Guides / DataQs challenges
How a DataQs challenge works
DataQs is FMCSA's online system for asking that federal and state safety data be corrected. If a roadside inspection, violation or crash in a driver's or carrier's record is wrong, DataQs is the formal way to fix it. Because that data feeds CSA scores and the PSP report carriers pull before hiring, a correction can matter a great deal. Justin Seyl's companies have handled more than 100,000 DataQs challenges.
Who can file
Drivers, motor carriers and others with an interest in the record can file. Each user registers for a DataQs account. A request goes to the agency responsible for the data. For roadside inspections that is usually the state agency whose officer did the inspection.
What can be challenged
- Wrong person or vehicle. An inspection or violation assigned to the wrong driver, carrier, truck or trailer.
- A violation that was not a violation. For example, the facts written on the report do not support the cited regulation, or an exemption applied.
- Court results. If a citation tied to a violation was dismissed or the driver was found not guilty, the carrier or driver can ask for the record to reflect that.
- Duplicate records of the same inspection or crash.
- Crash preventability. For certain types of crashes, carriers can ask FMCSA to find that the crash was not preventable through its Crash Preventability Determination Program, which is filed through DataQs.
Building a strong request
- Get the record. Use the inspection report number and date from the driver's copy, the carrier's SMS data or a PSP report.
- Say exactly what is wrong and what the correct record should be. Reviewers handle many requests, so a clear one-paragraph explanation helps.
- Attach proof. Depending on the issue: ELD records, maintenance and repair records, a court disposition, a bill of lading, photos, or a police report.
- Stay factual. A request that argues with the officer without evidence rarely succeeds.
After you file
Track the request in DataQs and answer any questions from the reviewer. If it is closed without the change you asked for, read the reason. You can ask for reconsideration, which works best with new information that addresses that reason. When a correction is made, check the record again later to confirm it shows up in the SMS and PSP data.
Why it is worth doing
An inaccurate violation can raise a carrier's CSA percentile and appear on a driver's PSP report for years. Correcting one record can change an insurance quote or a hiring decision. Driver records should be accurate, and DataQs is how you fix one that isn't.