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- DataQs Help CenterContact Us
- DataQs Technical Support: (877) 688-2984
- Portal Registration Assistance: (800) 832-5660
- Motor Carrier PIN Assistance: (800) 832-5660
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.
Search for the answers to your DataQs questions using the search box. You can also browse by topic to find the information you need.
Browse through all questions or select a topic(s) from the drop down to filter the questions.
To align with Federal cybersecurity standards, each DataQs account should have a unique email address. If your DataQs account currently uses an email address that is shared by multiple users, follow the steps below.
First, one user will need to create a Login.gov account that has the same email address currently in your DataQs profile. Then, each user will need to take the following steps:
You will use your individual Login.gov account for future DataQs logins.
If you need assistance with this process, please contact DataQs Technical Support.
For assistance logging in, visit the DataQs homepage, click the "Log In" tab, and click ‘help’ within "Need help logging in?".
Need your account password? Select "I don’t know my password." Provide your username and answer your security questions to have your password emailed to you.
Need your account username? Select "I don’t know my username." Provide your email address and optional DOT number, that was provided during your account setup, to have your username emailed to you.
Note: DataQs is a separate system from the FMCSA Portal - you cannot request your DataQs password through the Portal website nor can you request your Portal account information through DataQs.
For access to DataQs through the FMCSA Portal, you must request the "role" from your profile area. To request the DataQs role, follow the steps below:
If you are having any other issues with your FMCSA Portal account, call the tech support line at 800-832-5660.
You can log in to DataQs in one of two ways with your FMCSA Portal account:
Anyone may register for DataQs and enter a Request for Data Review (RDR)/Inspection Report Request (IRR) into the system at no cost, including:
All users are required to register with the DataQs system. If this is your first time using DataQs, you will need to register. To register and create an account, select your role under the "Create an Account" tab on the DataQs homepage, select your user role and follow the instructions on the following screens.
Users who wish to access multiple USDOT Numbers via a single sign-in are encouraged to create an account with the FMCSA Portal at https://portal.fmcsa.dot.gov.
If you need additional help registering, see Registering for DataQs: What You Need to Know.
FMCSA issues each motor carrier a PIN to allow for online transactions within many FMCSA systems. This PIN can be found on the FMCSA letter mailed to each carrier as a reminder of FMCSA’s requirement to file a biennial update of carrier registration information (Form MCS-150).
If you are unable to locate the letter assigning your PIN, visit http://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. Then select the link for your preferred method of receiving your USDOT# PIN. For help with PIN issues, call FMCSA technical support at 1 (800) 832-5660.
The term "Unvalidated Motor Carrier" means that the DataQs profile information is missing its Personal Identification Number (PIN) issued by FMCSA.
To validate your account, you will need to either call the DataQs support team at 1 (800) 832-5660, option 1, and provide your USDOT# PIN (see "How do I obtain a Motor Carrier Personal Identification Number (PIN)?") or create an FMCSA Portal account (see "Registering for DataQs: What You Need to Know" for more details).
Once logged in, DataQs makes it possible for all users to submit a Request for Data Review (RDR) or an Inspection Report Request (IRR). There are different users in DataQs, including motor carriers with Personal Identification Numbers (PINs), drivers, FMCSA/State Partners, and FMCSA Headquarters. Users have different capabilities:
All Users
Validated Motor Carrier Users
FMCSA and State Partners
FMCSA and State Partners
Anyone with a DataQs account can enter a request into DataQs.
Motor carriers can review their safety data in the Safety Measurement System’s (SMS) Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs) and the Company Snapshot.
The BASICs are updated monthly and are accessible on the SMS website at http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/sms. Contact FMCSA at (877) 254-5365 or https://csa.fmcsa.dot.gov/CSA_Feedback.aspx with SMS questions
The Company Snapshot is updated daily and accessible on the Safety and Fitness Electronic Records (SAFER) Website at https://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/CompanySnapshot.aspx. To review specific records, motor carrier users can access FMCS’s Portal website at https://portal.fmcsa.dot.gov. Contact FMCSA at (800) 832-5660 with SAFER or Portal questions.
