The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is the federal agency responsible for regulating the commercial trucking industry. It sets and enforces safety standards governing hours of service, vehicle maintenance, cargo securement, driver qualifications, and drug and alcohol testing, and it uses complaint data to decide which motor carriers to investigate and, when warranted, to take enforcement action.
The FMCSA is not the only agency with oversight authority. State law enforcement and state transportation agencies also investigate trucking violations, including through commercial vehicle enforcement divisions that conduct roadside inspections and respond to unsafe driving reports.
The correct reporting agency depends on the type of violation and where it occurred. Regulatory violations by an interstate carrier, such as hours-of-service abuses or falsified logs, should generally be reported to FMCSA, while an unsafe truck operating on a local roadway may be a matter for state or local authorities. In many situations, a violation can appropriately be reported to more than one agency.
Reach out to a St. Louis truck accident lawyer for a free consultation.
Call (314) 300-6260.
How Do You Report a Trucking Violation to the FMCSA?
Safety complaints can generally be submitted online through the FMCSA’s complaint system, the National Consumer Complaint Database. Complaints can also be filed by phone through the agency’s toll-free hotline at 1-888-DOT-SAFT (1-888-368-7238).
The system accepts reports from the public as well as from drivers and other industry employees, and complaints become part of the carrier’s record with the agency. Providing detailed information strengthens a complaint. Helpful details include:
- The trucking company’s name
- The carrier’s USDOT number, if available (typically displayed on the truck’s cab)
- The truck’s license plate or unit number
- The date and location of the incident
- A description of what happened
- Photos or video, if they can be safely obtained
The FMCSA complaint system is designed for investigating past events, not responding to active dangers. Emergency situations, such as a truck being operated in a way that puts people at immediate risk, should be reported to 911 or local law enforcement.
When Should You Call Police About a Trucking Violation?
Law enforcement is the appropriate contact when a situation presents an immediate danger. Call 911 or local police for:
- Dangerous or erratic driving happening in real time
- Suspected impaired driving
- A crash or near-crash
- A truck creating an immediate roadway hazard, such as a disabled vehicle blocking a travel lane
- Cargo falling from a truck
When reporting, provide your location, the direction the truck is traveling, and a description of the vehicle. Drivers should not follow or confront a truck to gather more information. Maintaining a safe distance and reporting what you have already observed is the best course of action.
What Happens After You Report a Trucking Violation?
Once a complaint is submitted, the receiving agency reviews it and determines whether further investigation is warranted. In the FMCSA’s case, complaints are entered into the carrier’s record and analyzed alongside other information, like inspection results, crash reports, and prior complaints, to identify situations where it might make sense to investigate further.
A report does not necessarily result in immediate enforcement action. Agencies prioritize investigations based on the severity of the alleged conduct and the carrier’s overall safety history, and complainants may not be notified of every step the agency takes.
Can a Trucking Violation Help Prove Negligence if an Accident Occurs?
A documented violation may be important evidence in a truck accident case. Federal safety regulations establish the standard of care for commercial carriers and drivers, and evidence that a driver or company violated those regulations, either before or at the time of a crash, can be significant in establishing fault. A violation does not automatically prove every element of liability.
An injured person must still establish that the violation caused or contributed to the crash and connect the unsafe conduct to the resulting harm. A carrier’s history of hours-of-service violations, for example, is not by itself proof that fatigue caused a particular collision.
Contact Our Office To Speak With a Missouri Truck Accident Lawyer
If you were injured in a crash involving a commercial truck, the carrier’s safety record and any documented violations may play an important role in your claim. A Missouri truck accident lawyer can obtain inspection and complaint histories, investigate whether federal safety regulations were violated, and pursue the full compensation you deserve.
Contact our office today at (314) 300-6260 for a free consultation.