SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Participation and Request for Comments

If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this notice (FMCSA-2026-1552), indicate the specific section of this document to which your comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or recommendation. You may submit your comments and material online or by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but please use only one of these means. FMCSA recommends that you include your name and a mailing address, an email address, or a phone number in the body of your document so FMCSA can contact you if there are questions regarding your submission.

To submit your comment online, go to www.regulations.gov/​docket/​FMCSA-2026-1552/​document, click on this notice, click “Comment,” and type your comment into the text box on the following screen.

If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no larger than 8 1/2 by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing.

FMCSA will consider all comments and material received during the comment period.

Privacy Act

In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the public to better inform its regulatory process. DOT posts these comments, including any personal information the commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov as described in the system of records notice DOT/ALL 14 (Federal Docket Management System (FDMS)), which can be reviewed at www.transportation.gov/​individuals/​privacy/​privacy-act-system-records-notices. The comments are posted without edits and are searchable by the name of the submitter.

Background

Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), section 390.15(b), requires motor carriers to make certain specified records and information pertaining to CMV accidents available to an authorized representative or special agent of FMCSA upon request or as part of an inquiry. Motor carriers are required to maintain an “accident register” consisting of information concerning all “accidents” involving their CMVs (§ 390.15(b) (see “Definition: Accident” below). The following information must be recorded for each accident: date, location, driver name, number of injuries, number of fatalities, and whether certain dangerous hazardous materials were released. In addition, the motor carrier must maintain copies of all accident reports required by insurers or governmental entities. Motor carriers must maintain this information for 3 years after the date of the accident. Section 390.15 does not require motor carriers to submit any information or records to FMCSA or any other party.

This ICR supports the DOT strategic goal of safety. By requiring motor carriers to gather and record information concerning CMV accidents, FMCSA is strengthening its ability to assess the safety performance of motor carriers. This information is a valuable resource in Agency initiatives to prevent, and reduce the severity of, CMV crashes.

The Agency has modified several of its estimates for this ICR. The estimated ( printed page 57430) number of annual respondents, responses, burden hours, and annual costs to respondents have increased. Explanations for these changes are summarized below.

The currently approved number of annual respondents is 93,280. This renewal increases the number of annual respondents per year to 115,547. This estimate is based on the average of all interstate and intrastate motor carriers associated with crashes reported in MCMIS for each calendar year from 2023 through 2025.

The currently approved burden is 48,760 burden hours. The Agency increased its estimate to 51,661 burden hours. The adjustment in annual burden hours is due to a updated estimate of the number of reportable accidents from 162,533 to 172,203 per year, using interstate and intrastate DOT-reportable motor carrier crash records in MCMIS for calendar years 2023 through 2025.

The updated version of this ICR includes estimated labor costs associated with maintaining the Accident Register. The current labor cost associated with maintaining the Accident Register is $1,507,169. The Agency increased its estimate to $1,534,344.

Finally, the estimated annual cost associated with accident recordkeeping (outside of labor costs) increased from $93,944 to $99,107. FMCSA assumes that (1) approximately 15 percent of motor carriers are storing their Accident Registers electronically, at no extra cost, and (2) approximately 85 percent of motor carriers are storing hard copy versions of their Accident Registers. FMCSA further assumes that motor carriers that maintain paper records store their Accident Registers at their primary place of business, so that they have easy access to such records during an FMCSA investigation.

Title: Accident Recordkeeping Requirements.

OMB Control Number: 2126-0009.

Type of Request: Renewal of a currently approved ICR.

Respondents: Motor carriers.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 115,547.

Estimated Time per Response: 18 minutes.

Expiration Date: March 31, 2027.

Frequency of Response: On occasion.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 51,661 (172,203 accidents × 18 minutes per response ÷ 60 minutes per hour).

Definitions: Accident is an occurrence involving a CMV operating on a public road which results in: (1) A fatality, (2) bodily injury to a person who, as a result of the injury, immediately receives medical treatment away from the scene of the accident, or (3) one or more motor vehicles incurring disabling damage as a result of the accident, requiring the motor vehicle(s) to be transported away from the scene by a tow truck or other motor vehicle (§ 390.5T).

Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of this information collection, including: (1) whether the proposed collection is necessary for the performance of FMCSA's functions; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) ways for FMCSA to enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the collected information; and (4) ways that the burden could be minimized without reducing the quality of the collected information. The Agency will summarize or include your comments in the request for OMB's clearance of this ICR.

Issued under the authority of 49 CFR 1.87.

91 FR 57429