How does CarrierRecord calculate safety grades?

CarrierRecord calculates a composite safety score (0-100) based on four factors: vehicle out-of-service rate vs. the national average of 23.2% (0-30 points), driver out-of-service rate vs. the national average of 6.4% (0-20 points), crash rate per power unit (0-30 points), and a fatal crash bonus of up to 20 points. The total score maps to a letter grade from A (best) to F (worst).

Where does the data come from?

All data comes from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), part of the U.S. Department of Transportation. This includes carrier census data, inspection records, violation details, and crash reports — all public record.

What does NR (Not Rated) mean?

NR means there is not enough inspection or crash data available to calculate a meaningful safety grade. This is common for very small carriers or newly registered carriers with no FMCSA inspection history.

Are safety grades the same as FMCSA CSA scores?

No. CarrierRecord safety grades are our own independent analysis based on public FMCSA data. They are not affiliated with or endorsed by the FMCSA's Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program. CSA scores use a different methodology and are maintained by the government.

Safety Grade Methodology

CarrierRecord assigns letter grades (A through F) to motor carriers based on their public FMCSA inspection, violation, and crash records. This page explains how grades are calculated.

Data Source

All data comes from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), part of the U.S. Department of Transportation. We download and process the complete dataset monthly, including carrier census data, inspection records, violation details, and crash reports.

Update frequency: Data is refreshed monthly from the FMCSA source. Last updated March 2026.

Scoring Formula

We calculate a composite safety score from 0 to 100 based on four weighted factors:

Safety Score = Vehicle OOS (0-30) + Driver OOS (0-20) + Crash Rate (0-30) + Fatal Crashes (0-20)

Factor	Points	How It Works
Vehicle OOS Rate	0 – 30	Carrier's vehicle out-of-service rate compared to the national average of 23.2%. Higher OOS rates earn more points (worse). A rate at or below the national average scores 0.
Driver OOS Rate	0 – 20	Carrier's driver out-of-service rate compared to the national average of 6.4%. Higher OOS rates earn more points (worse). A rate at or below the national average scores 0.
Crash Rate	0 – 30	Total crashes in the last 24 months divided by the number of power units. More crashes per unit results in a higher score (worse).
Fatal Crash Bonus	0 – 20	Additional penalty points for carriers with one or more fatal crashes in the last 24 months. Each fatal crash adds significant points.

Grade Thresholds

The composite score (0–100) maps to a letter grade:

Grade	Score Range	Interpretation
A	0 – 15	Excellent safety record
B	16 – 30	Good safety record
C	31 – 50	Average safety record
D	51 – 70	Below-average safety record
F	71 – 100	Poor safety record
NR	—	Not enough data to rate

Example: How to Read a Safety Grade

Example Trucking Co. Dallas, TX

42 Inspections

8 Crashes

38.5% Vehicle OOS

Vehicle OOS 38.5% vs 23.2% avg = 20 pts + Driver OOS 12.1% vs 6.4% avg = 18 pts + Crash rate 0.8/unit = 22 pts + 1 fatal crash = 15 pts = 75 total → Grade F

This example carrier had a vehicle OOS rate well above the national average, a high crash rate per power unit, and a fatal crash on record — resulting in a composite score of 75 and an F grade.

Important Limitations

Inspection coverage varies. Not every carrier is inspected equally. Carriers with more inspections may not be less safe — they may simply operate more vehicles or run more interstate routes.
Grades reflect recent history. Safety grades are based on the most recent 24 months of FMCSA data. A carrier's current practices may differ from their historical record.
OOS violations may be corrected. An out-of-service order means a vehicle or driver was taken off the road at the time of inspection. The carrier may have corrected the issue immediately.
Crash data includes all reportable crashes. FMCSA crash records include any crash meeting DOT reporting thresholds, regardless of fault determination.
Grades are not government ratings. CarrierRecord safety grades are our own independent analysis, not an official FMCSA or DOT rating.

Contact

CarrierRecord is not affiliated with FMCSA or any government agency. For official FMCSA data, visit safer.fmcsa.dot.gov.

If you believe information about your carrier is inaccurate, please contact us at corrections@carrierrecord.com.