Accident Register
FMCSA accident register software under 49 CFR 390.15
Maintain a complete DOT crash register with the fields required by 49 CFR 390.15: date, location, fatalities, injuries, and hazmat. Includes post-accident testing, preventability determinations, and document retention.
What the accident register requires
Under 49 CFR 390.15, every motor carrier must keep an accident register listing each DOT-recordable accident, and must retain the supporting documentation for three years. The register is one of the first records an auditor reviews, and an incomplete or missing register is a common finding. TruckFlow structures each entry around the required fields so the register stays complete and the supporting documents stay attached.
Required register fields
- Date of accident: the date the recordable accident occurred.
- City or town, and state: where the accident took place.
- Driver name: the driver involved, linked to their record where applicable.
- Number of injuries: persons injured in the accident.
- Number of fatalities: persons killed in the accident.
- Hazardous materials: whether hazmat, other than fuel spilled from a vehicle's fuel tank, was released.
Post-accident testing & preventability
Beyond the required fields, each entry can record whether post-accident drug and alcohol testing was required and completed, and the carrier's preventability determination: preventable, non-preventable, or under review. This keeps the safety analysis with the accident record rather than in a separate file.
Document retention
Police reports, photos, insurance correspondence, and testing documentation attach directly to the register entry and are retained for the three-year period required under 390.15. When an audit reviews your accident history, the register and every supporting document are organized and retrievable.
What each entry captures
From the required fields to the full record
390.15 required fields
Date, location, driver, fatalities, injuries, and hazmat release captured for every recordable accident.
Post-accident testing
Record whether drug and alcohol testing was required and completed, kept with the accident entry.
Preventability
Track the determination (preventable, non-preventable, or under review) alongside the facts of the accident.
Tow-away & recordability
Flag tow-away accidents and DOT-recordable status so the register reflects what must be reported.
Supporting documents
Attach police reports, photos, and insurance correspondence directly to each register entry.
3-year retention
Register entries and documents are retained for the three years required under 49 CFR 390.15.
FAQ
Accident register questions
What is an FMCSA accident register?
An accident register is a record motor carriers must maintain under 49 CFR 390.15 of every DOT-recordable accident. It includes the date, city or town and state, the driver, the number of fatalities and injuries, and whether hazardous materials other than fuel spilled, along with supporting documents.
How long must an accident register be kept?
Under 49 CFR 390.15, the accident register and the supporting documentation must be retained for three years after the date of each accident. TruckFlow keeps the register entry and its attached records for the required period.
What is a DOT-recordable accident?
A DOT-recordable accident generally involves a fatality, an injury requiring immediate medical treatment away from the scene, or a vehicle being towed from the scene due to disabling damage. Recordable accidents must be entered in the accident register.
Can I record post-accident testing and preventability?
Yes. Each entry can record whether post-accident drug and alcohol testing was required and completed, and the carrier's preventability determination, so the safety analysis stays with the accident record.
Keep an audit-ready accident register
Request a walkthrough built around your accident recordkeeping.