PRISM Levels

Level Up to Enhanced PRISM Participation: Requirements 1-12

FMCSA encourages leveling up to Enhanced PRISM with six additional requirements.

Enhanced PRISM Participation adds another layer to the CMV vetting process in the event that a chameleon carrier evades their OOS order and attempt to register as another company. Enhanced PRISM increases the safeguards in States’ systems to keep motor carriers with large CMVs from concealing their Federal OOS order and/or registering under a different company name. With Enhanced PRISM, States meet the first six mandatory requirements for Full Participation, plus six additional requirements for carriers with a GVW of 26,001 pounds or more.

Enhanced PRISM requirements: GVW of 26,001 pounds or more

1. Legislative or administrative authority to deny/suspend for carriers under Federal OOS orders
2. Collect/validate USDOT and TIN number of MCRS
3. Check OOS status before registration (Deny)
4. Check OOS status before registration (Suspend)
5. Upload vehicle registration information to SAFER
6. Report quality number of denials and suspensions

7. Legislative or administrative authority to deny registration for reincarnated carriers
8. Check VIN against PRISM Target data for OOS affiliation
9. Implement a process to identify a reincarnated carrier
10. Deny registration for reincarnated carriers or request VIN removal from PRISM Target data
11. Set 950 status codes to suspend vehicles in SAFER
12. Certify PRISM cab card barcode

Level Up to Expanded PRISM Participation:
Full and Enhanced Levels + Lower Weighted Vehicles

Expanded PRISM applies the Full Participation requirements to non-IRP interstate lower-weighted CMVs with a GVW of 10,001-26,000 pounds. Expanded PRISM adds another safety layer for States by ensuring that any OOS carriers and vehicles 10,000 pounds and above are identified and immobilized thereby expanding FMCSA’s mission and efforts.

States eligible for Expanded PRISM must first reach the Enhanced Participation level. They must maintain all twelve requirements for CMVs of 26,001 pounds or more while applying PRISM requirements one through six to non-IRP interstate lower weighted vehicles of 10,000 pounds and above.

Expanded PRISM requirements: GVW between 10,001 and 26,000 pounds

1. Legislative or administrative authority to deny/suspend for carriers under Federal OOS orders
2. Collect/validate USDOT and TIN number of MCRS
3. Check OOS status before registration (Deny)
4. Check OOS status before registration (Suspend)
5. Upload vehicle registration information to SAFER
6. Report quality number of denials and suspensions

Optional Upgrades for all Participation Levels

States may increase their effectiveness and safety by applying the following optional PRISM upgrades at any level of participation:

• Accessing PRISM’s real-time data

  PRISM Web Services (PWS) is a data transfer method available to the PRISM States that provides real-time data for registration systems.

  • Information is queried by individual USDOT number and vehicle
  • OOS status
  • Active vs. Inactive status
• Retrieving Suspended License Plates

  Pulling plates off of suspended vehicles can help ensure that vehicles with serious safety deficiencies stay off the road. Establishing a plan for retrieving plates strengthens a State’s suspension process.