FMCSR/HMR violations for improper placarding, shipping paper errors, container issues, and transport regulation failures.
FMCSA Safety Measurement System (SMS)
The Hazardous Materials Compliance BASIC evaluates how carriers handle the safe transportation of hazardous materials. Violations include improper placarding or labeling, shipping paper errors, unauthorized packaging, leaking containers, failure to secure hazmat loads, and lack of required training. These violations are governed by both FMCSR and Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) under 49 CFR Parts 171-180. Due to the potential for catastrophic consequences, hazmat violations often carry high severity weights. Only carriers that transport hazardous materials in quantities requiring placarding are evaluated in this BASIC.
889 codes in this BASIC category • Page 1 of 18
| Rank | Code | Description | OOS | Times Cited ▼ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | 177.834A-HMC | General loading/unloading hazmat | — | 3,954 |
| #2 | 177.834(a) | General loading/unloading hazmat | OOS | 3,839 |
| #3 | 177.817(a) | Placarding violation |
| OOS |
| 2,274 |
| #4 | 177.817(e) | Placard deteriorated/damaged | — | 2,038 |
| #5 | 177.823(a) | Movement of damaged hazmat packages | — | 1,829 |
| #6 | 172.502(a)(1) | Placarding general requirements | — | 1,820 |
| #7 | 172.516(c)(6) | Placard damaged deteriorated or obscured | — | 1,796 |
| #8 | 172.602(c)(1) | Maintenance/accessibility of Emergency Response information | — | 1,464 |
| #9 | 172.504(a) | Placarding - table 1 materials | — | 1,399 |
| #10 | 177.817A-HMSP | Placarding violation | — | 1,389 |
| #11 | 172.516C6-HMPMC | HM (Placarding) - Failure to maintain placard(s) in a condition so that the format legibility color and visibility of the placard will not be substantially red | — | 1,193 |
| #12 | 177.801-HMHCNP | HM (Highway Carriage) - Driver accepted/transported HM not prepared in accordance with this Subchapter. Explain | — | 1,180 |
| #13 | 172.600C1-HMER | Emergency response information not available | — | 1,118 |
| #14 | 177.817E | Placard deteriorated/damaged | — | 1,072 |
| #15 | 172.332 | Hazmat class/division ID number missing | — | 1,071 |
| #16 | 177.823A-HMPMCM | Movement of damaged hazmat packages | — | 993 |
| #17 | 172.328(d) | Fail to mark manual remote shutoff device with Emergency Shutoff | — | 969 |
| #18 | 177.823A-HMPMCNP50% | Movement of damaged hazmat packages | — | 965 |
| #19 | 172.502A1-HMPP | Placarding general requirements | — | 946 |
| #20 | 172.600(c) | Emergency response information not available | — | 941 |
| #21 | 177.817A | Placarding violation | — | 933 |
| #22 | 172.502A1 | Placarding general requirements | — | 864 |
| #23 | 172.516C6 | Placard damaged deteriorated or obscured | — | 853 |
| #24 | 172.328D | Fail to mark manual remote shutoff device with Emergency Shutoff | — | 848 |
| #25 | 177.817E2-HMHC | HM (Highway Carriage) - Failing to have HM shipping papers readily accessible. | — | 843 |
| #26 | 172.602A-HMER | HM (Emergency Response) - No emergency response information | — | 842 |
| #27 | 177.817A-HMPSPMC | Placarding violation | — | 748 |
| #28 | 172.200(a) | Hazmat shipping papers missing/inadequate | — | 739 |
| #29 | 177.801 | Accepting or Transporting Hazardous Materials not prepared in accordance with regulations | — | 693 |
| #30 | 172.602C1 | Maintenance/accessibility of Emergency Response information | — | 656 |
| #31 | 397.3 | State/local laws ordinances regulations | — | 650 |
| #32 | 180.415-HMTMC | HM (Testing) - Failing to properly mark cargo tank test dates as required | — | 648 |
| #33 | 173.24(b)(1) | Release of Hazardous Materials from package | — | 645 |
| #34 | 172.602C-HMER | HM (Emergency Response) - Improper maintenance/accessibility of emergency response information | — | 628 |
| #35 | 177.817E1-HMHC | HM (Highway Carriage) - Failing to clearly distinguish HM shipping papers from other papers of any kind | — | 594 |
| #36 | 172.504A | Placarding - table 1 materials | — | 521 |
| #37 | 172.602(a) | Emergency Response information not complete | — | 515 |
| #38 | 180.415(b) | Cargo tank test or inspection markings | — | 514 |
| #39 | 172.328D-HMM | HM (Markings) - Failing to mark a manual remote shut-off device as required | — | 487 |
| #40 | 172.202(a)(2) | Hazmat description incomplete | — | 435 |
| #41 | 177.823A-HMPMCNP | Movement of damaged hazmat packages | — | 424 |
| #42 | 172.516(c)(5) | Placard not reading horizontally | — | 423 |
| #43 | 172.519 | Placard does not meet specifications | — | 422 |
| #44 | 177.823A-HMTVMMCNID | Movement of damaged hazmat packages | — | 412 |
| #45 | 172.200A | Hazmat shipping papers missing/inadequate | — | 407 |
| #46 | 172.504A-HMPS | Placarding - table 1 materials | — | 407 |
| #47 | 173.24B1-HMBPMC | HM (Bulk Packages) - HM/DG leaking from a bulk package (including associated piping) | — | 396 |
| #48 | 397.3-SLL | State/Local Laws - Driving/parking a CMV containing hazardous materials in violation of local regulations/laws/ordinances in the jurisdiction being operated | — | 382 |
| #49 | 178.345-6 | DOT 406 /407/412 supports and anchoring | — | 379 |
| #50 | 172.400(a) | Hazmat labeling on packages | — | 378 |