Beyond DOT Compliance: What Makes a Trucking Fleet Truly Safe?
FMCSA’s New Complaint Platform Makes It Easier to Report Trucking Safety Concerns
The FMCSA Complaint Center features expanded complaint categories and a name change away from the word "consumer."
November 8, 2026
As the Trump administration continues its work to clean up commercial vehicle enforcement and safety, a new website will make it easier for truckers, the public, and others to file complaints.
Credit:
HDT
2 min to read
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said its new FMCSA Complaint Center offers an easier way to report potential violations of federal motor carrier safety and hazardous materials regulations.
Formerly known as the National Consumer Complaint Database, the FMCSA Complaint Center has undergone significant improvements since the updated system launched last year, according to the agency.
Recent enhancements include:
- Expanded complaint categories: New categories cover property brokers, Entry-Level Driver Training/Training Provider Registry (ELDT/TPR), intermodal equipment providers, and registration-related fraud and identity theft.
- Updated name and audience references: The latest release renames the platform the FMCSA Complaint Center and replaces references to “consumer” with “general public” to better reflect the range of individuals who can submit complaints.
- Improved user experience: FMCSA has overhauled the website and complaint submission form and updated the complaint search tool to make the platform easier to navigate.
- Reorganized categories: The Medical Review Officer/Substance Abuse Professionals category is now included under a new category, Drug and Alcohol Service Agents.
Eligible Complaints
For instance, a truck driver might want to file a complaint with allegations of safety violations by the trucking company they work for. These could include:
- Harassment by your employer.
- Being coerced or forced to knowingly disregard safety regulations such as hours of service.
- An employer or company does not have the proper operating authority or insurance on file.
- A carrier placed a commercial truck into operation without one or more parts/accessories necessary for safe operation, such as a stop lamp or cab door (a full list can be found in 49 CFR Part 393).
For more information, see the FMCSA's list of eligible complaints.
How to Submit a Complaint
FMCSA encourages those who witness a potential violation to submit a complaint as soon as possible, even if they don’t have all the details. FMCSA reviews complaints alongside other information to determine which companies may warrant further review, investigation, or enforcement action.
Submitting a complaint does not automatically trigger an investigation or result in a violation or penalty.
Online: complaint.fmcsa.dot.gov
By phone: 1-888-DOT-SAFT (1-888-368-7238), 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
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