Frequently Asked Questions
No, the carrier must wait until it receives the Certificate of Registration for commercial zone operations or a Provisional Operating Authority Registration for long-haul operations beyond the commercial zone. Until such documentation is issued, the carrier may not operate.
Last Updated : September 8, 2015
A number of things could happen if you operate without authority. Regulations found at 49 CFR 392.9a(b) require that carriers operating without authority or beyond the scope of their authority can be put Out of Service. A company operating without authority is also subject to fines.
Last Updated : September 8, 2015
Mexico domiciled motor carriers with a certificate of registration to operate within the border commercial zones have two options: (1) obtain daily trip insurance per 49 CFR § 387.31(b)(3) or (2) meet the minimum requirements found in the table in 49 CFR Part 387. Long-haul operators must meet the minimum requirements in 49 CFR Part 387.
Last Updated : July 6, 2015
FMCSA has separated the initial application requirements from those for maintenance and renewal of a HMSP. Therefore, the conditions set forth in section 385.407 apply only to initial applicants and Temporary HMSP holders.
Once the HMSP goes into a non-temporary status, it is then subject to the conditions for suspension and revocations in section 385.421. Specifically, for implementation of the recommendations mentioned in Question 3, section 385.421(a)(5) is used as the basis for determining whether a carrier is identified for enhanced oversight.
Basically, FMCSA has added 3 conditions to SMS in order to identify carriers for “enhanced oversight.” These conditions are:
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The Hazardous Materials (HM) Compliance BASIC is above threshold for 2 consecutive months;
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Two BASICs, other than the HM Compliance BASIC, are above threshold for 2 consecutive months; or
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There is insufficient data (no BASIC scores) for 48 consecutive months and the safety rating is ≥ 4 years old.
Last Updated : July 29, 2015
You can contact the Medical Examiner that conducted your evaluation for a copy of your medical certification examination.
Last Updated : April 1, 2014
Contact the MRB staff on (202) 366-4001 or fmcsamrb@fmcsa.dot.gov
Last Updated : April 1, 2014
The current hours-of-service (HOS) exception in 49 CFR 395.1(k) covers any motor carrier transporting agricultural commodities or farm supplies to an eligible destination. The MAP-21 revision expands the current 100 air-mile radius to 150 air-miles (172.6 statute miles) and makes transportation from wholesalers to retailers eligible for the exception.
MAP-21 provides a new and broad exemption from many of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for operators of “covered farm vehicles” (CFVs). The new definition of a CFV to be found in § 390.5 includes a variety of conditions and limitations involving the size of the vehicle, hauling distance from the farm or ranch, and cargo being transported. Perhaps most important, CFV operators must be farmers or ranchers, their families, and employees. Source: 78 FR 16189, March 14, 2013.
Last Updated : September 7, 2022
A carrier would file the MCS-150B form to start the application process. A carrier that does not have a USDOT Number will receive one by filing the MCS-150B.
Downloadable versions of the MCS-150B are available on our web site.
You can also apply online.
Last Updated : April 15, 2014
To determine if a violation is attributed to either a motor carrier or an IEP during a roadside inspection, see “Intermodal Equipment Violation Attribution.”
Last Updated : April 3, 2014
FMCSA does not issue commercial drivers’ licenses; they are issued by the individual state driver licensing agencies (SDLA).
See also our background information on the commercial driver’s license program.
You can may also want to find your state in this index of state government agencies.
Last Updated : April 3, 2014
For exemptions from Federal standards other than Diabetes or Vision, please refer to the FMCSRs in Section 381.210 and391.310
Last Updated : April 1, 2014
A Medical Review Officer (MRO) is a licensed physician responsible for receiving and reviewing laboratory results generated by an employer's drug testing program and evaluating medical explanations for test results. More information on MROs is available online at http://www.dot.gov/ost/dapc/mro.html.
Medical Examiner means a person who is licensed, certified, or registered, in accordance with applicable State laws and regulations to perform physical examinations. This includes but is not limited to doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathy, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses and doctors of chiropractic.
Last Updated : April 1, 2014
The driver, vehicle, and hazmat out of service (OOS) rates, as well as the crash rate calculations, will no longer apply to carriers who submit renewal HMSP applications. Carriers who would have had OOS rates above the National averages would no longer have to “wait out” a period of time in order for OOS violations to drop off, or to get more good inspections in order to bring down a high OOS rate. Instead HMSP renewals and non-temporary HMSPs will now fall under Enhanced Oversight monitoring where a comprehensive investigation may be assigned.
