As the transportation industry continues to grow, the importance of ensuring the safety and fitness of commercial motor carriers becomes increasingly critical. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) maintains a database known as the SAFER (Safety and Fitness Electronic Records) system to provide information about the safety and fitness of commercial motor carriers operating in the United States. One of the most useful tools available through the SAFER system is the Company Snapshot, which provides a quick overview of a carrier's safety performance, insurance coverage, and other relevant information.
In this blog post, we will explain how to read a Company Snapshot and understand the information it provides. This valuable resource can help shippers, brokers, and other interested parties make informed decisions about which carriers to use for their transportation needs.
The Company Snapshot provides a summary of the carrier's safety performance, insurance coverage, and other relevant information, and includes the following sections:
Carrier Information: This section provides basic information about the carrier, including the carrier's name, address, phone number, and USDOT number. The USDOT number is a unique identifier assigned by the FMCSA to each commercial motor carrier and is used to track the carrier's safety and compliance information.
Safety Rating: This section displays the carrier's current safety rating, which is based on the carrier's compliance with federal safety regulations and the results of roadside inspections and crash investigations. The safety rating can be "Unrated", "Satisfactory", "Conditional", or "Unsatisfactory".
Insurance Coverage: This section displays the carrier's current insurance coverage information, including the type of coverage, the policy limits, and the expiration date of the policy.
Out-of-Service (OOS) Rate: This section displays the carrier's out-of-service rate, which is the percentage of vehicles inspected that were placed out of service for safety-related violations.
Inspection History: This section displays the carrier's inspection history, including the number of inspections conducted, the number of vehicles inspected, and the number of inspections that resulted in violations.
Crash Information: This section displays the carrier's crash information, including the number of crashes reported, the number of crashes involving fatalities or injuries, and the number of crashes involving hazardous materials.
Carrier Operations: This section displays the carrier's operations information, including the type of cargo carried, the type of vehicles used, and the number of drivers employed by the carrier.
In conclusion, the Company Snapshot is an essential tool for anyone involved in the transportation industry who wants to ensure the safety and fitness of the carriers they work with. By understanding the information contained in a Company Snapshot, shippers, brokers, and other interested parties can make informed decisions and ensure that they are working with safe, reliable carriers. The SAFER system provides a wealth of information about commercial motor carriers and is a valuable resource for anyone involved in the transportation industry.
At Hauling Buddies, we understand the importance of working with safe, reliable carriers. That's why we use the SAFER system to gather information about the carriers we work with, ensuring that we are providing our clients with the best possible service. To submit a transport request and experience the peace of mind that comes with working with safe, reliable carriers, visit our website at haulingbuddies.com/transport_requests/new.