FMCSA Trucking Industry Glossary

A unique identifier assigned by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to commercial motor vehicle operators. All interstate carriers must have a USDOT number for identification and safety monitoring purposes.

The USDOT number is required for all commercial vehicles that transport passengers or cargo across state lines. It's used to track safety records, inspections, and compliance history. The number remains with the carrier even if they change names or locations.

Motor Carrier (MC) Number, also known as Operating Authority, is required for carriers that transport regulated commodities or passengers for hire across state lines.

The MC number grants specific operating authority. Not all carriers need an MC number - only those transporting regulated commodities (household goods, passengers, etc.) or operating as for-hire carriers. The MC number is separate from the USDOT number.

Behavioral Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASIC) are seven safety categories used by FMCSA to evaluate carrier safety performance.

The seven BASIC categories are: Unsafe Driving, Crash Indicator, Hours-of-Service Compliance, Vehicle Maintenance, Controlled Substances/Alcohol, Hazardous Materials Compliance, and Driver Fitness. Scores range from 0-100, with higher scores indicating more safety concerns.

FMCSA's safety compliance and enforcement program designed to improve large truck and bus safety and reduce commercial motor vehicle crashes.

CSA uses data from roadside inspections, crash reports, and investigations to identify carriers with safety problems. The program prioritizes carriers for interventions based on their performance in the seven BASIC categories.

The methodology used by FMCSA to measure carrier safety performance and prioritize carriers for interventions. SMS calculates scores for each of the seven BASIC categories.

SMS uses a 24-month rolling window of data to calculate safety scores. Carriers with scores above intervention thresholds may be subject to warning letters, investigations, or enforcement actions. The system is updated monthly.

The percentage of roadside inspections that result in a vehicle or driver being placed out of service due to safety violations.

An out-of-service order means the vehicle or driver cannot continue operating until violations are corrected. High out-of-service rates indicate serious safety problems and can lead to enforcement actions.

An on-site examination of a carrier's records and operations conducted by FMCSA to assess compliance with safety regulations.

Compliance reviews are typically triggered by high SMS scores, crash history, or complaints. During a review, FMCSA examines driver qualification files, hours-of-service records, vehicle maintenance records, and other safety-related documentation.

A comprehensive examination of a new carrier's safety management systems and compliance with federal regulations, typically conducted within 18 months of receiving operating authority.

New carriers must pass a safety audit to continue operating. The audit evaluates the carrier's safety management controls, driver qualification processes, hours-of-service compliance, vehicle maintenance, and other critical safety areas.

An official determination by FMCSA of a carrier's safety fitness: SATISFACTORY, CONDITIONAL, or UNSATISFACTORY.

Safety ratings are assigned after compliance reviews or safety audits. A SATISFACTORY rating means the carrier has adequate safety management controls. CONDITIONAL indicates deficiencies that must be corrected. UNSATISFACTORY means the carrier is prohibited from operating.

The SMS score level at which FMCSA may prioritize a carrier for intervention actions such as warning letters, investigations, or enforcement.

Intervention thresholds vary by BASIC category and carrier size. Carriers with scores above these thresholds are flagged for potential enforcement actions. The thresholds are designed to identify carriers with the highest crash risk.

An examination of a commercial motor vehicle and driver conducted by law enforcement at roadside locations to verify compliance with safety regulations.

Inspections can be full (Level I), walk-around (Level II), driver-only (Level III), or vehicle-only (Level V). Violations found during inspections are recorded in the FMCSA database and affect SMS scores.

A crash involving a commercial motor vehicle that must be reported to FMCSA, typically involving fatalities, injuries, or disabling damage requiring a vehicle to be towed.

Reportable crashes are included in the carrier's crash history for 24 months and affect SMS Crash Indicator scores. The definition includes crashes on public roads involving commercial vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating over 10,000 pounds.

Federal regulations that limit the number of hours commercial drivers can operate vehicles to prevent driver fatigue and improve safety.

HOS rules specify maximum driving time (11 hours), on-duty time (14 hours), and required rest periods (10 hours). Violations are recorded during roadside inspections and affect the Hours-of-Service Compliance BASIC score.

A motor carrier that transports goods or passengers for compensation, as opposed to a private carrier that transports its own goods.

For-hire carriers typically require both a USDOT number and an MC number. They are subject to additional regulations including insurance requirements, operating authority, and tariff filing (for certain commodities).

A motor carrier that transports its own goods or property in furtherance of its primary business, not for compensation.

Private carriers typically only need a USDOT number (not an MC number) if they operate interstate. They are subject to safety regulations but generally have fewer regulatory requirements than for-hire carriers.