The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is the chief federal agency responsible for regulating and ensuring the safety of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in the United States. A critical component of its mission is identifying and addressing unsafe behaviors among carriers and drivers, reducing crashes, and improving compliance with federal safety regulations.
For more than a decade, the FMCSA has relied on its Safety Measurement System (SMS) to monitor carrier performance and prioritize enforcement resources. The SMS evaluates motor carriers based on their roadside inspection violations, crash data, and other compliance information. Historically, the SMS grouped violations into seven Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs):
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Unsafe Driving
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Hours-of-Service (HOS) Compliance
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Driver Fitness
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Controlled Substances/Alcohol
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Vehicle Maintenance
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Hazardous Materials (HM) Compliance
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Crash Indicator
These BASICs have been at the center of FMCSA’s Carrier Safety Measurement since the introduction of the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program in 2010. However, as data accumulated and stakeholders provided feedback, it became evident that improvements were needed to make the system more effective, transparent, and better aligned with actual crash risk.
Why the Change?
Over the years, motor carriers, industry groups, and Congress raised concerns about the SMS methodology, particularly the complexity of the BASICs, inconsistency in how violations translated into scores, and a lack of clear correlation between some scores and actual crash risk. In response to these concerns – and following recommendations from the National Academies of Sciences – the FMCSA undertook a thorough analysis of SMS and proposed a modernized approach.
This modernization replaces the original BASICs with updated Compliance Categories. The new categories are designed to improve clarity, make scoring more consistent, and strengthen the connection between violations and crash likelihood. By refining how violations are grouped and weighted, the FMCSA aims to more accurately identify carriers most in need of intervention while improving public confidence in the system.
The proposed Compliance Categories include:
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Unsafe Driving
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Fatigued Driving
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Vehicle Maintenance
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Controlled Substances/Alcohol
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Driver Fitness
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Hazardous Materials (HM) Compliance
Notably, the Crash Indicator category – which previously measured crash history – will no longer be scored, as crash data is already used in other enforcement priorities and often contains circumstances beyond a carrier’s control.
The Importance of Understanding Violations
For carriers and drivers, understanding which behaviors and violations contribute to SMS scores is essential. Each violation observed during roadside inspections has a severity weight, reflecting its contribution to crash risk. More severe violations – such as operating a CMV under the influence of drugs or alcohol, reckless driving, or false duty status records – carry the highest weights. In contrast, less severe violations – like missing reflectors or minor paperwork errors – carry lower weights.
The FMCSA’s updated approach maintains the principle that not all violations are equal. The new system continues to assign weights, but groups similar violations more logically under the updated Compliance Categories. This approach makes it easier for carriers to focus on the most critical areas of improvement.
A Comprehensive Reference Table
To help carriers, drivers, and safety managers prepare for the FMCSA’s updated SMS methodology, we have assembled a comprehensive table of FMCSA violations, reflecting the kinds of infractions that directly impact a carrier’s compliance scores.
The table includes all the original violations you may already be familiar with under the BASICs framework – such as speeding, reckless driving, HOS violations, failure to secure loads, and controlled substances infractions – along with additional examples that highlight the breadth of behaviors monitored under FMCSA regulations.
By reviewing this table, stakeholders can:
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Identify which driver behaviors and vehicle conditions carry the most weight in compliance scoring.
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Prioritize internal audits, training, and corrective actions in areas that pose the highest risk.
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Understand how violations are categorized under the updated compliance framework.
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Educate drivers and operations teams on specific high-risk behaviors to avoid.
Key Highlights from the Table
The expanded table we provide offers over twice as many entries as a typical BASICs list, ensuring no major violation category is overlooked. Some of the key highlights include:
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Unsafe Driving: Texting while operating a CMV, improper lane changes, speeding in work zones, reckless driving.
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Fatigued Driving: Hours-of-Service infractions, false log records, incomplete duty status.
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Driver Fitness: Operating without a valid CDL, missing or invalid medical certificate, driving while disqualified.
