Section 390.15(b) requires every motor carrier to maintain an accident register listing every DOT-recordable accident occurring in the past three years (one year for some intrastate operations). For each accident, the register must include the items listed in §390.15(b)(1).
What's a DOT-recordable accident
An accident involving a CMV that resulted in:
- A fatality, or
- Bodily injury requiring immediate transport from the scene to medical treatment, or
- Disabling damage to one or more motor vehicles requiring towing.
Accidents not meeting these criteria are not DOT-recordable but should still be documented for insurance and internal records.
Required register fields
- Date of accident.
- City or town and state.
- Driver name.
- Number of injuries.
- Number of fatalities.
- Whether hazardous materials (other than fuel from saddle tanks) were released.
Common citations
- No accident register on file.
- Register present but missing required fields.
- Register not retained for three years.
- Accident occurred but not entered.
How to prevent it
- Maintain the register even if it's empty. An empty register on file beats a missing register.
- Add every DOT-recordable accident to the register within 30 days.
- Retain accident files (copy of accident report, insurance correspondence, repair records) for at least three years.
- Report fatal and OOS-rated accidents to FMCSA per the additional requirements.
How Roadworthy HQ helps
Roadworthy HQ provides an accident register module with all §390.15(b)(1) fields, retention enforced for three years. Each accident links to associated documents (police report, insurance, photos), forming the accident file an auditor expects.