Notice

Agency Information Collection Activities; Information Collection Renewal: Crash Causal Factors Program: Knowledge of Systems and Processes

A Notice by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on 03/17/2026

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• Public Inspection Published Document: 2026-05137 (91 FR 12896) Document Headings ###### Department of Transportation

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

1. [Docket No. FMCSA-2026-0430]

AGENCY:

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FMCSA requests approval to renew an information collection request (ICR) titled, Crash Causal Factors Program: Knowledge of Systems and Processes.” This ICR relates to the “Study of Commercial Motor Vehicle Crash Causation,” mandated by Congress in the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act (IIJA). To meet Congressional requirements, FMCSA established the Crash Causal Factors Program (CCFP) to conduct in-depth research to better understand the key factors that contribute to crashes involving large trucks and buses. Phase 1 of the CCFP, the Heavy-Duty Truck Study, focuses on fatal crashes involving heavy-duty (Class 7/8) trucks. This ICR renewal covers Phase 2, the Medium-Duty Truck Study, which will focus on crashes involving medium-duty (Class 3 through 6) trucks. To plan and execute the Medium-Duty Truck Study, FMCSA must collect information from the States and local jurisdictions to understand their interest or ability to participate in the study; existing crash data collection processes, systems, and resources; and commercial motor vehicle (CMV) enforcement funding mechanisms and sources. The IC is scheduled to expire on August 31, 2026.

DATES:

Comments on this notice must be received on or before May 18, 2026.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments identified by Docket Number FMCSA-2026-0430 using any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail: Dockets Operations; U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, W58-213, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
• Hand Delivery or Courier: Dockets Operations, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, W58-213, Washington, DC, 20590-0001 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 366-9317 or (202) 366-9826 before visiting Dockets Operations.
• Fax: (202) 493-2251. To avoid duplication, please use only one of these four methods. See the “Public Participation and Request for Comments” portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for instructions on submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kelly Stowe, Office of Research, Crash Data Analytics Division, DOT, FMCSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001; 617-386-6807; kelly.stowe@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Instructions

All submissions must include the Agency name and docket number. For detailed instructions on submitting comments, see the Public Participation heading below. Note that all comments received will be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading below.

Public Participation and Request for Comments

If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this notice (FMCSA-2026-0430), indicate the specific section of this document to which your comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or recommendation. You may submit your comments and material online or by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but please use only one of these means. FMCSA recommends that you include your name and a mailing address, an email address, or a phone number in the body of your document so FMCSA can contact you if there are questions regarding your submission.

To submit your comment online, go to https://www.regulations.gov/​docket/​FMCSA-2026-0430/​document, click on this notice, click “Comment,” and type your comment into the text box on the following screen.

If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no larger than 8
1/2
by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing.

FMCSA will consider all comments and material received during the comment period.

Privacy Act

In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the public to better inform its regulatory process. DOT posts these comments, including any personal information the commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov as described in the system of records notice DOT/ALL 14 (Federal Docket Management System (FDMS)), which can be reviewed at https://www.transportation.gov/​individuals/​privacy/​privacy-act-system-records-notices. The comments are posted without edits and are searchable by the name of the submitter.

Background

On December 27, 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Pub. L. 116-260), was signed into law, appropriating $30 million to FMCSA to “carry out [a] study of the cause[s] of large truck crashes.” On November 14, 2021, the President signed into law the IIJA (Pub. L. 117-58), which contains requirements for a larger study under section 23006, “Study of Commercial Motor Vehicle Crash Causation.” The requirements under section 23006 define the scope of the study to include all CMVs as defined in 49 U.S.C. 31132.

Section 23006(b)(1) of IIJA requires the Secretary to “carry out a comprehensive study to determine the causes of, and contributing factors to, crashes that involve a commercial motor vehicle.” Section 23006(b)(2) further requires the Secretary to:

A. Identify data requirements, data collection procedures, reports, and any other measures that can be used to improve the ability of States and the Secretary to evaluate future crashes involving CMVs;

B. Monitor crash trends and identify causes and contributing factors; and

C. Develop effective safety improvement policies and programs.

To meet the requirements of Section 23006, FMCSA established the CCFP. ( printed page 12897) Through the CCFP, FMCSA is conducting in-depth research to better understand the key factors that contribute to crashes involving large trucks and buses. Phase 1 of the CCFP, the Heavy-Duty Truck Study, is focusing on fatal crashes involving heavy-duty (Class 7/8) trucks. [1 ] Study data will be collected over a 2-year period. This information collection (IC) renewal covers Phase 2, the Medium-Duty Truck Study, which will focus on crashes involving medium-duty (Class 3 through 6) trucks. [2 ] Future phases of the study will focus on different CMV populations (such as passenger carriers) or crash severities (i.e., serious injury crashes).

