Through a compliance and enforcement program called Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA), FMCSA monitors
the safety performance of each motor carrier from registration throughout the life of its business.
During carriers’ first 18 months on the road, they are considered “new entrants” with provisional operating authority,
and are also monitored under the New Entrant Program to ensure they have effective safety management controls in place. Upon completing a Safety Audit and operating safely for 18 months,
carriers are granted permanent operating authority and continue to be monitored under CSA.
How does FMCSA monitor carrier safety compliance?
FMCSA, together with State Partners, assesses safety performance by collecting data about carriers through Safety Audits, roadside inspections, investigations, and crash reports.
Review of carriers’ records to verify that the carrier has basic safety management controls in place. May occur at the carrier’s place of business or offsite.
Examinations of commercial motor vehicles and/or drivers to ensure compliance with regulations, carried out by certified inspectors. May be conducted a weigh stations, border checkpoints, or if a CMV is pulled over by a law enforcement official.
Examinations of carrier’s operation to help identify why safety problems are occurring and recommend corrective action. May occur at the carrier’s place of business or offsite.
Reports usually completed by State or local law enforcement following a crash. FMCSA uses data from
State-reported crashes over the past 24 months.
How does FMCSA address carriers that pose a safety risk?
FMCSA’s interventions process, which includes warning letters and investigations, evaluates why safety problems occur, recommends remedies, and when necessary, invokes strong penalties for carriers failing to comply.
When a safety problem is found, in addition to other actions, FMCSA often requires the carrier to develop, submit, and implement a corrective action plan that identifies the root cause of the safety problem and the actions the carrier will take to address them.
Learn how to submit a corrective action plan.