Accidents are an unfortunate reality in the trucking industry. When you operate a fleet of commercial vehicles that spend thousands of miles on the road each year, there is always the possibility that one of your drivers may eventually be involved in a crash. In many cases, these incidents are straightforward and quickly resolved. However, there are situations where a crash may have been truly non-preventable — and if that accident is negatively impacting your CSA scores, it may be possible to challenge it through the FMCSA’s DataQs system.

In this video, we explain how trucking companies can challenge certain crashes, how preventability determinations work, and why properly managing accident documentation is critical for protecting your CSA scores, insurance rates, and business reputation.

Why Crash Preventability Matters

Every reportable crash involving a commercial motor vehicle can impact a carrier’s FMCSA safety profile. When accidents are added to your CSA scores, they may create long-term consequences for your business.

These consequences can include:

• Higher insurance premiums
• Increased CSA scores
• Reduced broker confidence
• Difficulty securing freight
• Increased operational scrutiny
• Potential legal expenses

Because crashes remain visible in the FMCSA Safety Measurement System (SMS) for up to 24 months, even a single preventable accident can continue affecting your business for years.

Understanding Non-Preventable Accidents

Not every accident involving a commercial vehicle is the fault of the truck driver. There are situations where the driver did everything reasonably possible to avoid the collision, yet the accident still occurred.

When a carrier believes a crash was non-preventable, the incident may qualify for review through the FMCSA’s crash preventability determination program.

The first step is determining whether enough evidence exists to prove the incident should be classified as non-preventable.

How CNS Helps Evaluate Crashes

When a trucking company contacts CNS regarding a potential non-preventable crash, the compliance team begins by gathering and reviewing all available accident documentation.

This may include:

• Police reports
• Driver statements
• Witness statements
• Photographs
• Dashcam footage
• Inspection reports
• Crash scene documentation
• Insurance information

The goal is to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to support a successful challenge through the FMCSA’s DataQs system.

If the compliance team believes there is a strong case for non-preventability, they begin gathering the information necessary to formally submit a challenge.

FMCSA Eligibility Requirements

Not every crash qualifies for a preventability review. The FMCSA maintains specific eligibility requirements for accidents that may be considered non-preventable.

Currently, there are 21 crash categories recognized under the FMCSA’s expanded crash preventability program. These categories help determine whether a crash may qualify for review.

Because the rules and qualifications can be complex, carriers should carefully review incidents before investing time and resources into the challenge process.

The DataQs Challenge Process

The FMCSA’s DataQs system allows carriers to request a review of crash information and challenge preventability determinations.

However, the process can be:

• Complicated
• Time-consuming
• Documentation-heavy
• Slow-moving

Not every submission will be approved, which is why proper case evaluation is extremely important before beginning the process.

CNS helps carriers evaluate whether a challenge is likely to succeed before proceeding with formal submissions.

Why Fighting Preventable Crashes Is Important

Many trucking companies underestimate the long-term financial impact of preventable accidents.

Beyond immediate repair costs and operational disruptions, carriers may also face:

• Legal fees
• Insurance claim settlements
• Increased insurance premiums
• Reduced freight opportunities
• Higher CSA scores
• Damage to business reputation

Luke explains that the average truck accident settlement can reach approximately $74,000, with many settlements ranging from $100,000 to $200,000. Some cases may even exceed $1 million.

When combined with higher insurance costs and reduced freight opportunities, the financial consequences can become overwhelming for small fleets and owner-operators.

Fault Determination vs. Preventability

One of the most misunderstood aspects of crash reviews is the difference between:

• Fault determination
• Preventability determination

Fault Determination

Fault determination focuses on:

• Traffic laws
• Witness statements
• Evidence
• Driver actions
• Police investigations

This determines who was legally responsible for the accident.

Preventability Determination

Preventability is different.

The FMCSA asks whether the commercial driver did everything reasonably possible to avoid the crash.

This means the FMCSA is not simply asking:

“Who caused the accident?”

Instead, they are asking:

“Could the commercial driver have done anything differently to prevent it?”

This standard can make preventability reviews difficult because crashes are automatically classified as preventable by default unless evidence proves otherwise.

Why Documentation Is Critical

Because all crashes begin as preventable by default, strong documentation is one of the most important tools carriers have when protecting CSA scores.

Luke emphasizes the importance of maintaining:

• Accident registers
• Accident files
• Driver reports
• Maintenance records
• Video evidence
• Photographs
• Inspection documentation

Accurate records allow compliance specialists to properly evaluate accidents and determine whether a successful challenge is possible.

Why Professional Assistance Improves Success Rates

DataQs submissions require multiple technical steps, detailed documentation, and careful preparation.

According to the video, carrier service providers like CNS often achieve higher success rates than individual drivers or carriers attempting to manage the process alone.

This is because experienced compliance teams understand:

• FMCSA submission requirements
• Documentation standards
• Preventability qualifications
• Common submission errors
• Regulatory expectations

Even small mistakes during the process can delay or weaken a submission.

CNS Roadside and Incident Report Management Services

To help carriers manage crashes and roadside incidents more effectively, CNS offers roadside and incident report management services.

The process generally includes three major phases:

Step 1: Gather Accident Data

The compliance team collects all available crash documentation and supporting evidence.

Step 2: Review Preventability

The team evaluates the accident to determine whether the crash may qualify as non-preventable.

Step 3: Submit the DataQs Challenge

If appropriate, the team prepares and submits the formal DataQs challenge to the FMCSA.

Protecting Your CSA Scores and Business Reputation

CSA scores impact nearly every part of a trucking operation, including:

• Insurance rates
• Broker relationships
• Freight opportunities
• Customer confidence
• Operational growth

Properly managing accidents and challenging eligible non-preventable crashes can help carriers reduce unnecessary CSA score damage and improve long-term business stability.

Don’t Wait Until Problems Get Worse

The sooner carriers begin documenting accidents and reviewing preventability options, the better their chances of protecting their safety profile and minimizing long-term financial consequences.

If you believe your company has experienced a non-preventable accident, working with experienced DOT compliance specialists can help determine whether a challenge is worth pursuing and improve the likelihood of a successful outcome.

Stay safe out there — and continue protecting your trucking business through proactive compliance and safety management.