FMCSA violation checker

Official FMCSA data. This tool links directly to federal government FMCSA databases. Data shown is pulled from official sources. Always preserve screenshots and records immediately - data can change. See our full disclaimer.

Step 1 - Find the carrier's DOT number

You need the trucking company's USDOT number to pull their safety records. Here's where to find it:

On the truck itself

USDOT numbers are required on the door of every commercial vehicle. If you have photos of the truck, look for "USDOT XXXXXXX" on the cab door or side panel.

From the police accident report

Commercial vehicle accident reports typically include the carrier name, DOT number, and vehicle registration. Request your complete accident report from the responding agency.

By company name search

Use the FMCSA Company Snapshot tool to search by carrier name and find the DOT number. Link below.

Search FMCSA carrier database →

Step 2 - Pull these 4 records immediately

Pull and screenshot all of these before contacting the insurance company. Carriers sometimes update records after accidents.

1. Company Snapshot (SAFER)

Pull first

Shows carrier registration, insurance status, safety rating (Satisfactory / Conditional / Unsatisfactory), and crash history. An Unsatisfactory rating or history of crashes is strong evidence of a pattern of unsafe operation.

Open Company Snapshot →

2. CSA BASIC Scores (SMS)

Key evidence

The Safety Measurement System (SMS) shows a carrier's percentile scores across 7 safety categories (BASICs): Unsafe Driving, Hours-of-Service Compliance, Driver Fitness, Controlled Substances, Vehicle Maintenance, Hazardous Materials, and Crash Indicator. Scores above the alert threshold indicate systemic safety problems. A carrier in the 90th percentile for Hours-of-Service violations makes a fatigued driving argument much stronger.

Open SMS carrier search →

3. Inspection and violation records

Key evidence

Individual inspection reports show specific violations by date, location, and vehicle. Out-of-service violations for brake defects or tire failures on the same vehicle that caused your accident is extremely powerful. Look for violations within 12 months of the crash date.

Search carrier inspections →

4. Insurance and authority status

Verify coverage

Confirms the carrier's operating authority status (active / revoked), insurance carrier name, and policy limits. Some carriers operate with revoked authority or lapsed insurance - knowing this early shapes your legal strategy.

Check insurance and authority →

Step 3 - What violations mean for your case

Use this reference to understand which violations strengthen which legal arguments.

Have an attorney review the violations you found

A truck accident attorney will subpoena driver logs, black box data, and maintenance records to build on what you've found. No fee unless you win.

Why FMCSA records matter in truck accident cases

Federal regulations require commercial carriers to maintain safety records, and those records are public. When a carrier has a pattern of hours-of-service violations, brake failures, or unsafe driving citations, that history supports 2 powerful legal arguments: the carrier knew its driver or vehicle was dangerous, and they put them on the road anyway.

That knowledge element is what converts a standard negligence case into a negligent entrustment or negligent retention case - and opens the door to punitive damages. Punitive damages in truck accident cases can be 2x to 10x the compensatory damages, dramatically increasing total recovery.

The 30-day window problem

Electronic Logging Device (ELD) data, dashcam footage, and GPS tracking data are typically overwritten within 30 days unless a carrier receives a legal hold notice. Your attorney sends a spoliation letter immediately after being retained, demanding preservation of all electronic data. Every day you wait is a day that evidence may be permanently lost.

What to do right now

Pull and screenshot the FMCSA records above today. Save them with a timestamp. Then contact a truck accident attorney who can send a formal preservation letter, subpoena driver logs, ELD data, maintenance records, and drug test results, and hire an accident reconstruction expert. Use the truck accident settlement calculator to estimate your claim value and the trucking liability screener to identify all liable parties.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. FMCSA safety records, inspection reports, and CSA scores are public government records and are generally admissible as evidence. They're used to demonstrate a carrier's safety history and pattern of violations. Your attorney will also subpoena the underlying inspection reports, driver qualification files, and maintenance records directly from the carrier through discovery - those are even more detailed than what's publicly available.

CSA stands for Compliance, Safety, Accountability. BASIC scores rank carriers as percentiles compared to other carriers in 7 safety categories. A carrier in the 90th percentile for Hours-of-Service Compliance means 90% of carriers are safer in that category. FMCSA flags carriers above alert thresholds (typically 65-80th percentile depending on category) for intervention. A carrier above the alert threshold in the category related to your accident has documented systemic safety problems.

An Unsatisfactory safety rating from FMCSA means the agency found the carrier to be in serious violation of federal safety regulations. Carriers with Unsatisfactory ratings are supposed to be prohibited from operating. If a carrier with an Unsatisfactory rating was operating and caused your accident, that's extremely strong evidence of negligence and supports both compensatory and punitive damages. Document this immediately and get it to your attorney.

Not directly through public FMCSA tools - individual driver records (CDL history, medical certificates, drug test history) are not fully public. However, your attorney can subpoena the carrier's driver qualification file through discovery, which must include the driver's CDL, motor vehicle record, employment history, drug and alcohol testing records, and medical examiner's certificate. Carriers are required by federal law to maintain these files.

Federal hours-of-service regulations limit how many consecutive hours a commercial driver can operate. A violation shows the driver exceeded those limits. ELD data showing the driver had been behind the wheel for 14+ consecutive hours before the crash is direct evidence of fatigue. Combined with CSA data showing the carrier had a pattern of hours-of-service violations, it supports the argument that the carrier knowingly allowed fatigued drivers to operate.