FMCSA reforms DataQs program

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently updated its DataQs program in an effort to improve turnaround times for truckers awaiting safety record corrections. States must now meet strict deadlines and follow a three-step independent review process when handling requests to fix data on crashes, inspections, and violations, FMCSA reported in a news release.

The system is key to maintaining accurate safety data and ensuring fair treatment for law-abiding truck drivers, the agency said. In 2024, DataQs processed more than 71,000 requests, including at least 8,300 related to crash data. “Accurate data keeps our roads safe. America's hardworking truck drivers deserve a system that treats them fairly,” FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs said in the release. “These updates guarantee due process by ensuring drivers who challenge an inspection or crash record receive an independent, unbiased, and completed review in a timely manner.”

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association indicated its support for these “critical” changes the association says it fought for “for years,” because the old system allows drivers to “dispute erroneous violations and correct their safety records.”

“For years, we’ve highlighted the frustrating lack of due process, which routinely made it impossible for owner-operators and professional drivers to correct clearly inaccurate safety data,” said Todd Spencer, OOIDA president. “Unlike larger fleets, a singular erroneous violation can have devastating consequences for a small trucking company, which is why we pushed so forcefully for these changes.

“By requiring an independent review process, adding clear timelines, and providing greater transparency, FMCSA has made the improvements that OOIDA pushed for and that truckers deserved all along.”

Upgrading the DataQs program is a key initiative outlined in DOT Secretary Sean Duffy’s “Pro-Trucker Package” unveiled last summer following President Trump’s Executive Order aimed at improving working conditions for America’s truck drivers.

FMCSA’s DataQs system allows motor carriers, commercial motor vehicle drivers, and other stakeholders to request a review of federal and state data they believe is incomplete or incorrect.

Updates to the DataQs system were informed by public feedback to the July 31, 2025, Federal Register notice. For more information about changes to the DataQs program, see the full notice submitted by FMCSA to the Federal Register. 

Key enhancements to DataQs

The revised requirements establish a more streamlined framework for handling Requests for Data Review (RDRs), specifically for states receiving Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) funding from FMCSA.

General requirements:

• States must designate points of contact for crash and inspection RDRs.
• States are required to review requests submitted within three years of an inspection and within five years of a crash.
• All decisions, especially those where no data correction is made, must include detailed explanations, evidence reviewed, and clear next steps in the review process.
• States must participate in FMCSA program reviews and follow established policies, including those related to adjudicated citations.

States must implement an independent review structure in a three-stage review process that includes:

• Initial review: Ensures decisions are not made solely by the issuing officer when denying a correction.
• Reconsideration: Conducted by independent subject-matter experts not involved in the initial decision.
• Final review: Completed by a senior decisionmaker or independent panel, ensuring an unbiased final determination.

Timeline standards:

• Initial reviews must be completed within 21 days.
• Reconsideration decisions must be issued within 21 days.
• Final reviews must be completed within 45 days.

State MCSAP Lead Agencies must submit DataQs Implementation Plans detailing how they will meet the new requirements, address backlogs, and prevent future delays. To promote transparency, all approved plans will be publicly available through the DataQs system.