The FMCSA medical certification process is designed to ensure drivers are physically qualified to operate commercial vehicles safely. Each driver is required to complete the Health History section on the first page of the examination report and certify that the responses are complete and true. The driver must also certify that he/she understands that inaccurate, false or misleading information may invalidate the examination and medical examiner's certificate.

FMCSA relies on the medical examiner's clinical judgment to decide whether additional information should be obtained from the driver's treating physician. Deliberate omission or falsification of information may invalidate the examination and any certificate issued based on it. A civil penalty may also be levied against the driver under 49 U.S.C. 521(b)(2)(b), either for making a false statement of for concealing a disqualifying condition.

Last Updated : April 1, 2014

If FMCSA determines the safety audit discloses the new entrant’s basic safety management controls are inadequate, the Agency will provide the new entrant written notice, as soon as practicable, but not later than 45 days after the completion of the safety audit, that its USDOT new entrant registration will be revoked, and its operations placed out-of-service unless it takes the actions to remedy its safety management practices.

If a new entrant fails to submit a written response demonstrating corrective action acceptable to FMCSA within the time specified in § 385.319, FMCSA will revoke its new entrant registration and issue an out-of-service order:

• 45-day corrective action requirement: Each new entrant listed below must take the specified actions to remedy inadequate safety management practices within 45 days of the date of the notice. FMCSA will revoke its new entrant registration and issue and out-of-service order on the 46th day if the written response is not acceptable:
  • A new entrant that transports passengers in a CMV designed or used to transport between 9 and 15 passengers (including the driver) for direct compensation
  • A new entrant that transports passengers in a CMV designed or used to transport more than 15 passengers (including the driver)
  • A new entrant that transports hazardous materials requiring placards in a CMV as defined in the definition of a “Commercial Motor Vehicle” in § 390.5
• 60-day corrective action requirement: All other new entrants must take the specified actions to remedy inadequate safety management practices within 60 days of the date of the notice. FMCSA will revoke its new entrant registration and issue and out-of-service order on the 61st day if the written response is not acceptable.

For more information on the New Entrant Program, click here.

If FMCSA determines the safety audit discloses the new entrant has adequate basic safety management controls, the Agency will provide the new entrant written notice as soon as practicable, but not later than 45 days after completion of the safety audit, that it has adequate basic safety management controls. The new entrant’s safety performance will continue to be closely monitored for the remainder of the 18-month period of new entrant registration.

A new entrant that operates a CMV in violation of an out-of-service order is subject to the penalty provisions in U.S.C. 521(b)(2)(A) for each offense as adjusted for inflation by 49 CFR 386, Appendix B.

Depending on State laws, your company may also be subject to suspension and/or revocation of state vehicle registration privileges.

For more information on the New Entrant Program, click here.

If a new entrant refuses to permit a safety audit to be performed on its operations, FMCSA will provide the carrier with written notice that its new entrant registration will be revoked and its operations placed out of service unless the new entrant agrees in writing, within 10 days from the service date of the notice, to permit the safety audit to be performed. The refusal to permit a safety audit to be performed may result in the new entrant being placed out of service and subjected to the penalty provisions of 49 U.S.C. 521(b)(2)(A), as adjusted for inflation by 49 CFR part 386, Appendix B.

For more information on the New Entrant Program, click here.

The IEP will be cited for violations found and may be subject to civil penalties.

Last Updated : April 7, 2014

Brokers or freight forwarders who do not maintain the $75,000 minimum financial security requirement are considered out of compliance with FMCSA regulations.

See "Section C: FMCSA Implementation and Enforcement Timelines" in 78 FR 54720, Sept. 5, 2013.

Last Updated : April 2, 2014

If the HHG mover increases the agreed price after your HHG are loaded on the truck, you are not required to pay more than 100% of the binding estimate or 110% of the non-binding estimate. However, the HHG mover may require payment at delivery for impracticable operations (as defined in the HHG mover’s tariff) not to exceed 15 percent of all other charges due at delivery. The HHG mover is required to bill any applicable charges not collected at delivery 30 days after the delivery of your goods The HHG mover is required to bill any applicable charges not collected at delivery 30 days after the delivery of your goods.

You are no longer licensed to drive a commercial motor vehicle. Your SDLA will notify you that you are no longer medically certified to operate a CMV in non-excepted interstate commerce.

You can find contact information for your state’s driver licensing agency on the USA.gov website.

For more information, click here. 

The following hazardous materials carried in these quantity amounts will require an HM Safety Permit:

• Radioactive Materials: A highway route-controlled quantity of Class 7 material, as defined in 173.403 of 49 CFR.
• Explosives: More than 25kg (55 pounds) of a Division 1.1, 1.2 or 1.3 material, or an amount of a Division 1.5 material requiring a placard under Part 172 Subpart F of 49 CFR.
• Toxic by Inhalation Materials:
  • Hazard Zone A: More that one liter (1.08 quarts) per package of a "material poisonous by inhalation," as defined in 171.8 of 49 CFR, that meets the criteria for "hazard zone A," as specified in 173.116(a) or 173.133(a) of 49 CFR
  • Hazard Zone B: A "material poisonous by inhalation," as defined in 171.8 of this title, that meets the criteria for "hazard zone B," as specified in 173.116(a) or 173.133(a) of 49 CFR in a bulk packaging (capacity greater than 450 L [119 gallons])
  • Hazard Zone C & D: A "material poisonous by inhalation," as defined in 171.8 of this title, that meets the criteria for "hazard zone C," or "hazard zone D," as specified in 173.116(a) of this title, in a packaging having a capacity equal to or greater than 13,248 L (3,500 gallons)
    • Due to Anhydrous Ammonia (ammonia, anhydrous) having both international and domestic entries in the Hazardous Materials Table (HMT)(See 49 CFR § 172.101), considerations must be made in order to determine the need for a Hazardous Materials Safety Permit (HMSP):
      • For Anhydrous Ammonia in “domestic transportation” (See 49 CFR § 171.8)  and described as UN1005 ammonia, anhydrous 2.2 Inhalation Hazard, an HMSP is not required.
      • For Anhydrous Ammonia described as UN1005, ammonia, anhydrous 2.3 Poison Inhalation Hazard or Toxic Inhalation Hazard, Zone D, and when transported in a packaging having a capacity greater than 13,248 L (3,500 gallons), an HMSP is required.  In these instances, Anhydrous Ammonia meets the definition of a Material that is Poison-By-Inhalation or Toxic-By-Inhalation as defined in 49 CFR § 171.8 and meets the criteria for a hazard zone D as specified in 49 CFR § 173.116(a).
• Methane: A shipment of compressed or refrigerated liquefied methane or liquefied natural gas or other liquefied gas with a methane content of at least 85% in a bulk packaging having a capacity equal to or greater than 13,248 L (3,500 gallons) for liquids or gases.

Last Updated : August 29, 2017

FMCSA strongly recommends customers to complete the identity verification process on their browser. If you need assistance while attempting to complete the verification process, you may contact the FMCSA Contact Center online by submitting a ticket or calling 1-800-832-5660. 

For customers who are unable to verify their identity using digital means, customers may visit an enrollment center and complete the identity verification in-person with the assistance of an agent. Reach out to the Enrollment Center hotline for more information (1-833-832-5530) or visit FMCSA IDEMIA Enrollment Centers site.  

You should file a complaint online or call 1-888-DOT-SAFT (1-888-368-7238). You may also contact your State Attorney General office or appropriate enforcement agency in your state.

If the safety fitness of a carrier subject to a comprehensive investigation based on SMS scoring is determined to be satisfactory, but the carrier’s SMS scores continue to exceed intervention thresholds for either the HM BASIC or any two BASICs besides the HM BASIC for the preceding two consecutive months, the carrier may stay on the enhanced oversight list with a note in the company record stating the date and outcome of the comprehensive review, and a note that the carrier will not undergo another comprehensive review for a period of 24 months due to an enhanced oversight condition, but may be re-selected for other, serious conditions.  Also, the carrier could be subject to a focused review if their scores do not fall below the intervention thresholds during that time frame.

Last Updated : July 29, 2015

If the original Medical Examiner is not available, the physician or Medical Examiner in the office may sign the replacement certificate. The advisory criteria states that the original may be copied and given to the driver. Some physicians may require the driver to undergo a new physical examination.

Last Updated : April 1, 2014

If there are violations on your record that you believe should go to another entity, you may challenge the data by going to our DataQs web site.

Last Updated : December 2, 2019

You must provide the following information to submit a hostage complaint:

• Written estimate
• Bill of lading
• Receipt of completed or offered payment
• Documentation of a moving company’s refusal to deliver goods or provide the location of goods after payment
• Amount requested from the moving company to deliver the goods

You may submit your complaint under a different category, if you cannot provide the required information. If none of the categories apply, please submit your complaint by phone at 1-888-DOT-SAFT (1-888-368-7238).

Medical Examiners who perform FMCSA medical examinations should understand: (1) Specific physical and mental demands associated with operating a CMV, (2) Physical qualification standards specified by 49 CFR 391.41 (b) (1-13), (3) FMCSA advisory criteria and other criteria prepared by the FMCSA, and (4) FMCSA medical guidelines to assess the CMV driver’s medical condition.

Last Updated : April 1, 2014

Written Estimates for Interstate Moves

Your mover must provide you a written estimate of all charges, including transportation, accessorial, and advance charges. Your mover's "rate quote" is not an estimate. Be sure the estimate is based on actual or virtual inspection of your household goods.

Binding Estimates for Interstate Moves

A binding estimate guarantees that you do not have to pay more than the estimated amount at the time of delivery. However, if you include additional items and services to your shipment, or there are unforeseen circumstances such as stairs, elevators or required parking permits, in this case the mover must prepare a new binding estimate to include all services and items to be transported.  You are required to pay 100 percent of the binding estimate at the time of delivery.

Non-Binding Estimates

A non-binding estimate helps you determine the cost of your move, but it is not a guarantee of your final costs. It should be reasonably accurate and include what your final charges will be based upon such as the actual weight of your shipment, the services provided, and the mover’s published tariff.

Under a nonbinding estimate, the moving company cannot require you to pay more than 110 percent of the non-binding estimate at the time of delivery. Learn more by reading  Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move booklet.

A pilot program collects specific data to evaluate alternatives to the regulations or innovative approaches to safety while ensuring that the safety performance goals of the regulations are satisfied.

In a pilot program, temporary regulatory relief from one or more FMCSR is given to a person or class of persons subject to the regulations or to a person or class of persons who intend to engage in an activity that would be subject to the regulations.

The number of participants in the pilot program must be large enough to ensure statistically valid findings. 381.400
NOTE: FMCSA is not conducting medical pilot programs at the time.

Last Updated : April 1, 2014

The entity’s physical address or PPOB is the designated central location where the company is engaged in business operations.  Normally, this is where officials routinely report to work, and where safety records and/or business records are regularly maintained.  

The entity must make safety records available for inspection at this location within 48 hours upon FMCSA’s request.