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Controlled Substance/Alcohol: Use of alcohol while on duty, positive controlled substance tests, refusal to submit to testing.
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Vehicle Maintenance: Operating with inoperative brakes or lamps, unsecured loads, defective safety equipment.
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Hazardous Materials: Smoking near HM cargo, placarding violations, unauthorized passengers in HM vehicles.
Each violation is shown alongside its FMCSR section number, its violation group (e.g., Speeding Related, HM Related, Fatigued Driver), and its severity weight, making it a practical reference for compliance professionals.
Preparing for the Transition
While the updated Compliance Categories do not fundamentally change the nature of roadside inspections or the underlying safety regulations, they do reframe how violations are grouped and scored in the SMS. Carriers should not wait for formal implementation to begin adjusting their internal compliance programs. Instead, reviewing the violations within each category – as reflected in our table – can help teams anticipate how their current behaviors might be scored under the updated methodology.
Best practices include:
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Reviewing current violation history by category and identifying trends.
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Conducting mock inspections to proactively uncover hidden compliance risks.
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Providing targeted driver training on high-severity behaviors.
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Enhancing vehicle maintenance and pre-trip inspection procedures.
The Bigger Picture
The FMCSA’s modernization of the SMS represents a significant step toward making carrier safety assessments more effective and fair. For carriers that embrace the updated categories and focus their efforts on the most impactful areas, the changes present an opportunity to strengthen safety performance and improve operational reputation.
For insurers, shippers, and other stakeholders who rely on SMS data, the updated system promises clearer insights into carrier risk profiles. This, in turn, can drive more informed decisions around carrier selection, underwriting, and pricing.
Final Thoughts
The FMCSA’s ongoing commitment to improving the SMS is a testament to the importance of safety in the commercial transportation industry. While the specific details of the updated Compliance Categories may continue to evolve through the regulatory process, the underlying principle remains unchanged: carriers and drivers who consistently comply with federal safety rules – and avoid high-risk violations – will benefit both operationally and reputationally.
We encourage all industry participants to review the attached table thoroughly and use it as a guide for understanding which behaviors the FMCSA considers most critical to safety. In doing so, carriers can position themselves to succeed under the new framework and contribute to a safer transportation network for everyone.
| Section | Violation Description | Violation Group | Severity Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 177.800(d) | Unnecessary delay in HM transportation to destination | HM Related | 1 |
| 177.804B | Texting while operating CMV – Placardable HM | Texting | 10 |
| 177.804C | Using Mobile Phone while operating CMV – HM | Phone Call | 10 |
| 390.17DT | Operating a CMV while texting | Texting | 10 |
| 390.20 | Failing to properly secure parked vehicle | Other Driver Violations | 1 |
| 392.2C | Failure to obey traffic control device | Dangerous Driving | 5 |
| 392.2DH | Headlamps – Failing to dim when required | Misc Violations | 3 |
| 392.2FC | Following too close | Dangerous Driving | 5 |
