This document prescribes policy and operational procedures for certifying Federal, federally funded State, and local government and private contractor vehicle inspectors, safety auditors, and safety investigators, as required by Section 211 of the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999. The certification process is designed to ensure that all personnel have the proper training and experience to perform the inspection and compliance activities of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

FMCSA published an Interim Final Rule to meet the requirement of Section 211 of the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 (the Act). The Act requires that a certified safety auditor perform any safety audit or compliance review conducted after December 31, 2002. The rule requires certification and maintenance of certification for anyone who performs a motor carrier compliance review, safety audit, or Level I and V inspection.

This document is divided into four parts:

Part 1 - Certification Process

Part 2 - Decertification Process

Part 3 – Temporary Waiver Process

Part 4 - Recertification Process