What changed

FMCSA released DataQ system improvements on February 15, 2026 addressing carrier complaints about slow turnaround and limited evidence-upload capacity. The previous system commonly took 60-90 days from submission to resolution; the new system targets a 25-day average.

Maximum evidence file size jumped from 25 MB to 100 MB per upload, allowing carriers to attach full dashcam video, ELD logs, and inspection-officer body-camera footage in a single submission. Email notifications to the carrier and the state coordinator now fire when the submission status changes - eliminating the previous "checking the portal manually every week" friction.

Why this matters

DataQ is the only formal mechanism a carrier has to remove an inaccurate roadside-inspection violation from the SMS / CSA record. Faster turnaround is meaningful because every day the violation sits in SMS contributes to the percentile calculation that brokers and shippers see.

Larger evidence-upload capacity removes the need to compress dashcam video to fit the old 25 MB limit. Compressed video frequently lost the visual detail (license plates, lane markings, signage) that was critical to the challenge.

How to use the improvements

When filing a new DataQ challenge, attach the full uncompressed dashcam video, the original ELD log, and the original inspection report. Use the structured-evidence template (rolled out 2024) to organize the submission so the state coordinator can adjudicate quickly.

Watch the email notifications - when the state coordinator responds with a question, the 14-day clock to reply starts immediately. Missing the reply window is the single most common reason for DataQ rejection.

What to do next

Audit the past 12 months of roadside violations. Identify any that are factually challengeable. File DataQ within the 60-day window from inspection date - late submissions are summarily rejected. Our /guides/csa-scores-and-oos-rate page covers DataQ strategy in detail.