In a recent announcement, the FMCSA stated its plans to renew the requirement for motor carriers to keep records of accidents involving their vehicles.
While carriers are not obligated to report the accident data to the agency, they must have it readily available for authorized officials. This initiative aims to improve accountability and transparency in the industry, ultimately leading to a safer road environment.
“This Information Collection Request supports the Department of Transportation strategic goal of safety,” FMCSA said. “By requiring motor carriers to gather and record information concerning commercial motor vehicle accidents, FMCSA is strengthening its ability to assess the safety performance of motor carriers. This information is a valuable resource in agency initiatives to prevent, and reduce the severity of, CMV crashes.”
Want your voice heard? The agency is inviting public comments on its plan until Oct. 10. But before it becomes final, the plan needs approval from the White House Office of Management and Budget.
To ensure compliance with accident record-keeping standards, the following information must be documented: date, location, driver name, number of injuries, number of fatalities, and any release of dangerous hazardous materials. In the event of a crash involving the release of hazardous materials, carriers are required to submit a hazardous incident report as per FMCSA documentation.
“In addition, the motor carrier must maintain copies of all accident reports required by insurers or governmental entities,” the announcement said.
During a carrier audit, the agency may ask for records related to accidents. Motor carriers are required to keep these records for three years after the accident occurred.
According to the agency, accidents that should be included in the motor carrier’s record are those involving fatalities, injuries requiring immediate medical treatment away from the accident scene, or incidents where vehicles are severely damaged and need to be towed away.
“This is something fleets are doing today,” said Dan Horvath, vice president of safety policy for American Trucking Associations. “The question is does it need to continue or not. We don’t have a stance on it one way or another.”
Horvath explained that this practice is common among motor carriers, whether it’s for compliance with DOT regulations or for their own internal purposes.
“Insurance companies often require fleets to keep a list of accidents they’ve had,” he said. “Frankly, a lot of motor carriers out there today keep track of all kinds of accidents such as a backing incident at a dock versus a crash that involves another vehicle out on the highway.
“It’s good information from a safety perspective for a fleet to have, whether it’s part of their safety management system — where the fleet has areas for improvement.”
In 2019, the agency requested a renewal and only received one comment on the requirement. The National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA), a nonprofit organization representing around 500 motor carriers who specialize in less-than-truckload freight, was the sole commenter. NMFTA stated that it represents its members’ interests in legal and regulatory processes.
“Five years ago, in response to the question of whether this information collection will have practical utility, NMFTA suggested that FMCSA more effectively utilize police accident reports, which can contain reliable information regarding a carrier’s fault, or lack thereof, for an accident.
“FMCSA will benefit from greater use of accident information, such as police accident reports, that support greater accuracy and fairer portrayal of a carrier’s safety practices. FMCSA could more effectively use its enforcement resources if it can better identify motor carriers who bore responsibility for commercial motor vehicle accidents.”
Source: Transport Topics
