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
The accident register captures the §390.15(b)(1) fields through a short wizard, works out whether the accident is DOT-recordable, and sets the post-accident testing deadlines when they apply. The police report, insurance claim, and state accident report upload to the accident and are retained for three years.