A PSP report can become part of the hiring process when a truck driver applies with a new carrier, but it is not another version of a state driving record. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Pre-Employment Screening Program provides qualifying safety information from its Motor Carrier Management Information System, or MCMIS, to participating carriers during pre-employment screening.

A driver’s report contains five years of FMCSA-reportable crash history and three years of roadside inspection history. Within those records, carriers can see considerably more than whether a driver has been involved in a crash or placed out of service.

Roadside Inspections Cover the Previous Three Years

PSP includes roadside inspection records from the previous three years based on FMCSA’s most recent monthly data update. An inspection does not need to result in an out-of-service order to be included.

Inspection records identify information such as when and where the inspection occurred and the motor carrier the driver was operating for at the time. They can also show inspection details, including violations and whether the vehicle was placed out of service.

That gives a prospective carrier a broader look at a driver’s federal inspection history than simply counting out-of-service events.

Crash Records Remain for Five Years

FMCSA-reportable crashes remain on PSP for five years, giving them a longer reporting window than roadside inspections.

Crash records can include the date and location, the carrier the driver was operating for and safety details such as injuries, fatalities and towaways. A crash appearing on the report does not, however, mean FMCSA determined that the driver caused it.

PSP can also reflect the outcome of FMCSA’s crash review process. When applicable, a report may be updated to show that a crash received a not-preventable determination.

PSP and a State Driving Record Are Different

A state motor vehicle record and a PSP report pull from different sources and should not be treated as interchangeable. PSP draws its crash and roadside inspection information from FMCSA’s MCMIS database, while an MVR is generated using information maintained through state systems.

The distinction becomes particularly important with roadside violations. Current FMCSA guidance states that when a citation associated with an inspection violation is recorded as not guilty or dismissed through the DataQs adjudicated-citation process, the associated violation is excluded from PSP. If the outcome is a conviction for a different charge, the PSP report can indicate that result.

PSP therefore reflects federal safety records and certain subsequent changes to those records rather than serving as a general history of a driver’s traffic tickets or state convictions.

Drivers Do Not Have a PSP Score

FMCSA does not calculate or display a numerical PSP score for individual drivers.

Instead, a carrier receives the underlying crash and inspection history contained in the report. References to a driver’s “PSP score” can therefore be misleading because PSP itself does not assign drivers a federal rating or grade.

Carriers Need Authorization Before Requesting a Report

A carrier or participating screening provider cannot use PSP to pull a driver’s record whenever it chooses. Account holders may request PSP records solely for pre-employment screening and must first obtain the driver’s written or electronic authorization using FMCSA’s required disclosure and authorization process.

PSP is also voluntary. Federal rules do not require every motor carrier to use the program when evaluating an applicant.

Drivers Can Review Their Own Records

Drivers can request their own report through the FMCSA Pre-Employment Screening Program at any time. FMCSA also allows drivers to obtain their information without the PSP fee by submitting a Privacy Act request.

PSP does not update in real time. The report reflects the most recent MCMIS snapshot loaded into the system, and FMCSA says a new snapshot is uploaded approximately once per month.

Drivers who want to keep track of changes can also enroll in PSP Monitoring. The free service sends an email when an enrolled driver’s PSP data changes.

If information appears inaccurate or incomplete, drivers can use FMCSA’s DataQs system to request a review. Any resulting change still has to make its way into the data used by PSP, so an approved correction may not appear on the report immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every roadside inspection appear on a PSP report?

PSP includes three years of roadside inspection records from MCMIS, not just inspections that resulted in an out-of-service order. However, an inspection violation associated with a citation recorded as not guilty or dismissed through the applicable DataQs process is excluded from PSP.

Does a crash on PSP mean the driver was at fault?

No. A crash record documents involvement in an FMCSA-reportable crash and does not by itself establish responsibility. When applicable, PSP can separately reflect an FMCSA determination that a crash was not preventable.

Can a current employer routinely use PSP to check its existing drivers?

PSP access for motor carriers and participating screening providers is limited to pre-employment screening. FMCSA requires the driver’s authorization before an account holder requests the report.

How quickly will a correction appear on PSP?

PSP reflects periodic snapshots of FMCSA’s MCMIS data rather than updating continuously. FMCSA says a new snapshot is generally uploaded about once a month, so a change to the underlying record may not appear immediately.

Can drivers be notified when their PSP record changes?

Yes. FMCSA offers free PSP Monitoring for drivers. Once enrolled, a driver receives an email when the information in their PSP record changes.

The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.

Last Updated:October 6, 2026

Source: FMCSA’s Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) FAQ