US Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (49 CFR Parts 350 to 399) 385.3-13: Safety fitness: the safety rating process, the unsatisfactory rating prohibition on operating, and the safety fitness standard and factors (385.1 to 385.19 and Appendix B)

What does 385.3-13 require?

A motor carrier must meet the safety fitness standard of 385.5: adequate safety management controls that reduce the risk of violations in the six factor areas (general requirements of Parts 387 and 390, driver qualification, driving and operational requirements, vehicle condition, hours of service and hazardous materials) and of crashes, assessed through a compliance review under Appendix B. A carrier rated Unsatisfactory may not operate a CMV in interstate commerce after 60 days (45 days for passenger or hazmat carriers) unless it upgrades the rating, may request a rating change on corrective action (385.17) or administrative review (385.15), and a Conditional rating must be addressed through the corrective actions identified. Owners and officers of carriers that are out of service for an unsatisfactory rating may not operate through another entity (reincarnation).