Safety Measurement System (SMS)

Also known as: SMS, FMCSA SMS Portal

By Korey Sharp-Paar · Reviewed by the Fast Trucking Compliance team

Definition

Safety Measurement System (SMS) is the FMCSA portal at ai.fmcsa.dot.gov where carriers can view their CSA percentile scores across the seven BASIC categories. Public-facing SMS shows only a subset of data; carriers logging in with their PIN see full inspection history, crash data, and individual violation severity weights. SMS data updates monthly when FMCSA reprocesses the prior 24 months of inspections. Brokers and shippers also pull SMS data during carrier qualification - a single roadside inspection violation can move a small carrier into the alert threshold for a BASIC. Carriers should monitor SMS monthly and use DataQ to challenge incorrect violations within 60 days.

Authoritative source

FMCSA Analysis & Information Online

CSA Scores & OOS Rate

How FMCSA computes BASIC scores and what the out-of-service rate signals to brokers.

Related terms

CSA(Compliance, Safety, Accountability)
BASIC Scores(Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories)
DataQ Challenge(Request for Data Review (RDR))
SAFER(Safety and Fitness Electronic Records)

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