FMCSA improves uniformity of inspection violation data in systems

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced the implementation of changes to state and federal data systems that will allow states to reflect the results of adjudicated citations related to roadside inspection violation data collected in the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS). The policy on recording results of adjudicated citations in FMCSA data systems only applies to citations issued during roadside inspections occurring on or after Aug. 23, 2014.

Drivers and carriers must submit copies of certified documentation of adjudicated citation results through a Request for Data Review (RDR) in FMCSA's DataQs system to initiate the process. MCMIS has been modified to accept adjudication results showing that a citation was dismissed or resulted in a finding of not guilty; resulted in a conviction of a different charge; or, resulted in conviction of the original charge. The adjudicated citation results will impact the use of roadside inspection violation data in other FMCSA data systems, including the Safety Measurement System and the Pre-Employment Screening Program. These systems will be updated to remove violations that were dismissed or resulted in a finding of not guilty, and will reflect violations that resulted in a different charge.

These changes build upon FMCSA’s efforts to improve the quality and uniformity of roadside inspection violation data with input from the public, States, motor carriers, and drivers.

FMCSA outlines the policy in a Federal Register notice published June 5, 2014.