FMCSR 180.352(f) Citations: What Drivers Need to Know

No. Across our inspection records, 180.352(f) has a 0.0% out-of-service rate—meaning none of the 3 all-time citations resulted in an OOS order. This code is not OOS-eligible under FMCSA rules. However, the 0.0% rate is far below the all-FMCSR average of 31.4%, so even in the rare event of a citation, immediate removal from service is not the enforcement pattern here.

Very rarely. Our database shows only 3 all-time citations for this code, with zero citations in the last 12 months and zero in the last 90 days. This ranks #2551 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume. For comparison, related hazmat placarding violations like 177.817(a) see 2,274 citations. If you've been cited for 180.352(f), you're in an extremely small group.

1. Document the citation details – get a copy of the inspection report and note the exact finding.
2. Review your hazmat documentation – 180.352(f) involves hazmat compliance; verify your placarding, emergency response info, and manifest align with DOT requirements.
3. Contact your carrier's compliance team immediately if you're a company driver.
4. Photograph the load and vehicle condition as it existed at citation.
5. Do not alter or destroy evidence – keep the truck and cargo in their cited state until advised otherwise.
6. Consider contacting a hazmat compliance specialist given the technical nature of the violation.

Relative to similar hazmat rules, 180.352(f) carries low enforcement severity. The closest peer codes show dramatically different patterns: 177.834A-HMC has 3,954 citations with a 99.2% OOS rate, and 177.834(a) has 3,839 citations with a 97.9% OOS rate. By contrast, 180.352(f)'s 0.0% OOS rate indicates inspectors treat it as a documentation or procedural issue rather than an immediate safety hazard requiring removal. That said, hazmat citations of any kind signal potential compliance gaps in your operation.

Yes, you can file a DataQs (FMCSA Roadside Data Quality System) challenge if you believe the citation is factually incorrect. File within 90 days of the inspection through SafetyNet. DataQs works best for objective errors—wrong vehicle, wrong code applied, or equipment that was actually compliant at the time. If the inspector documented a genuine violation of the hazmat rule, the dispute process is harder to win. Consult the citation report for specific findings before deciding whether to challenge.

Our inspection records show only 3 all-time citations for 180.352(f), all assigned to individual carriers with 1 citation each: E C M TRANSPORT LLC, CURBSIDE LANDSCAPE AND IRRIGATION, and NORTHWEST CONTRACTING LLC. The sample is too small to identify geographic clustering by state. This rarity makes it difficult to predict where enforcement focus lies—the violation is simply uncommon across the 13 million+ inspections in our database.

Enforcement is essentially non-existent. Zero citations in the last 12 months and zero in the last 90 days, compared to 3 all-time citations. This suggests either the violation is extremely rare in the field, or it is not a current enforcement priority for roadside inspectors. If you operate hazmat, you should focus compliance efforts on the high-frequency violations like 177.834(a) and 177.817(a), which together account for thousands of annual citations.

Hazmat violations are recorded against both the driver and the carrier in FMCSA's Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) system. The citation will appear in your safety record and your company's record. However, because 180.352(f) citations are so rare and this code carries a 0.0% OOS rate, the typical 30-day rolling impact on either party's CSA score is minimal compared to high-frequency violations. Work with your carrier to understand your specific CSA point allocation.