• Motor carriers can receive either a satisfactory, conditional, or unsatisfactory safety rating after a compliance review.

A safety rating is an evaluation assigned to an interstate motor carrier after a compliance review. The ratings are made public and can have wide-ranging effects on a carrier’s ability to conduct business.

The safety rating a motor carrier receives from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) affects everything from its ability to continue operation (i.e., it could result in an out-of-service order) to insurance rates to attracting customers and quality drivers to how it might fare in a lawsuit based on its “reputation.” Because so much hinges on a positive outcome following an investigation, it is important to have a clear understanding how the agency arrives at a rating.

The three possible ratings are:

• Satisfactory — The carrier has adequate safety management controls to meet the safety fitness standards in 385.5.
• Conditional — The carrier does not have adequate safety management controls in place, which could lead to serious safety violations.
• Unsatisfactory — The carrier does not have adequate safety management controls in place and has committed serious safety violations.

In general, carriers rated “unsatisfactory” are prohibited from operating commercial motor vehicles. These carriers are issued an out-of-service order that becomes final on the 61st day after the rating is assigned, although that may be extended by up to 60 days for carriers making an effort to comply. For carriers hauling hazmat or passengers, the out-of-service order becomes final on the 46th day after the carrier is rated.