External temperature of package exceeds 85 degrees C (185 degrees F) in an exclusive use shipment.
173.442(b)(2) is a Cargo Protection - HM violation under 49 CFR §173.442(b)(2). It falls in the Hazardous Materials Compliance BASIC with a severity weight of 4/10.
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
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173.442(b)(2) is the FMCSA roadside-inspection violation code for "External temperature of package exceeds 85 degrees C (185 degrees F) in an exclusive use shipment.", part of the Cargo Protection - HM group, cited under 49 CFR §173.442(b)(2).
173.442(b)(2) falls under the Hazardous Materials Compliance BASIC in the FMCSA Safety Measurement System (SMS).
173.442(b)(2) carries a severity weight of 4 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. 173.442(b)(2) 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 173.442(b)(2) depends on its severity weight (4/10) 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 173.442(b)(2) 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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