Exceeded activity limits Type A or Type B package
173.431 is a Load Securement - HM violation under 49 CFR §173.431. It falls in the Hazardous Materials Compliance BASIC with a severity weight of 10/10.
Last updated May 2026
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Notes
DSMS: NIf this violation was written incorrectly, here are the angles trucking-safety managers use to contest it. Playbook: Hazardous Materials.
Common ways to challenge this code
The materials transported did not exceed the threshold quantities requiring placards under 49 CFR Part 172 Subpart F.
Evidence that wins
This administrative code is on the inspection report but does not contribute to CSA BASIC scoring per FMCSA SMS Methodology Appendix A.
Evidence that wins
Common pitfalls — avoid these
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Codes under the same FMCSA violation group
HM (General Packaging) - Failing to meet the requirements of portable and mobile refrigeration systems as outlined.
HM RAM (General Packaging) Failing to comply with contamination control requirements of Class 7.
HM RAM (General Packaging) Exceeding established exclusive use radiation limits.
HM (Highway Carriage) - Using an improper tool for loading/unloading Class 1 material or other dangerous article.
HM RAM (Radiation Levels) - Operate a motor vehicle when the driver does not have a personal radiation measurement device (dosimetry) when required.
HM (General Packaging) - Failing to close packagings in accordance with manfacturer's specifications.
173.431 is the FMCSA roadside-inspection violation code for "Exceeded activity limits Type A or Type B package", part of the Load Securement - HM group, cited under 49 CFR §173.431.
173.431 falls under the Hazardous Materials Compliance BASIC in the FMCSA Safety Measurement System (SMS).
173.431 carries a severity weight of 10 out of 10. Higher weights indicate violations more closely tied to crash risk, and they count more toward a carrier's Hazardous Materials Compliance score.
No. 173.431 is not an out-of-service violation, so on its own it does not trigger an out-of-service order at the roadside.
The point contribution of 173.431 depends on its severity weight (10/10) multiplied by a time weight of 3, 2, or 1 based on how recent the inspection is. You can calculate the exact contribution with the CSA points calculator.
Yes. If you believe 173.431 was recorded in error, you can file a Request for Data Review (RDR) through the FMCSA DataQs system with supporting evidence. A successful challenge can remove or correct the violation on your record.
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Statistics
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