A DOT-recordable accident is any driving incident that could count against a commercial vehicle driver’s license. Here is everything you need to know about a DOT-recordable accident.
In California, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) uses a point system to calculate each traffic ticket violation on a driver’s record. Every violation that is accrued is added to the driver’s driving record, and once they exceed a set standard of points they are liable to temporarily or permanently lose their driving privileges. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has a point system similar to the DMV, but instead uses the federal Department of Motor Vehicles DOT-recordable accidents to track the record of commercial drivers.
What Constitutes a DOT-Recordable Accident?
The Department of Transportation regulates the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and requires that they keep track of all their commercial drivers (or motor carriers) that are involved in any serious accident. The FMCSA also has specific criteria that must be met for an accident of a commercial driver to be considered a DOT-recordable accident. Here are the guidelines set by the FMCSA that must be met for an accident to qualify as a DOT-accident.
- There was a fatality caused by the accident.
- There was a bodily injury in which an individual involved had to receive medical attention at a separate location from the accident.
- One or more vehicles involved in the accident had to be towed away from the accident site.
Additionally, when the FMCSA is determining whether an accident is considered a DOT-accident, they are not taking into account which party was at fault. They also do not consider whether or not the accident could have been prevented. If the accident meets the guidelines set above then it is considered DOT-recordable.
How to Report a DOT-Accident
The FMCSA also requires that all DOT-recordable accidents must be reported in an “accident register” with specific information included. Here is what is required by the FMCSA when reporting a DOT-recordable accident:
- The date of the accident.
- The city and state where the accident occurred.
- The name of the commercial vehicle driver
- The number of injuries accrued in the accident.
- The number of fatalities accrued in the accident.
- Whether the accident resulted in the release of hazardous materials (excluding the commercial motor vehicle’s fuel).
- The copies of all accident reports.
The information listed above is required to be maintained by the motor carrier for at least three years. Additionally, it has to also be made available to any agent of the FMCSA, or U.S. DOT, any state or local law enforcement agency, or any authorized third party to ensure the communication of these accidents. Motor carriers are also required to assist in the investigation of these records.
The DOT Safety Rating
Ultimately, the U.S. Department of Transportation wants to ensure the safety of the road for all drivers, which is why it implements a DOT safety rating. Here is how it is calculated.
To determine the DOT safety rating of a commercial driver, the FMCSA will take the number of DOT-recordable accidents that the motor carrier has been involved in, multiply that number by one million, and then divide that number by the number of miles driven by the motor carrier in the past 12 months. This resulting number will be the motor carrier’s safety rating.
The safety rating of a motor carrier is very important, as it is one of the seven factors used by the FMCSA to determine a motor carrier’s Safety Fitness Determination (SFD). Safety Fitness Determination is calculated off of the Safety Measurement System (SMS). Here is how Safety Fitness Determination is determined and how a motor carrier’s DOT safety rating impacts it.
A driver’s Safety Fitness Determination is calculated off of the SMS basics and are listed as follows:
1. Unsafe Driving
- This is the operation of commercial motor vehicles by drivers in a dangerous or careless manner such as speeding, reckless driving, improper lane change, etc.
- This is how the DOT safety rating influences the Safety Fitness Determination, by directly affecting this factor in the calculation of the SFD.
2. Hours of Service Compliance
- The operation of commercial motor vehicles by drivers who are ill, fatigued, or in non-compliance with Hours of Service regulations.
3. Driver Fitness
- Operation of commercial motor vehicles by drivers who are unfit to operate a commercial motor vehicle due to lack of training, experience, or medical qualifications.
4. Controlled Substances/Alcohol
- Operation of commercial motor vehicles by drivers who are impaired due to alcohol, illegal drugs, and misuse of prescription, or over-the-counter medications.
5. Vehicle Maintenance
- Failure to properly maintain a commercial motor vehicle and/or properly prevent shifting loads such as brakes, lights, and other mechanical defects.
6. Hazardous Materials Compliance
- Unsafe handling of hazardous materials on a commercial motor vehicle such as the release of a hazardous materials package, no shipping papers, and no placards when required.
7. Crash Indicator
- Histories or patterns of high crash involvement, including frequency and severity.
- This is based on information from State-report crashes, but can also be determined by a motor vehicle driver’s DOT safety rating.
A driver’s DOT safety rating can significantly impact their Safety Fitness Determination by the FMCSA. This is another reason why every commercial driver needs to know how they can be involved in a DOT-recordable accident, and how these accidents can influence their DOT safety rating and SFD.
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