Notice2026-18276
Agency Information Collection Activities; Renewal of an Approved Information Collection: Accident Recordkeeping Requirements
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 9, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FMCSA announces its plan to submit the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval and invites public comment. FMCSA requests approval to renew the ICR titled "Accident Recordkeeping Requirements." This ICR relates to Agency requirements that motor carriers maintain a record of accidents involving their commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). Motor carriers are not required to report this data to FMCSA, but must produce it upon inquiry by authorized Federal, State or local officials.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 173 (Wednesday, September 9, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 173 (Wednesday, September 9, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57429-57430]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-18276]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
[Docket No. FMCSA-2026-1552]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Renewal of an Approved
Information Collection: Accident Recordkeeping Requirements
AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Department
of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FMCSA
announces its plan to submit the Information Collection Request (ICR)
described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review
and approval and invites public comment. FMCSA requests approval to
renew the ICR titled ``Accident Recordkeeping Requirements.'' This ICR
relates to Agency requirements that motor carriers maintain a record of
accidents involving their commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). Motor
carriers are not required to report this data to FMCSA, but must
produce it upon inquiry by authorized Federal, State or local
officials.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 9, 2026.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket Number FMCSA-
2026-1552 using any of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
<bullet> Mail: Dockets Operations; U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, W58-213, Washington, DC
20590-0001.
<bullet> Hand Delivery or Courier: Dockets Operations, U.S.
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, W58-213,
Washington, DC 20590-0001 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
<bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
To avoid duplication, please use only one of these four methods.
See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion of
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for instructions on submitting
comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bernadette Walker, FMCSA, Driver and
Carrier Operations Division, DOT, FMCSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
Washington, DC 20590; (202) 507-0363; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0b696e79656a6f6e7f7f6e257c6a67606e794b6f647f256c647d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ec8e899e828d8889989889c29b8d8087899eac888398c28b839a">[email protected]</span></a>.
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 <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FMCSA-2026-1552/document">https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FMCSA-2026-1552/document</a>, 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
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> as described in the system of records notice DOT/
ALL 14 (Federal Docket Management System (FDMS)), which can be reviewed
at <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/privacy/privacy-act-system-records-notices">https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/privacy/privacy-act-system-records-notices</a>. 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 (Sec. 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
[[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 x 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 (Sec. 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.
Nicole S. Michel,
Acting Associate Administrator, Office of Research and Registration.
[FR Doc. 2026-18276 Filed 9-8-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P
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