What 180.36-17 means in plain language
FMCSR 180.36-17 is a hazardous materials regulation that falls under the Department of Transportation's hazmat transport rules. This code addresses specific requirements for how hazardous materials must be handled, documented, or transported in your vehicle. The regulation is part of the broader framework that governs the safe movement of dangerous goods across state lines.
When an inspector cites you for 180.36-17, they have identified a violation related to hazmat compliance—whether that involves documentation, packaging, labeling, or another aspect of hazmat transport protocol. The exact nature of the violation depends on what the inspector observed during your roadside inspection.
What our enforcement data actually shows
Across our 13 million+ inspection records, 180.36-17 is extraordinarily rare. All-time, we have recorded only 1 citation for this code. Over the last 12 months, there have been 0 citations, and over the last 90 days, there have been 0 citations.
This code ranks #2796 of 3,036 FMCSR codes by citation volume—placing it far below the threshold of common violations. The out-of-service rate for 180.36-17 is 0.0%. For context, the all-FMCSR average out-of-service rate is 31.4%, meaning this code rarely, if ever, results in an immediate out-of-service order.
If you have just received a citation for this code, you are in an extremely small group. The rarity of enforcement suggests either that the violation is difficult to detect during standard roadside inspections, or that most carriers and drivers successfully comply with this specific requirement.
Who gets cited most
Our inspection database shows that across all time periods, only one carrier has received a citation for 180.36-17: Dawson Enterprises Incorporated (USDOT 135453), with 1 citation. The cited vehicle was a Peterbilt.
Because enforcement volume is so low, geographic and carrier patterns are not meaningful. There is insufficient data to identify whether certain states or fleets are at higher risk for this violation.
How severe is this compared to similar codes
Hazmat violations in general carry significant weight in enforcement. Our data shows that peer codes in the hazardous materials category have vastly different enforcement profiles:
- 177.834A-HMC (General loading/unloading hazmat) has 3,954 citations and a 99.2% out-of-service rate—the most severe in this category.
- 177.834(a) (General loading/unloading hazmat) has 3,839 citations and a 97.9% out-of-service rate.
- 177.817(a) (Placarding violation) has 2,274 citations and a 75.1% out-of-service rate.
- 172.602(c)(1) (Maintenance/accessibility of Emergency Response information) has 1,464 citations and a 0.0% out-of-service rate.
Your citation for 180.36-17, with its 0.0% out-of-service rate, sits at the less severe end of hazmat enforcement. However, do not interpret this as a minor issue—hazmat violations are taken seriously by DOT, and citations carry weight in your safety record.
How to avoid it
Given the rarity of this citation and the limited data on co-occurring violations, the best approach is to focus on general hazmat compliance:
- Review your hazmat documentation before every trip. Ensure that all shipping papers, manifests, placards, and labels are complete, legible, and accurate. If you haul hazmat, this is non-negotiable.
- Inspect placards and labels during your pre-trip. Make sure they are properly affixed, not damaged, deteriorated, or obscured. Damage to placard visibility is cited far more frequently (2,038 citations for code 177.817(e)) than the general hazmat codes, so take this seriously.
- Understand what you are hauling. Know the hazmat class of your load, any special handling requirements, and emergency response procedures. Ignorance is not a defense in a hazmat violation.
- Double-check packaging and containment. If you are loading or unloading, ensure containers are intact and properly sealed. General loading/unloading hazmat violations (codes 177.834A-HMC and 177.834(a)) are cited thousands of times and almost always result in out-of-service orders.
- Keep Emergency Response information accessible. This is required by regulation and is cited 1,464 times in our database. A simple, visible placard or laminated card in your cab satisfies this requirement.
- If you drive a Peterbilt (or any conventional tractor), pay extra attention to hazmat compliance. Our data shows Peterbilt was the vehicle make in the one recorded citation for this code, though this is not definitive evidence of higher risk.
The bottom line: hazmat transport is a high-stakes operation. A single citation for this code is unusual, but hazmat violations as a category are frequent and severe. Treat every hazmat load with meticulous care.