Violation code

173.441A-HMRAMRLES

HM RAM (Radiation Levels) - Operate a motor vehicle when the external surface of the package radiation level exceeds 2mSv/hr (200 mrem/hour).

Hazardous Materials Compliance10Non-OOS· SMS Appendix A v3.20

173.441A-HMRAMRLES is a Load Securement - HM violation under 49 CFR §173.441A-HMRAMRLES. It falls in the Hazardous Materials Compliance BASIC with a severity weight of 10/10.

Violation group: Load Securement - HM
Regulation §: 173.441A-HMRAMRLES
Severity weight: 10
Used in SMS: Yes
Status: Active
Updated: 5/15/2026

Last updated May 2026

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Notes

DSMS: N | Comment: Added in 3.15 | Footnote: As of February 1, 2023, the violations in this table are included in SMS. Only violations cited on or after February 1 are included in SMS calculations. This update aligns SMS with how violations are being cited in a new software used for roadside inspections.

What 173.441A-HMRAMRLES means — and how to avoid it

In plain English

In plain terms, 173.441A-HMRAMRLES is cited for hM RAM (Radiation Levels) - Operate a motor vehicle when the external surface of the package radiation level exceeds 2mSv/hr (200 mrem/hour).

What the inspector checks

•Enough tiedowns for cargo length/weight and working load limit
•Tiedowns, chains, straps, and binders not damaged or loose
•Blocking/bracing and edge protection where needed

How to prevent it

✓Learn the working-load-limit math for your loads and carry extra straps/chains
✓Re-check securement within the first 50 miles and at every stop
✓Replace frayed straps and bent binders before the trip

How it affects your CSA

up to 30 pts (fresh)

Severity 10/10. A fresh citation counts at the 3× time weight — up to 30 points toward the Hazardous Materials Compliance BASIC — then tapers to 2× after 6 months and 1× after a year, dropping off the score at 24 months.

General guidance from the violation’s FMCSA classification — not legal advice, and not a substitute for the inspector’s findings or 49 CFR.

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Challenging 173.441A-HMRAMRLES through FMCSA DataQs

If 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

Shipment was not placardable
The materials transported did not exceed the threshold quantities requiring placards under 49 CFR Part 172 Subpart F.
Evidence that wins
- ✓Shipping papers showing UN number, hazard class, and quantity
- ✓Manufacturer's product specification sheet
Administrative HazMat code (not in SMS)
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
- ✓FMCSA SMS Methodology Appendix A reference

Common pitfalls — avoid these

⚠Administrative HazMat codes still appear on the PSP record even when not scored in SMS

⚡ Draft a challenge for 173.441A-HMRAMRLES →Read the DataQs guide first

More codes in Hazardous Materials Compliance

Same BASIC category — ranked by national citation volume

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Other Load Securement - HM codes

Codes under the same FMCSA violation group

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Frequently asked questions about 173.441A-HMRAMRLES

What does violation 173.441A-HMRAMRLES mean?

173.441A-HMRAMRLES is the FMCSA roadside-inspection violation code for "HM RAM (Radiation Levels) - Operate a motor vehicle when the external surface of the package radiation level exceeds 2mSv/hr (200 mrem/hour).", part of the Load Securement - HM group, cited under 49 CFR §173.441A-HMRAMRLES.

What BASIC does 173.441A-HMRAMRLES affect?

173.441A-HMRAMRLES falls under the Hazardous Materials Compliance BASIC in the FMCSA Safety Measurement System (SMS).

What is the CSA severity weight of 173.441A-HMRAMRLES?

173.441A-HMRAMRLES 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.

Is 173.441A-HMRAMRLES an out-of-service (OOS) violation?

No. 173.441A-HMRAMRLES is not an out-of-service violation, so on its own it does not trigger an out-of-service order at the roadside.

How many CSA points does 173.441A-HMRAMRLES add to a carrier's score?

The point contribution of 173.441A-HMRAMRLES 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.

How can a driver prevent 173.441A-HMRAMRLES?

Learn the working-load-limit math for your loads and carry extra straps/chains; Re-check securement within the first 50 miles and at every stop; Replace frayed straps and bent binders before the trip.

Can 173.441A-HMRAMRLES be challenged through DataQs?

Yes. If you believe 173.441A-HMRAMRLES 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.

Keep going

CSA points calculator How to challenge a violation Draft a DataQs letter for 173.441A-HMRAMRLES Hazardous Materials Compliance BASIC Carrier CSA lookup CSA glossary

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