How to Obtain a Trucking Company’s History from the FMCSA Website
If you’ve been involved in a trucking accident in Tennessee, one of the first steps in your investigation is obtaining the trucking company’s history. It is truly amazing the things that you can find on a company’s history. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) offers detailed reports about trucking companies, including their safety records, violations, and accidents. As an attorney with almost 20 years of experience handling trucking cases, I highly recommend using the FMCSA’s online tools to access this information, especially when accidents occur on Tennessee’s busy highways.
- Access the FMCSA’s SAFER System
The SAFER (Safety and Fitness Electronic Records) System is the primary resource for trucking company history. It provides safety ratings, inspection data, and violation history.
- Go to the SAFER website: Visit https://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov and click on “Company Snapshot.”
- Search by Company Name or DOT Number: You can search by the company’s name or its U.S. DOT number. If you don’t have the DOT number, try searching by name, though larger companies may have multiple DOT numbers.
- Review the Company Snapshot Report
Once you’ve conducted a search, you’ll be directed to the company’s Snapshot page. This page provides key details about the company’s safety performance, including:
- Company Information: Includes the company’s name, operating status, and the types of operations they conduct.
- Safety Rating: Companies are rated “Satisfactory,” “Conditional,” or “Unsatisfactory” based on their safety practices. An “Unsatisfactory” rating indicates a higher risk of accidents.
- Inspection History: The number of inspections the company has undergone, along with the results of those inspections.
- Violation History: Includes details of violations such as failing to maintain vehicles or exceeding driving hours, which can increase the risk of accidents.
- Accidents: Information on accidents involving the company’s vehicles, including the number of accidents and their severity.
- Examine Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) Scores
The FMCSA also provides access to a company’s Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) scores. These scores assess a company’s safety record and include:
- Unsafe Driving: Includes speeding, reckless driving, and other unsafe behaviors.
- Crash Indicator: Tracks the company’s history of accidents.
- Vehicle Maintenance: Reflects the company’s compliance with vehicle maintenance regulations, including brake and tire issues.
- Driver Fitness: Examines whether drivers are properly trained and licensed.
High CSA scores in any of these categories can be red flags, particularly when the company operates in Tennessee’s busy traffic corridors.
- Why This Matters in Tennessee
Tennessee’s highways, such as I-40, I-65, and I-75, are major trucking routes, and accidents involving large trucks are common. When a trucking accident occurs in Tennessee, the company’s history—available through the FMCSA—can reveal patterns of unsafe behavior, inadequate maintenance, or violations of federal regulations that contribute to accidents.
For instance, if a trucking company has a history of vehicle maintenance violations, and an accident in Tennessee was caused by brake failure, the company’s prior history can be used to strengthen a claim for negligence. Additionally, trucking companies with a history of violations in the “Unsafe Driving” category may be more likely to cause accidents on Tennessee’s busy roads, especially when fatigued drivers or speeding are factors.
- Use the Information for Your Investigation
The FMCSA report can be invaluable for understanding a trucking company’s safety record. You can use this information to:
- Investigate accidents: The violation and accident history can provide crucial evidence in building a case, especially if the company has a history of similar issues.
- Assess negligence: Safety violations or an unsatisfactory safety rating may indicate negligence, which can be critical in lawsuits for personal injury or wrongful death.
- Litigation: The CSA scores and inspection history can provide insight into whether the company was in compliance with federal regulations at the time of the accident.
Conclusion
If you’re involved in a trucking accident in Tennessee, accessing a company’s history through the FMCSA’s SAFER system is essential. The information you find can reveal patterns of unsafe practices, such as poor maintenance or traffic violations, that contributed to the accident. As an attorney experienced in trucking cases, I recommend using the FMCSA’s resources to gather as much information as possible to build a stronger case and protect your rights.