What 179.300-13 means in plain language
179.300-13 falls under the hazardous materials transportation rules. While the specific subsection is narrowly enforced, it relates to requirements governing how hazardous materials must be handled, documented, or transported under federal regulations. The rule is part of a broader framework designed to protect public safety during the movement of dangerous goods.
If you've been cited for this violation, it means an inspector found a deficiency in one of these hazmat-related compliance areas during a roadside inspection. The violation is serious by classification—it's part of hazmat rules—but the extremely low citation frequency suggests either that most carriers comply well in this area, or that inspectors rarely encounter the specific scenario this code addresses.
What our enforcement data actually shows
Across 13 million inspections in our database, 179.300-13 has been cited only 1 time in all-time records. In the last 12 months, there have been 0 citations, and in the last 90 days, there have been 0 citations. This code ranks #2796 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume—making it among the rarest violations inspectors document.
The one citation on record resulted in an out-of-service placement, giving this code a 100.0% OOS rate. For context, the all-FMCSR average OOS rate is 31.4%, meaning when this code is cited, it is far more likely to result in immediate removal from service than the typical violation. This elevated severity reflects the hazmat classification and the potential safety risks involved.
Who gets cited most
Our inspection records show only one carrier with a documented citation for 179.300-13: JULIO RODOLFO GONZALEZ OLVEDA (USDOT 2927508), with 1 citation. Because this violation is so infrequently cited, we cannot identify meaningful state or fleet patterns from the data.
How severe is this compared to similar codes
Within the hazardous materials category, peer violations show far higher citation volumes. For example, 177.834A-HMC (general loading/unloading hazmat) has 3,954 citations with a 99.2% OOS rate, and 177.834(a) has 3,839 citations with a 97.9% OOS rate. Both are cited hundreds of times more frequently than 179.300-13. Placard-related violations like 177.817(a) show 2,274 citations at a 75.1% OOS rate—still much higher frequency.
The rarity of 179.300-13 contrasts sharply with these peer codes, suggesting that either this specific requirement is well-understood by the industry, or it addresses a narrow operational scenario that most inspectors do not encounter during roadside checks.
How to avoid it
Because this violation is so rarely cited, we cannot derive specific co-occurring patterns from our data. However, all hazmat violations share common prevention fundamentals:
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Review your hazmat commodity paperwork before every trip. Ensure shipping papers match your load, are accessible, and are legible. Hazmat violations typically stem from documentation gaps.
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Verify placards are present, correct, and visible on all four sides of your vehicle. Even minor placard issues trigger OOS orders in hazmat enforcement.
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Confirm your vehicle is certified and equipped for the specific hazmat class you're transporting. Do not assume a previous load's setup applies to your current one.
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Keep emergency response information (the orange DOT guide or equivalent) in your cab and accessible. Inspectors check for this on every hazmat stop.
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Know the specific rules for your commodity class. Hazmat categories have different loading, segregation, and documentation requirements. If you transport multiple commodity types, review the differences before each load.
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Perform a detailed pre-trip inspection specific to hazmat transport. Check that containment systems are secure, placards are intact, and no leaks or damage are visible.
The 100.0% OOS rate on record underscores that hazmat violations are treated as safety-critical by inspectors. Even a single deficiency can result in immediate out-of-service status and significant operational disruption.