Drivers may obtain their commercial driving history in one of two ways:
The public can review safety data for individual motor carriers in the SMS BASICs and the Company Snapshot.
The BASICs are updated monthly and are accessible on the SMS website at http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/sms. Contact FMCSA at (877) 254-5365 or https://csa.fmcsa.dot.gov/CSA_Feedback.aspx with SMS questions.
The Company Snapshot is updated daily and accessible on the SAFER website at https://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/CompanySnapshot.aspx. To review specific records, the general public can access FMCSA’s Portal website at https://portal.fmcsa.dot.gov. Contact FMCSA at (800) 832-5660 with SAFER or Portal questions.
A commercial driver’s PSP report includes five years of FMCSA reportable crashes in which you were involved, and three years of inspection records based on the date of the most recent monthly update.
Visit the FMCSA’s PSP website at http://www.psp.fmcsa.dot.gov to request a copy of your PSP report for a small fee. You will be able to access the downloadable report instantly, and it includes your driver information such as your FMCSA reportable crash and inspection history.
There are numerous reasons why a carrier’s percentile rank increases. Examples include new violations, new inspections, time weight changing, changes in Power Units or Vehicle Miles Travelled, and a change in a safety event group. Specific causes of an increase are not available in DataQs; therefore, the only way to determine the cause of a change is to review your BASICs on the SMS website at http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/sms.
Motor carriers should review the "How to improve" section of the Safety Measurement System (SMS) Help Center located at https://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/SMS/HelpCenter/#FAQs. The site provides tips to help carriers improve their SMS percentile ranks and help drivers avoid crashes and violations.
If you have questions about the SMS Methodology, call the CSA team at (877) 254-5365, or submit a question through the CSA Website at http://csa.fmcsa.dot.gov/CSA_Feedback.aspx.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) records do not contain written or verbal warnings issued on behalf of the State. Therefore, a "warning" cannot be reviewed through DataQs.
However, inspection records do contain FMCSA violations noted during the inspection, regardless of whether a citation was issued. Inspectors record violations on an inspection to document the inspector’s findings and observations at the time of the inspection. The State exercises its discretion in deciding to add, remove, or edit a violation. As a result, removing a violation from the inspection report would require proof that the violation did not exist, was recorded in error, or listed multiple times. If you believe you have been issued a violation in error, you may request a review of the violation through DataQs by choosing the "Violation is incorrect, listed multiple times, or missing Intermodal Equipment Provider (IEP)/shipper information" option. If the violation resulted in the insurance of a citation and you would like the adjudicated outcome to be amended to the inspection report, select the "Citation associated with violation on an inspection" option.
After a decision is made within DataQs, the data will be updated at various times, depending on the system in question. For example, information is updated in the following systems as follows:
The list below outlines how the citation results impact the use of the associated violation in other FMCSA data systems. While the SMS results and the PSP report will treat and display the violations differently based on the citation result, carriers and enforcement users logging into the Portal or SMS with their account will be able to see all violations listed on an inspection and the associated citation result recorded.
If the violation is appended to reflect…
Anyone with an account can enter an RDR into DataQs.
There are two ways to start your request:
You will be brought through a series of screens, which may vary slightly based on the type of request you are entering. For example, Crash, Inspection, Investigation, or Audit will require you to search for a record before entering request details.
When the request is loaded into DataQs, an acknowledgement is generated. The request is then forwarded to an organization for research, and email notifications are sent to State and FMCSA-selected individuals within their organizations.