The policy provides more flexibility to motor carriers attempting to correct identified deficiencies. Specifically, actions taken by FMCSA under this policy culminate in the issuance of a safety rating that will be used to decide whether the HMSP holder will be allowed to continue to operate under the permit. Upon the issuance of a recommended rating of less-than-satisfactory, carriers are able to invoke their right to administrative review, including requesting an upgrade of the rating and the submission of a corrective action plan in order to retain their HMSP.
Last Updated : July 29, 2015
To tell IME from other types of trailers:
- Look at the lower corners. Intermodal containers transported on IME have “twistlocks” at each lower corner to secure them to the chassis
- Look for the retro-reflective tape. On van trailers, it is applied around the lower perimeter of the trailer walls. On IME, the marking will be on the chassis itself, not on the container that is being transported
- Look at the lower frame. Many types of IME have a large beam that runs along their length. You can see this beam under the exterior floor of the container. Most types of van trailers do not have a large beam that you can see below the floor
- Look at the information on the rear doors. A container is generally marked with several items of information about the container’s capacity: maximum gross weight, tare weight, net weight, and cubic capacity. Dry van trailers are rarely marked with information at this level of detail
Last Updated : April 3, 2014
There are various national resources for someone to report an incident of human trafficking, or “Report a Tip”. Below is a list of those:
- In an emergency, call 911.
- Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733.
- Call the U.S. Department of Homeland Security at 1-866-347-2423 (U.S.) or 1-802-872-6199 (International)
Under new § 383.3(h), the CDL regulations in Part 383 do not apply to the operator of a covered farm vehicle (CFV) as defined in § 390.5. Note that a CFV cannot be transporting hazardous materials in quantifies that require placarding. Operators of such vehicles would be subject to the Part 383 CDL regulations.
Last Updated : May 8, 2014
Once an HMSP becomes non-temporary, section 385.407 no longer applies to the carrier’s ability to renew its HMSP. Therefore, as long as an HMSP holder submits its biennial update (MCS-150B) and is not in violation of any of the conditions for suspension or revocation in section 385.421, the HMSP remains valid.
Last Updated : July 29, 2015
It does not. New HMSP applicants and holders of Temporary HMSPs will continue to be subject to the standards as they appear in section 385.407, including the fixed out-of-service rates and the crash rate thresholds.
Last Updated : July 29, 2015
FMCSA will conduct roadability reviews on intermodal equipment providers (IEPs). A roadability review is an on-site examination of the IEP’s compliance with the applicable Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.
Last Updated : April 3, 2014
The "top 30%" is a factor defined by examining ALL motor carriers registered for a USDOT Number. The factor establishes a threshold where in the total population of motor carriers, 30% of them fall above the number for out-of-service rates and crashes at the 70th percentile. The "top 30%" threshold rates will remain static rather than change every two years and are published on the FMCSA website, for motor carriers to determine their ability to transport permitted Hazardous Materials.
Since the inception of the program, data from the entire eight year period was used in the calculations for the new fixed rates. The threshold rate calculation included only carriers that had at least 12 inspections over the 8 years. The top (worst-performing) 30% of the National averages were determined by establishing a cut-off at the numerical threshold value located at the 70th percentile in each category using eight years of data. All carriers with a driver, vehicle, or HM OOS rate less than the cut-off are considered to be below the National Average for each category, and, therefore, eligible for participation in the program. Carriers with a driver, vehicle, or HM OOS rate that is equal to or greater than the cutoff in each category are in the 30%, or the worst-performing category, and will be denied an HMSP.
Motor carriers that transport permitted HM may obtain their out-of-service rates from their Company Safety Profile and compare it to the national rates posted on the FMCSA website.
In order to calculate the fixed crash rate the 8-year period, since the inception of the program, was divided into four 2-year periods. Qualifying motor carriers had at least 2 crashes in at least one 2-year period. Then the number of power units for each qualifying 2-year period was captured based on snapshots taken immediately after the end of each FY. The crash rate for each 2-year period motor carrier was then determined in each time period by taking the number of crashes indicated and dividing by the number of power units times two. Finally, all carrier/time period combinations were ranked based on crash rate, with a resulting crash rate threshold at the 70th percentile of 0.136.
A motor carrier may determine its crash rate as the number of crashes divided by the number of power units as follows: HM Permitted Motor Carrier crash rate = Number of crashes in the past 365 days / total number of power units (operating).
The New Fixed Rates are: Driver: 9.68; Vehicle: 33.3; HM: 6.82; Crash: 0.136. These rates are now in effect and are being used to establish a company's eligibility for an HMSP. Detailed information on the method used to calculate these rates is published on FMCSA's SAFER website. The Federal Register notification can be viewed at 77 FR 38215.
Last Updated : April 15, 2014