What is a DOT Safety Rating? - Truck Dispatcher Training

What is a DOT Safety Rating?

Drivers, owner-operators, trucking companies and anyone else involved in the trucking industry in some way with the FMCSA needs to know what a DOT safety rating is. This way, you can track and improve this rating, which will ultimately lead to an increase in your revenue.

What is a DOT safety rating?

A DOT safety rating is a report on how a driver behaves while on duty. In other words, this document talks about the safety of driving. The DOT Safety Rating is compiled by FMCSA experts and published in the public domain.

Under this system, a driver is assigned one of three levels:

  1. Satisfactory.
  2. Conditional.
  3. Unsatisfactory.

Let’s talk about each of them in detail.

Satisfactory

This is the best assessment of all possible. It shows that the driver strictly observes all safety rules.

Conditional

This grade is worse than the previous one. It shows that the driver violates some protocols. A conditional DOT safety rating means that the driver is qualified to drive the vehicle, but it is a warning to potential customers, insurance companies and lenders.

Thus, in order to be perfect in the eyes of potential customers and contractors, the conditional DOT safety rating must be upgraded to satisfactory.

Unsatisfactory

This is the worst rating possible. It shows that the driver is not following most of the safety rules. In this case, a temporary business ban is imposed and given 45 to 60 days to fix the problems.

Where and how do I find out my DOT safety rating?

You can do this on the FMCSA’s official website. Open the instructions from the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MMCIS) and follow them.

How do I keep my DOT safety rating from dropping?

It doesn’t take much to be assigned a satisfactory level. All you need to do is:

  1. Keep all documentation in accordance with U.S. law. Documentation means driver logs, financial reports, inspection reports, etc.
  2. Maintain vehicles and all other equipment in good condition, and get technical inspections.
  3. Follow all FMCSA guidelines listed on their official website.

You can learn more about how to keep your DOT safety rating from dropping at our courses. To do so, contact our manager any way you like, such as by phone or email. We will be happy to answer all your questions!

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