There are several reasons why you may not be able to find your report, please use these tips if you are having trouble finding your report:
The following guidance is intended to clarify the types of vehicles, transportation, and crash characteristics subject to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation (FMCSR) crash reporting standard. To qualify as a reportable crash, at least one of the following must apply from each qualification below:
Vehicle Qualification
A qualifying vehicle should fall into one of the categories below:
Crash Severity Qualification
Note: Vehicles that are personally owned and operated and are not used for any type of commercial activity are not included, even if the weight or seating capacity meets the above requirements. This should be distinguished from an otherwise large truck or bus, which is primarily used for business purposes, but sometimes operated for personal use. Personal use of a business vehicle does not exempt the record from collection.
Request types are organized into the following groups:
Crash - Company and/or USDOT Number is listed incorrectly on crash report
By choosing this option, you believe that your company and/or the USDOT Number is listed incorrectly on the crash report.
Crash - Driver name is listed incorrectly on the crash report
By choosing this option, you are a driver and your name is listed incorrectly on the crash report.
Crash is not an FMCSA-reportable crash
By choosing this option, you believe your company or the driver was not involved in a FMCSA reportable crash.
All FMCSA-reported incorrectly on the inspection report
By choosing this option, you believe that your company and/or the USDOT Number is listed incorrectly on the inspection report.
Inspection - Driver name and/or license number is listed incorrectly on the inspection report
By choosing this option, you are a motor carrier, driver, Intermodal Equipment Provider (IEP), or shipper, and you believe your name is listed incorrectly on the inspection report.
Inspection missing from my report
By choosing this option, you believe an inspection record is missing from your carrier or driver record. Before submitting a DataQs request, please check the following:
For more information on reviewing your safety data, please go to the FAQ topic: "Driver/Carrier Records."
Inspection - Duplicate (same inspection listed multiple times)
By choosing this option, you believe the same inspection is listed more than once on your carrier or driver report.
Note: Sometimes inspections appear to be duplicates in the SMS download file, because each violation is listed on each row.
Inspection report contains incorrect information
By choosing this option, you believe that data on your inspection report is different than the paper version. Example data elements include incorrect inspection level, incorrect location, etc. If this inspection is not your company’s or has an incorrect driver listed, select the "Not mine (motor carrier, driver, IEP or shipper)" RDR option.
If this inspection report contains an incorrect violation, please select the "Violation is incorrect or listed multiple times" RDR option.
DOT Audit/Investigation
There is an error with my Safety Audit results
By choosing this option, you believe there is an error with the display of your safety audit results. Safety Audit means an examination of a motor carrier’s operations to provide educations and technical assistance on safety and the operations requirements of the FMCSRs and applicable HMRs. Critical safety data is gathered. The data is needed to make an assessment of the carrier’s safety performance and basic safety management controls. Safety audits do not result in safety ratings. More specifically, some of the areas for review include: a) driver qualification, b) driver duty status, c) vehicle maintenance, d) accident register, and e) controlled substances and alcohol use and testing requirements. Upon completion of the safety audit, the auditor will review the findings with the new entrant and determine a Pass or Fail status.
There is an error with my Compliance Review results
By choosing this option, you believe there is an error with the display of your compliance review (CR) results. A CR is an onsite examination of motor carrier operations, such as drivers’ Hours-of-Service, maintenance and inspection, driver qualification, commercial driver’s license requirements, financial responsibility, accidents, hazardous materials, and other safety and transportation records to determine whether a motor carrier meets the safety fitness standard.
There is an error with my Onsite Focused, Onsite Comprehensive, or Offsite Investigation results
By choosing this option, you believe that there is an error with a CSA Investigation. A CSA Investigation means an Onsite or Offsite examination of motor carrier operations that may include drivers’ Hours-of-Service, maintenance and inspection, driver qualification, commercial driver’s license requirements, financial responsibility, accidents, hazardous materials, and other safety requirements.
There is an error with a fine as a result of Notice of Claim (NOC) or Notice of Violation (NOV)
By choosing this option, you believe there is an error with the NOC or the NOV that you have received. An NOC issued by the FMCSA asserts a civil penalty for alleged violations of the Federal Motor Carrier Commercial Regulations (FMCCRs), Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMRs), or Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). In an NOV, FMCSA alleges a violation of the FMCSRs, HMRs, or FMCCRs, and seeks corrective action, rather than payment of a civil penalty at this time.
