FMCSA changing process for recording driver violation data

Washington – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is changing how it records truck and bus driver safety violation data, allowing states to update certain violations or have them removed.

FMCSA currently requires states to report violations recorded during roadside inspections to FMCSA’s Motor Carrier Management Information System, which feeds data into other FMCSA databases that affect truck and bus driver employment prospects and carrier safety ratings.

If a state issues a citation as a result of the violation, the driver or carrier can appeal the citation with the state but the violation record remains in the MCMIS regardless of the outcome.

The changes will allow states to indicate whether a citation associated with a violation record was dismissed or resulted in a not-guilty verdict, resulted in a conviction, or led to a conviction of a different or lesser charge. FMCSA then will update the violation record to reflect the citation appeal’s outcome.

According to the notice, the changes will go into effect for inspections that occur after the process’s implementation date, which has not yet been established.

Comments are due Jan. 2.