What crashes are included in the Safety Measurement System (SMS)?

All Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)-reportable crashes are included in the SMS. To be considered a reportable crash, several criteria must be met. First, the vehicle must be a “commercial motor vehicle” as defined in 49 CFR Sec. 390.5. A crash involving such a vehicle must be recorded if the crash occurs while operating on a roadway customarily open to the public, and which results in any of the following:

• A fatality: Any person(s) killed in or outside of any vehicle (truck, bus, car, etc.) involved in the crash or who dies within 30 days of the crash as a result of an injury sustained in the crash; OR
• An injury: any person(s) injured as a result of the crash who immediately receives medical treatment away from the crash scene; OR
• A tow-away: any motor vehicle (truck, bus, car, etc.) disabled as a result of the crash and transported away from the scene by a tow truck or other vehicle.

Motor carriers that are able to prove a crash was “not preventable” can have the crash removed from calculations through a DataQs challenge. Note that preventability is not the same as fault.