The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has announced that all 50 states and the District of Columbia and all U.S. territories have implemented required reforms to the DataQ process. DataQ is the FMCSA’s online system for requesting and tracking reviews of federal and state safety data that you believe are incomplete or incorrect.

Under the streamlined framework for handling Requests for Data Review (RDRs):

• States must designate points of contact for crash and inspection RDRs. 

• States are required to review requests submitted within three years of an inspection and within five years of a crash. 

• All decisions, especially those where no data correction is made, must include detailed explanations, evidence reviewed, and clear next steps in the review process. 

• States must participate in FMCSA program reviews and follow established policies, including those related to adjudicated citations. 

In addition, initial review decisions may not be made solely by the issuing officer when denying a correction. Reconsiderations must be conducted by independent subject matter experts not involved in the initial decision. The final review must be completed by a senior decision-maker or independent panel, ensuring an unbiased final determination. 

Initial reviews must be completed within 21 days. Reconsideration decisions must be issued within 21 days. Final reviews must be completed within 45 days.