Congress anticipated that FMCSA would need to consult with the States and a variety of other experts when planning and executing the study, as noted in section 23006(d), which reads: “In designing and carrying out the study, the Secretary may consult with individuals or entities with expertise on—

1. Crash causation and prevention;

2. Commercial motor vehicles, commercial drivers, and motor carriers, including passenger carriers;

3. Highways and noncommercial motor vehicles and drivers;

4. Federal and State highway and motor carrier safety programs;

5. Research methods and statistical analysis; and

6. Other relevant topics, as determined by the Secretary.”

This IC will collect data from Federal, State, and local highway and motor carrier safety programs. It will focus on identifying and documenting States' and local jurisdictions' interest in participating in the study; agreements that the States or jurisdictions will require to participate in the study; existing crash data collection processes, systems, tools, training, and quality control processes; and CMV enforcement funding mechanisms and sources.

How the Agency Will Use Collected Information

FMCSA will use collected information from four ICs:

IC-1: Identifying Points of Contact

IC-2: Sample Design; Partnerships and Coordination

IC-3: Crash Data Collection

IC-4: CMV Enforcement Resources and Funding

Information collected under these four ICs will inform various elements of the study plan, including the sample design, data collection plans, participation agreements, resourcing plans, and development of the study database. Below are additional details on how FMCSA will use collected information to develop various study plan elements.

IC-1: Identifying Points of Contact

Before collecting information for ICs 2, 3, and 4, FMCSA will first need to identify the appropriate points of contact in each State/jurisdiction for the remaining IC components. Once FMCSA obtains contact information from the States, the Agency will distribute a web-based survey for IC-2, IC-3, and IC-4 to the relevant point of contact in each State or jurisdiction. Below are additional details on how FMCSA will use collected information to develop various study plan elements.

IC-2: Sample Design; Partnerships and Coordination

The original Large Truck Crash Causation Study conducted from 2001 through 2003 leveraged the sample design from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) National Automotive Sampling System (NASS) Crashworthiness Data System (CDS). NHTSA has since replaced the system with the Crash Investigation Sampling System (CISS). [3 ] Both NASS CDS and CISS are focused on crashes involving passenger vehicles (i.e., passenger cars, light trucks, vans, and utility vehicles). IIJA mandated NHTSA to upgrade CISS to include additional program sites, an expanded scope to include all crash types, and add on-scene investigation protocols. In 2024, NHTSA deployed the first phase of the CISS modernization by increasing its data collection sites from 32 to 40, expanding the scope of data collection, and investigating crashes involving non-motorists and motorcyclists. [4 ] Future phases may include crashes involving vehicles greater than 10,000 pounds and an on-scene (rapid response) data collection effort. While NHTSA is working to expand CISS data collection efforts, CISS was not designed to collect data on a representative sample of crashes involving CMVs, which is considered a rare population. In a discussion on special crash populations in the 2019 sample design and weighting documentation for CISS, [5 ] NHTSA stated that “[t]he most efficient way to study a rare population is to design a special study that solely targets that particular rare population.” Due to current limitations of the CISS methodology, FMCSA developed a new sample design for the Heavy-Duty Truck Study and plans to update that design for the Medium-Duty Truck Study. FMCSA will coordinate with NHTSA where feasible to account for potential overlap with planned CISS modernization efforts.

To allow for a nationally representative sample design, the Agency will need to identify an appropriate mix of State and local jurisdictions. Participating States and local jurisdictions will be asked to collect and share the required study data and troubleshoot study-related issues as they arise. The information collected under IC-2 will inform the sample design for this study. It will also provide important information about State- or local jurisdiction-required participation and data sharing agreements.

IC-3: Crash Data Collection

FMCSA is planning to leverage existing State and local jurisdiction resources (where possible) to collect required study data. This will be a complex effort that will require substantial information sharing and coordination between participating States/jurisdictions and FMCSA.

Under IC-3, FMCSA will seek to learn more about the data elements that State and local jurisdictions are already collecting; State and local jurisdiction medium-duty truck crash reporting criteria and notification systems; State and local jurisdiction crash data collection systems and processes (e.g., what systems exist, who owns the system(s), the data flow from roadside to the system, whether the system can interface with other systems, etc.); existing crash data collection trainings offered by the State/jurisdiction; existing State/jurisdiction crash data collection tools; and crash data quality reviews that States and local jurisdictions currently conduct. While ( printed page 12898) FMCSA will build on insights gained from the Heavy-Duty Truck Study, the Agency seeks updated information because some States and local jurisdictions may have changed their data collection processes or they may differ for medium-duty trucks. The Agency will use this information to inform the study crash data collection plan and requirements for the study database.

