How to report a DOT reportable accident?

That reference is for a definition of a accident and is good. What I understand is the reporting to the DOT is done by the company and not as a case by case report. I do not know when the report is submitted but I have seen status reports on accident go out every 6 months to a year. I do know it is not the driver that reports to the DOT.

 

The reporting is done by the responding agency. If you(the carrier)have a compliance review there better be an accident file for it.

 

As a driver or lease operator you only have to report the accident to your carrier, they have to list it on their accident register which is a file they keep for three years to show the DOT inspectors if they show up for an audit. If you have your own authority then you have to keep an accident register of your own along with a file about each accident. The law enforcement agency will report it to the FMCSA, however this usually does not happen unless a DOT inspector investigated the crash. Some states are better than others and since this was on the NY Thruway, the Thruway division (Troop T) of the NYSP are pretty good at reporting since many of them are CVSA trained because all they do is highway patrol. You will not have to do anything as a driver but if you want to check it out go to the FMCSA website, look up your carrier's CSA report by DOT number and it will have a list of crash related reports for the last 24 months. You can then look for your accident date, it should show the truck license number and location.

 

Oh well. I know I read, somewhere official, that a citation was required with a tow. As I cannot find it now I must have been drunk or something.

-Steven