You are notifying FMCSA that the complaint is fraudulent (as in you did not do business with the individual/company)
By choosing this option, you seek to prove that you and the complainant did not do business together.
You are notifying FMCSA that the complaint is identical to one that was previously filed
By choosing this option, you believe that the complaint is identical to one that was previously filed.
FMCSA systems are not displaying my updated MCS-150 information
By choosing this option, you have updated your MCS-150 either online or by mailing in the form found at www.fmcsa.dot.gov, but the FMCSA systems are not displaying the updated information.
Note - The SMS snapshot is updated monthly.
You are having difficulty updating your operating authority (OP-1, OP-2) with FMCSA
By choosing this option, you indicate that you are having difficulty updating your operating authority with FMCSA.
You are having difficulty updating your licensing and insurance (L&I) information with FMCSA
By choosing this option, you indicate having difficulty updating your insurance information with FMCSA.
I am notifying FMCSA that a motor carrier is not registered properly
Motor carriers transporting passengers or cargo in interstate commerce must be registered with FMCSA to obtain a USDOT Number. This includes motor carriers that may be registered with FMCSA and obtained an intrastate USDOT Number. Motor carriers transporting quantities of Hazardous Materials (HM) requiring a safety permit in intrastate commerce must be registered with FMCSA to obtain a USDOT Number.
Select this RDR type to notify FMCSA that a motor carrier is registered improperly. Examples of improperly registered carriers might include those operating as follows:
Challenging the accuracy of information reported to the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse
Per § 382.717, petitioners may challenge only the accuracy of information reported to the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. You may not use this petition to challenge the accuracy of test results or refusals.
Violation entered by employer, as a result of traffic citation, did not result in a conviction
Petitioners may request that FMCSA remove an employer’s report of actual knowledge from the Clearinghouse that the driver received a traffic citation for driving a commercial motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances if the citation did not result in a conviction.
Actual knowledge violation did not comply with reporting requirements
Petitioners may request that FMCSA remove an employer’s report of actual knowledge from the Clearinghouse if that report does not comply with the reporting requirements in § 382.705(b)(5).
This does not include requests for removal of an employer’s report of actual knowledge that the driver received a traffic citation for driving a commercial motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances if the citation did not result in a conviction. For this, select "Violation entered by employer, as a result of traffic citation, did not result in a conviction."
Refusal to test violation did not comply with reporting requirements
Petitioners may request that FMCSA remove an employer’s report of a Driver’s refusal to take an alcohol test (see § 40.261(a)(1)) or refusal to take a drug test (see § 40.191(a)(1)) from the Clearinghouse if that report does not comply with the reporting requirements in § 382.705(b)(3).
A request for data review is processed by the State agency responsible for the data. If you have further evidence to support your RDR after a decision is made, you may re-open the request. Note that you may only do this once; therefore, it is encouraged you provide sufficient details and documentation when you submit your request.
Crash Report Number
FMCSA’s crash report number format is the State abbreviation (two characters) plus ten alphanumeric characters (ex. OH-xxxxxxxxx). The FMCSA crash report number is found on the carrier’s Safety Measurement System (SMS) results within the Crash Indicator BASIC (Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Category), or on the driver’s Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) report in the "Crash Details" section.
The State assigns the crash report number on the State’s Police Accident Report (PAR); the location of the number on the form may vary for each State. The report number on the PAR may be different than the one FMCSA assigned; however, both numbers are helpful to research the crash. When searching for a record within DataQs, the FMCSA report number should be used.
Inspection Report Number
The inspection report number can be found in the upper-right corner of the inspection report. It is typically a ten-digit number, but some States may use twelve digits beginning with the State abbreviation. Do NOT input the State abbreviation into the DataQs report number field, if it is twelve characters. The inspection report number may also be found on the carrier’s SMS results or on the driver’s PSP report (see websites above).
