Glossary
Skip to Acronymsaccident
An event involving a CMV that results in: The term crash can be used interchangeably with accident. The term accident does not apply to events involving boarding and alighting from a stationary vehicle, or those involving the loading or unloading of cargo.
acute noncompliance
Violation(s) that require immediate corrective actions by a carrier, regardless of the carrier’s overall safety posture.
alcohol
Alcoholis the intoxicating agent in beverage alcohol, ethyl alcohol, or other lowmolecular weight alcohols including methyl and isopropyl alcohol.
brake inspector
Anyemployee who is responsible for ensuring that all brake inspections,maintenance, service, or repairs meet Federal standards.
coercion
A threat or act by someone to withhold business or work opportunities, or any adverse employment action, against another individual in order to make that person violate rules or regulations. FMCSA adopted a Coercion Rule on Nov. 30, 2015, the details of which are explained in 49 CFR 390.6
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A type of driver's license required to operate large or heavy vehicles. Requires a higher level of knowledge, experience, skills, and physical abilities than that required to drive a non-commercial vehicle. CDL holders are held to a higher standard when operating any type of vehicle on public roads.
Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS)
Established by FMCSA pursuant to section 12007 of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986. CDLIS enables the States to exchange information about the driving records and driver’s licenses of CMV drivers. CDLIS helps ensure:
Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP)
A CLP is issued to an individual by a State or other jurisdiction of domicile. See 49 CFR 383.25.
Commercial Motor Vehicle (as defined in 49 CFR 383.5) This additional definition only applies to regulations in 49 CFR 383.
A motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles used in commerce to transport passengers or property if the motor vehicle is a:
Commercial Motor Vehicle (as defined in 49 CFR 390.5)
Any self-propelled or towed motor vehicle used on a highway in interstate commerce to transport passengers or property when the vehicle:
compliance review
An onsite examination of motor carrier operations, such as drivers’ hours of service, maintenance and inspection, driver qualification, Commercial Driver’s License requirements, financial responsibility, accidents, hazardous materials, and other safety and transportation records to determine whether a motor carrier meets the safety fitness standard. A compliance review may be conducted to investigate potential violations of safety regulations by motor carriers, or to investigate complaints. The compliance review may result in an enforcement action.
Compliance, Safety, Accountability
Comprehensive safety compliance and enforcement program that enables FMCSA and State Partners to monitor carrier safety and intervene with carriers to address problems before crashes occur.
controlled substance
Substances as identified in 49 CFR 40.85. In accordance with FMCSA rules, urinalyses will be conducted to detect the presence of the following five drugs:
conviction
An unvacated adjudication of guilt or failure to comply with the law.
Cooperative Safety Plan
A voluntary plan a carrier may implement with the help of an FMCSA enforcement officer to address safety problems. This plan may be used alone or with a Notice of Violation (NOV), but it cannot replace a Notice of Claim (NOC).
corrective action plan
critical noncompliance
direct compensation
Payment made to the motor carrier by the passengers or a person acting on behalf of the passengers for the transportation services provided, and not included in a total package charge or other assessment for highway transportation services.
disqualification
The suspension, revocation, or cancellation of a CDL. For full definition and other important related terms see 49 CFR 383.5.
driveaway–towaway
An operation in which an empty or unladen motor vehicle with one or more sets of wheels on the surface of the roadway is being transported: By means of a saddle-mount or tow-bar.
driving
Operating a CMV on a roadway, including while temporarily halted because of traffic, a traffic control device, or other momentary delay. An operator is no longer driving when the driver has stopped in a location where the vehicle can safely remain stationary.
entry-level driver
A driver who has less than one year of experience operating a CMV with a CDL in interstate commerce.
financial responsibility
Policies and bonds that satisfy a carrier’s ability to cover public liability.
for-hire carrier
hand-held mobile device
inspection
An evaluation of a driver, vehicle, or both to ensure safe operations. The six levels of inspections conducted in North America are developed by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). The level of inspection refers to what is examined during the inspection. Level 1 is the most comprehensive type of inspection.
interstate commerce
Trade, traffic, or transportation between the following:
Interstate commerce is not defined by the vehicle's travel between States, but the freight's movement between States.
intervention
Refers to a variety of tools FMCSA uses to address carriers that are found in violation of Federal safety regulations. Interventions include warning letters, inspections, and investigations, among others. The interventions process evaluates why safety problems occur, recommends remedies, encourages corrective action, and when necessary, invokes strong penalties for carriers failing to comply.
intrastate commerce
Any trade, traffic, or transportation in any State which is not described in the term interstate commerce.
