Public Resource Page
Recordkeeping Requirements
The general documentation and recordkeeping duties every motor carrier operates under.
The Baseline Paperwork Rule
49 CFR Part 390, Subpart B sets the general recordkeeping and documentation duties every motor carrier operates under — USDOT number display, accident register maintenance, making records available to enforcement on request, and rules for keeping legible copies instead of originals. Most of the document-specific rules elsewhere in the FMCSRs (driver files, HOS logs, inspection reports) point back to this subpart for the general "how records must be kept" rules.
Where Most Carriers Get Tripped Up
It's rarely that a carrier has no records — it's that records aren't available fast enough, aren't legible, or the accident register is missing an entry. Since accident recordkeeping is one of the most commonly cited gaps here, the blank register template below is worth having on hand even outside of an active audit.
Free Resources
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49 CFR Part 390, Subpart B — General Requirements and Information
eCFR
The baseline federal recordkeeping, record-availability, and documentation rules every motor carrier operates under.
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Accident Register (Blank Template)
FMCSA / CSA Safety Planner
A ready-to-use spreadsheet template covering one of the most commonly cited recordkeeping gaps under this subpart.