Commercial Vehicle Accident Report Form Template

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) notes that collision with vehicle in transport accounts for the most harmful accidents in the United States as of 2020 – with millions of dollar costs in commercial vehicle accidents.

If involved in a vehicular accident using a commercial vehicle, listed below are the response procedure, considering if you are the driver and if you’re a safety officer. On the perspective of a driver, here are a few considerations:

Safety First

If you are still conscious, do not leave the scene, turn on the hazard flashes and set out the reflective triangles.
Contact for medical assistance or law enforcement. If the accident involves another vehicle, and you and the other vehicle has acquired an injury, contact for emergency help first.

Report to your employer

Request for assistance from your employer and fleet manager. According to CFR 390.15, motor carriers or fleet companies need to give an authorized representative all reasonable assistance in the investigation of any accident, including providing a full, true, and correct response to any question of the inquiry.

Fill out the Commercial Vehicle Accident Report Form

Access it from your mobile / tablet to record the necessary information for the report.
From the CFR regulation, the following details should be available:

• • Detail of the accident
  • Date of accident
  • Location of where the accident occurred
  • Driver Name
  • Details of Injuries/Fatalities
  • If applicable, if hazardous materials were released
  • Information of the other vehicle involved, if applicable

This information is part of data consolidation required in FMCSA, and copies are required by State, and the fleet company must maintain an accident register for 3 years after the date of each accident.

Participate and wait for the investigation and compliance review

Depending on the extent of the vehicular damage, whether there’s an injury. It’s the driver’s responsibility of the driver to participate in the investigation. Commercial vehicle accidents especially when found to be non-compliant can affect the business or if there is a negligence on the driver’s part can cause the driver’s employment and business certification.

If you're the safety officer and are notified of a vehicular accident that requires your attention, the procedure generally follows the same guideline. However, you will need to complete a Commercial Vehicle Accident Report Form or a similar document that clearly records the details of the accident.

It is also important to include an investigation into the condition of the driver employed by your company. Ensure that both the driver and company standards are properly reviewed. FMCSA outlines these requirements in PART 392—DRIVING OF COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLES, cited in 49 CFR Part 392. The accident could trigger sanctions related to the review of operating rules or driver management.