Frequently Asked Questions
The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are questions and answers about Compliance,
Safety, Accountability (CSA) that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
(FMCSA) compiled to assist the public. As questions come in through the website,
FMCSA adds them to the database along with their answers. If you do not see your
question or topic addressed, please
contact us
by submitting a feedback form. We will respond to you directly and consider your
question for inclusion in the FAQs.
The FAQ area has recently been enhanced. Users can now search FAQs by stakeholder
group, topics (displayed on the left side of the page), or by entering a keyword
below. Choosing “Show All” will display the entire collection of FAQs.
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I'm having problems signing in to see my data. What should I do
Answer
Motor carriers need a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)-issued
U.S. DOT Number and a U.S. DOT PIN (not a Docket Number PIN) to access the Safety
Measurement System (SMS) Website. If you are experiencing difficulties, please review
the information below before contacting the SMS Web team for assistance.
- If you don't have a U.S. DOT Number:
You cannot access the password-protected part of the SMS.
- If you are a driver looking to see your own data:
Driver data is not available through the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
program. To obtain a copy of your inspection/crash history, visit the
Pre-Employment Screening Program.
- If you do not have a PIN or don't know what it is:
You can request a U.S. DOT PIN here and
select “Click here to request your Docket Number PIN and/or U.S. DOT PIN.” Be sure
to request a U.S. DOT PIN, not a Docket Number PIN. You can also call 800-832-5660
for assistance.
- If you have a PIN but it doesn't work:
- Make sure you are using your U.S. DOT PIN and not your Docket PIN. Only the U.S.
DOT PIN will work on the SMS Website.
- Verify that you are typing in your PIN correctly. Often the problem is a typo or
a misreading of one or more characters. For example, users sometimes mistake the
letter “O” for the number “0” or the letter “l” for the number “1,” etc. Try all
possible combinations before going to the next step.
- Ensure that no one else in your company has changed your PIN by requesting a new
one.
- If the above options fail, request a new U.S.
DOT PIN and select “Click here to request your Docket Number PIN and/or U.S.
DOT PIN.” Be sure to request a U.S. DOT PIN, not a Docket Number PIN.
- If you need additional PIN assistance:
Assistance with U.S. DOT PIN issues can be obtained by calling FMCSA technical support
at 800-832-5660 during normal business hours.
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