Note: The inspection report number is NOT the citation number.
A citation that has been contested through due process in a State, local or administrative tribunal, regardless of whether the action is resolved by a judge or prosecutor or as part of a plea agreement.
Any attachments to your request are considered supporting documents. It is vitally important to provide detailed information that pertains to the carrier, driver, vehicle, or event data in the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) that is being disputed in the request. This additional information may be uploaded during or after the submission process. Additionally, they may be faxed in after submission. Supporting documents may differ from request to requests, but some common examples include:
Supporting documentation can be faxed into DataQs or electronic files can be uploaded directly into the system. Documents may be uploaded while entering the request or later. To help expedite the review process, FMCSA encourages you to submit documentation as soon as possible.
When you select the Correspondence tab on the request details page, instructions for faxing or uploading documentation are displayed.
Fax Supporting Documentation
Faxed documents are sent to a fax number (617) 494-2892) dedicated to DataQs. After the fax is sent, the supporting documentation will be available for review through DataQs. You can review the list of documents on the Correspondence tab on the request details page under "Document List."
Uploading Supporting Documentation
You can upload documentation in the Correspondence tab of the request details page. Under Add Response/Documentation click Check box to add document(s). Follow the instructions under Add Documentation to add all desired documents.
The request table and search feature under Monitor an Existing Request on My DataQs is a tool to manage and track requests. You can search by Request ID Number or Status in Basic Search. If you want to use more specific information to narrow your search, you can use Advanced Search. From your search results in the table, you can view details of a request by clicking on the Request ID Number.
There are two search options under Monitor an Existing Request in My DataQs.
Basic Search allows you to search by:
Either enter your Request ID Number or select the Request Status and click Search.
Advanced Search allows you to search by:
Enter the fields you want to search by then click Search.
If there is a search you apply often, you can save your search as the default by clicking Set Default Search.
On the request details page, click the Correspondence tab.
State DataQs analysts review and respond to most requests. Administrative-level users, who are FMCSA employees and FMCSA Service Center and Division staff members, may also respond to a request. When entering a request into DataQs, the user selects a request type and identifies the State where the event occurred. The system automatically notifies the appropriate State agency of the request.
If the request was assigned to the wrong agency, State and FMCSA users may forward it to another agency registered in the system. For example, if a carrier mistakenly enters its State of domicile instead of the State where the crash or roadside inspection occurred, the request will be incorrectly routed to the wrong agency. The system allows the analyst to forward the request to the appropriate agency that reported the data into MCMIS.
Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse and Crash Preventability Determination Program requests are reviewed by FMCSA teams trained specifically for those reviews.
All requests for data review should be reviewed in a timely fashion - FMCSA's goal is for a response time within 10 business days. Please note that the Crash Preventability Determination Program and Clearinghouse petitions are not subject to this goal, and instead have set their own timeline per their respective programs.
The following information is available in the Monitor an Existing Request table on My DataQs:
To customize the list of requests under Monitor an Existing Request, use the "Customize Table" button at the top of the table.
All available column titles are listed with the default columns pre-selected. Check the box next to each category you want to appear. You can only select 7 categories at a time. To save your column preferences, click Save Changes. Click default settings to return to the default selection.
There are several reasons why you may not be able to find your request. Use these tips if you are having trouble finding your request in the Monitoring area on the My DataQs page:
Inquiries related to a specific request, such as questions about a response from an agency, should be directed toward the responding agency. Their contact information can be found on the detailed view of the request.
Inquiries related to the Crash Preventability Determination Program can be directed to the FMCSA Crash Preventability Determination Program team at Crash.Preventability@dot.gov.
Inquiries related to the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse Program can be directed to the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse team at Clearinghouse@dot.gov or (844) 955-0207. You can also submit a contact form on the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse website at https://clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov/Contact.
The DataQs Analyst Guide (Version 2), Appendix ll, describes the tools available to assist DataQs analysts. The User Guide and Manual is in the Help Center of the DataQs Website.