LCV Driver-Training Certificate of Grandfathering
longer combination vehicle (LCV)
material error
A mistake or series of mistakes that resulted in an erroneous safety rating or Safety Audit.
new entrant
A motor carrier not domiciled in Mexico that applies for a United States Department of Transportation (DOT) identification number in order to initiate operations. A carrier is considered a new entrant for its first 18 months on the road, and must complete the New Entrant Safety Assurance Program.
New Entrant Safety Assurance Program (New Entrant Program)
FMCSA program to educate new motor carriers that operate in interstate commerce, and evaluate their safety fitness during their first 18 months on the road.
New Entrant Web System (NEWS)
If FMCSA selects a carrier for an Offsite Safety Audit, NEWS is the online system that carriers access to upload documents required to complete the Offsite Safety Audit. Auditors then access documents and complete the Audit using NEWS.
Not for direct compensation
Any compensation outside of the 'direct compensation' definition.
Notice of Claim
Notice of Violation
off duty
Any time a driver is free of responsibility or care of a CMV, is not performing or expected to perform work, and is welcome to leave the premises of the CMV in order to pursue activities of their choosing.
on duty
All time from when a driver begins compensated work, or is required to be ready to work, until the time the driver is relieved of all responsibilities for performing work.
operating authority
Dictates the type of operation a company may run and the cargo it may carry. Some types of carrier must obtain operating authority in addition to registering (U.S. DOT Number) with FMCSA.
Out-of-Service Order
A declaration issued by FMCSA or a law enforcement professional that prohibits a motor carrier or driver from operating a commercial motor vehicle.
over-the-road bus
owner–operator
private motor carrier of passengers (business)
Provides private interstate transportation of passengers in furtherance of a commercial enterprise and is not available to the public at large.
private motor carrier of passengers (non-business)
Provides private interstate transportation of passengers not in furtherance of a commercial enterprise and is not available to the public at large. (Examples: civic organization, scout group, or other organization that purchases or leases a bus for the private transportation of their group.)
public liability
The motor carrier’s responsibility for bodily injury, property damage, and environmental restoration following an accident.
Refusal to submit (to an alcohol or controlled substances test)
Means that a driver:
Is reported by the MRO as having a verified adulterated or substituted test result.
Roadside Inspection
Safety Audit
safety management controls
The systems, policies, programs, practices, and procedures used by a motor carrier to ensure compliance with applicable safety and hazardous materials regulations.
Safety Measurement System
The web-based system FMCSA uses to collect data from roadside inspections, including driver and vehicle violations; crash reports from the last two years; and investigation results to identify motor carriers with safety problems to prioritize them for interventions.
safety rating
A safety rating is an evaluation of a motor carrier’s safety performance that is available to the carrier and the public. FMCSA issues one of three safety ratings: Satisfactory, Conditional, Unsatisfactory.
safety-sensitive function
All time from the time a driver begins to work or is required to be in readiness to work until the time he/she is relieved from work and all responsibility for performing work.
Acronyms
Skip to GlossaryADA
Americans with Disabilities Act
CDL
Commercial Driver’s License
CDLIS
Commercial Driver’s License Information System
CFR
Code of Federal Regulations
CLP
Commercial Learner’s Permit
CMV
commercial motor vehicle
CR
compliance review
CSA
Compliance, Safety, Accountability
CSP
Cooperative Safety Plan
CVSA
Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance
DVIR
driver vehicle inspection report
ETA
Educational and Technical Assistance
FMCSA
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
FMCSR
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations
FTA
Federal Transit Administration
GCWR
Gross Combination Weight Rating
GVWR
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
Hazmat (HM)
hazardous materials
HMR
Hazardous Materials Regulations
HMSP
Hazardous Materials Safety Permit
HMSP
Hazardous Materials Safety Permit
HOS
hours of service
IEP
intermodal equipment provider
LCV
longer combination vehicle
MCP
motor carriers of passengers
MEC
Medical Examiner’s Certificate
MVR
Motor Vehicle Record
NEWS
New Entrant Web System
NOC
Notice of Claim
NOV
Notice of Violation
OOSO
Out-of-Service Order
OTRB
over-the-road bus
PASA
Pre-Authorization Safety Audit
PHSMA
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
PMCPs
private motor carriers of passengers
PU
power units
RODS
records of duty status
SAP
substance abuse professional
SMS
Safety Measurement System
URS
Unified Registration System
USDOT / DOT
U.S. Department of Transportation
VMT
vehicle miles travelled
Disclaimer
This publication is distributed by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). It is meant to serve as a guide only and the Agency does not assume responsibility for any omissions, errors, or ambiguity contained herein. The contents may not be relied upon as a substitute for the Agency’s published regulations.