrier's overall safety profile. Persistent citations—even low-severity ones—can accumulate and affect CSA percentile rankings over time.