How Long Do Violations Stay on a PSP Report?

<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) report is a critical tool used by trucking companies to assess the safety history of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. This report, maintained by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), includes a driver’s crash and inspection history, providing a clear picture of their compliance and safety record. If you’re a driver or a carrier wondering how long violations remain on a PSP report, understanding the timelines and implications is essential for navigating the trucking industry.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> What Is a PSP Report?<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The PSP report is a database that allows authorized carriers, drivers, and industry stakeholders to access a driver’s five-year crash history and three-year inspection history from the FMCSA's Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS). This information includes:<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> <ul style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px;"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Crash Data:<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Information about crashes involving CMVs, regardless of fault.</li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Inspection Data:<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Details about roadside inspections, including violations.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> </li></ul><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Unlike a <a href="https://safehaulsolutions.com/mvr-and-psp-reports" style="font-size: 1rem; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Motor Vehicle Record</a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (MVR), which only includes violations reported to the state, the PSP report offers a comprehensive look at a driver’s interactions with federal and state inspection systems.How Long Do Violations Stay on a PSP Report?Crash History:<ul style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px;"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Crash records remain on the <a href="https://safehaulsolutions.com/mvr-and-psp-reports" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PSP report</a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for 5 years from the date of the incident.</li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These records include information about the location, time, type, and severity of the crash, as well as whether a fatality, injury, or tow was involved.</li></ul><h4 style="text-align: justify; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Inspection History:</h4><ul style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px;"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Violations recorded during roadside inspections stay on the PSP report for 3 years from the date of the inspection.</li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Violations can range from minor infractions, like documentation errors, to more serious safety violations, such as hours-of-service (HOS) or equipment-related issues.</li></ul><h2 style="text-align: justify; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why Do Violations Stay for 3 or 5 Years?</h2><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The retention period aligns with the FMCSA’s mission to improve safety on the nation’s highways. These timelines ensure that recent and relevant safety data is available for carriers to make informed hiring decisions, while also providing a consistent framework for drivers to demonstrate improvements in their compliance and safety performance over time.<h2 style="text-align: justify; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Can Violations Be Removed from a PSP Report?</h2><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The FMCSA does not allow individuals or carriers to remove accurate violations from a PSP report. However, if you believe a violation is incorrect, you can challenge it through the DataQs system. This process involves:<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> <ul style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px;"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Submitting a Request for Review (RDR):<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Provide details about the suspected error and any supporting documentation.</li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Review by FMCSA or State Agency:<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The agency responsible for the data will investigate the claim.</li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Outcome Notification:<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> If the investigation finds the violation was recorded in error, it will be corrected or removed.</li></ul><h3 style="text-align: justify; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How Does the PSP Report Impact Drivers and Carriers?</h3><ul style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px;"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For Drivers:<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> A clean PSP report is essential for improving job prospects. Drivers with a history of violations may face challenges securing employment, as carriers often prefer candidates with strong safety records. Regular self-checks of your PSP report can help you monitor your record and address discrepancies promptly.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> </li></ul><ul style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px;"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For Carriers:<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Accessing a driver’s PSP report during the hiring process helps carriers identify potential risks and ensure compliance with FMCSA regulations. By hiring drivers with clean or minimal violations, carriers can improve their CSA scores, reducing the likelihood of interventions or penalties from regulatory authorities.</li></ul><h3 style="text-align: justify; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tips for Maintaining a Clean PSP Report</h3><ol style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px;"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:decimal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Adhere to Safety Regulations:<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Follow FMCSA rules regarding hours of service, vehicle maintenance, and load securement.</li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:decimal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Conduct Pre-Trip Inspections:<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Regularly inspect your vehicle to ensure it meets safety standards and avoid roadside inspection violations.</li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:decimal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stay Informed:<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Keep up with changes to FMCSA regulations to avoid inadvertent violations.</li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:decimal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Review Your PSP Report Annually: <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This helps you identify and address potential errors or inaccuracies.</li></ol><h3 style="text-align: justify; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" class=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Key Takeaways</h3><ul style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px;"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Crash data stays on a PSP report for 5 years, while roadside inspection violations remain for 3 years.</li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Violations cannot be removed unless proven incorrect through the DataQs challenge process.</li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maintaining a clean PSP report is vital for both drivers and carriers to enhance safety, compliance, and job opportunities.<span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;"> </li></ul>By understanding how PSP reports work and taking proactive steps to maintain a positive record, drivers and carriers can foster a safer and more efficient trucking industry.Conclusion<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A PSP report is more than a snapshot of a driver’s safety record; it’s a tool that influences hiring decisions and promotes accountability in the trucking industry. Whether you’re a driver aiming to enhance your career prospects or a carrier focused on <a href="https://safehaulsolutions.com/" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 1rem;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">DOT safety and compliance</a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, staying informed about PSP timelines and maintaining a clean record is crucial. Always prioritize safety, accuracy, and proactive management of your PSP report for long-term success in the trucking industry.

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How Long Do Violations Stay on a PSP Report?