A safety rating is an evaluation of a motor carrier’s compliance with the safety fitness standard; the process is described in 49 CFR 385, Appendix B. FMCSA may issue one of three safety ratings (Satisfactory, Conditional, Unsatisfactory) after a Rated Investigation (compliance review). Not all investigations result in a safety rating. A compliance review may be conducted to investigate potential violations of safety regulations or complaints about motor carriers, among other reasons.
Final safety ratings are publicly available through the SAFER Website, and may be used by shippers and consumers to make decisions about which motor carriers to hire. FMCSA does not issue safety ratings to drivers, only to motor carriers.
Safety Ratings
- Satisfactory safety rating means that a motor carrier has functional and adequate safety management controls to meet the safety fitness standard prescribed in 49 CFR 385.5. Safety management controls are adequate if they are appropriate for the size and type of operation of the carrier.
- Conditional safety rating means a motor carrier does not have adequate safety management controls in place to ensure compliance with the safety fitness standard that could result in occurrences listed in 49 CFR 385.5 (a) through (k).
- Unsatisfactory safety rating means a motor carrier does not have adequate safety management controls in place to ensure compliance with the safety fitness standard, which has resulted in occurrences listed in 49 CFR 385.5.
- Unrated means that a safety rating has not been assigned to the motor carrier by the FMCSA.