| 392.2LC | Improper lane change | Dangerous Driving | 5 |
| 392.2LV | Lane restriction violation | Misc Violations | 3 |
| 392.2P | Improper passing | Dangerous Driving | 5 |
| 392.2PK | Parking or leaving vehicle unlawfully in roadway | Other Driver Violations | 1 |
| 392.2R | Reckless driving | Reckless Driving | 10 |
| 392.2RR | Railroad grade crossing violation | Dangerous Driving | 5 |
| 392.2S | Speeding | Speeding Related | 5 |
| 392.2-SLLS1 | Speeding 1–5 mph over limit | Speeding 1 | 1 |
| 392.2-SLLS2 | Speeding 6–10 mph over limit | Speeding 2 | 4 |
| 392.2-SLLS3 | Speeding 11–14 mph over limit | Speeding 3 | 7 |
| 392.2-SLLS4 | Speeding 15+ mph over limit | Speeding 4 | 10 |
| 392.2-SLLSWZ | Speeding in work/construction zone | Speeding 4 | 10 |
| 392.2-SLLT | Operating CMV while texting | Texting | 10 |
| 392.2T | Improper turns | Dangerous Driving | 5 |
| 392.2Y | Failure to yield right of way | Dangerous Driving | 5 |
| 392.6 | Scheduling run to necessitate speeding | Speeding Related | 5 |
| 392.10(a)(1) | Fail to stop at RR crossing—bus | Dangerous Driving | 5 |
| 392.10(a)(2) | Fail to stop at RR crossing—chlorine | Dangerous Driving | 5 |
| 392.10(a)(3) | Fail to stop at RR crossing—placard | Dangerous Driving | 5 |
| 392.10(a)(4) | Fail to stop at RR crossing—HM cargo | Dangerous Driving | 5 |
| 392.14 | Fail to use caution for hazardous condition | Dangerous Driving | 5 |
| 392.16 | Fail to use seat belt while operating CMV | Seat Belt | 7 |
| 392.22(a) | Fail to use hazard warning flashers | Other Driver Violations | 1 |
| 392.60(a) | Unauthorized passenger on board CMV | Other Driver Violations | 1 |
| 392.62 | Unsafe bus operations | Other Driver Violations | 1 |
| 392.62(a) | Bus standees forward of line | Other Driver Violations | 1 |
| 392.71(a) | Using radar detector | Speeding Related | 5 |
| 392.80(a) | Driving CMV while texting | Texting | 10 |
| 392.82(a)(1) | Using hand-held mobile phone | Phone Call | 10 |
| 392.82(a)(2) | Allow/require use of hand-held phone | Phone Call | 10 |
| 397.3 | State/local HM laws | HM Related | 1 |
| 397.13 | Smoking within 25 feet of HM vehicle | HM Related | 1 |
| 398.4 | Driving migrant workers vehicle | Other Driver Violations | 1 |
| 382.201 | Alcohol concentration ≥ 0.04 while on duty | Controlled Substance/Alcohol | 10 |
| 382.205 | Alcohol use < 4 hrs before duty | Controlled Substance/Alcohol | 10 |
| 382.207 | Alcohol use while on duty | Controlled Substance/Alcohol | 10 |
| 382.213 | Controlled substance use | Controlled Substance/Alcohol | 10 |
| 383.23(a)(2) | No valid CDL | Driver Fitness | 8 |
| 383.51(a) | Driving disqualified | Driver Fitness | 10 |
| 391.11(b)(4) | Unqualified driver (medically disqualified) | Driver Fitness | 8 |
| 391.41(a) | No medical certificate on file | Driver Fitness | 1 |
| 391.15(a) | Driving while disqualified due to felony/DUI | Driver Fitness | 10 |
| 395.3(a)(1) | Exceeded 11-hour driving limit | Fatigued Driver/HOS | 7 |
| 395.3(a)(2) | Exceeded 14-hour on-duty limit | Fatigued Driver/HOS | 7 |
| 395.8(e) | False reports of records of duty status | Fatigued Driver/HOS | 7 |
| 395.8(a) | No record of duty status | Fatigued Driver/HOS | 5 |
| 395.8(f)(1) | Incomplete log | Fatigued Driver/HOS | 5 |
| 396.3(a)(1) | Operating vehicle in unsafe condition | Vehicle Maintenance/Load Securement | 7 |
| 393.9 | Inoperative required lamps | Vehicle Maintenance/Load Securement | 6 |
| 393.47(e) | Clamp/rotor out-of-service brake violations | Vehicle Maintenance/Load Securement | 4 |
| 393.95(a) | No or defective fire extinguisher | Vehicle Maintenance/Load Securement | 1 |
| 393.100(a) | Load not secured | Vehicle Maintenance/Load Securement | 7 |
| 393.102(a) | No edge protection where required | Vehicle Maintenance/Load Securement | 3 |
| 393.104(b) | Insufficient tie downs | Vehicle Maintenance/Load Securement | 5 |