IC-4: CMV Enforcement Resources and Funding

FMCSA must collect information from States and local jurisdictions to understand whether existing CMV enforcement resources can meet the study needs, and if not, to determine how much additional funding or resources jurisdictions will require to collect the necessary data. IC-4 will identify available CMV enforcement resources within States/jurisdictions, funding sources for existing CMV enforcement resources and activities (e.g., State-funded versus FMCSA grant-funded), and whether there is a mechanism for the local jurisdiction to receive study funding through FMCSA's grant programs (i.e., as a sub-grantee). Information collected under IC-4 will also inform FMCSA resourcing plans outside of the States/jurisdictions (e.g., whether the Agency will need to hire third-party interviewers to interview involved drivers, motor carriers, and witnesses).

Method of Collection

FMCSA will collect the required information for IC-1 via email. For ICs 2, 3, and 4, FMCSA will leverage a web-based survey application combined with a document sharing platform (e.g., Google, Huddle) or email (if needed) to collect information. FMCSA believes that all respondents will have State or local government-provided information technology equipment (e.g., laptops, mobile devices, etc.) and internet access; as such, the Agency believes electronic submissions will be most cost-effective and efficient for respondents (as opposed to mail-based submissions or some other means). FMCSA estimates that 100 percent of submissions will be electronic.

Results of Data Collection

FMCSA does not plan to publish results from this data collection. Results from this data collection, which will be descriptive and/or qualitative in nature, will inform the study sample design, participation agreements, data collection plans, resource plans, and study database requirements. No complex analytical techniques will be used. Final results from the overall study, once completed, will be published in a final study report. Study findings will ultimately provide new information resources that motor carriers, States, safety advocacy groups, FMCSA, and others can use to develop effective, targeted strategies to reduce crashes. As part of the CCFP, this IC supports DOT's and FMCSA's heightened effort to address the rising number of fatal crashes and reduce roadway fatalities.

Title: Crash Causal Factors Program: Knowledge of Systems and Processes.

OMB Control Number: 2126-0079.

Type of Request: IC Renewal Request.

Respondents: State and local Government employees (first-line supervisors of police and detectives; police and sheriff's patrol officers; general and operations managers; chief executives; computer and information systems managers; and computer and mathematical operations workers).

Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,160 respondents.

Estimated Time per Response: 2 hours per response for IC-1, 2.5 hours per response for IC-2, 3.83 hours per response for IC-3, 1.67 hours per response for IC-4.

Expiration Date: August 31, 2026.

Frequency of Response: Once for IC-1 and IC-2; no more than once annually for IC-3 and IC-4.

Estimated Total Annual Burden: 9,127.5 hours total, or 3,042.5 hours annually (215.5 annual hours for State computer and information systems managers + 495 annual hours for local computer and information systems managers + 112 annual hours for State police and sheriff's patrol officers + 210 annual hours for local police and sheriff's patrol officers + 293.5 annual hours for State first-line supervisors of police and detectives + 705 annual hours for local first-line supervisors of police and detectives + 42.5 annual hours for State general and operations managers + 125 annual hours for local general and operations managers + 42.5 annual hours for State chief executives + 125 annual hours for local chief executives + 181.5 annual hours for State computer and mathematical operations workers + 495 annual hours for local computer and mathematical operations workers = 3,042.5 annual hours).

Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of this information collection, including: (1) whether the proposed collection is necessary for the performance of FMCSA's functions; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) ways for FMCSA to enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the collected information; and (4) ways that the burden could be minimized without reducing the quality of the collected information. The Agency will summarize or include your comments in the request for OMB's clearance of this IC renewal request.

Issued under the authority of 49 CFR 1.87.

David M. Sutula,

Acting Associate Administrator, Office of Research and Registration.

Footnotes

1.

                     Heavy-duty trucks, or Class 7/8 trucks, have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more. Examples of heavy-duty trucks include truck-tractor semi-trailers, furniture trucks, garbage trucks, and cement trucks.

Back to Citation 2.

                     Medium-duty trucks, or Class 3 through 6 trucks, have a GVWR of 10,001-26,000 pounds. Examples of medium-duty trucks include bucket trucks, box trucks, city delivery vans, and full-size pickup trucks.

Back to Citation 3.

                     NHTSA, Crash Investigation Sampling System: Motor Vehicle Crash Data Collection, accessed February 6, 2026, at *[https://www.nhtsa.gov/​crash-data-systems/​crash-investigation-sampling-system](https://www.nhtsa.gov/crash-data-systems/crash-investigation-sampling-system).*

Back to Citation 4.

                     NHTSA, Overview of the 2024 Crash Investigation Sampling System, accessed February 4, 2026, at *[https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/​Api/​Public/​ViewPublication/​813769](https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813769).*

Back to Citation 5.

                     Zhang, F., Noh, E. Y., Subramanian, R., & Chen, C.L. (2019, September). *Crash Investigation Sampling System: Sample Design and Weighting* (Report No. DOT HS 812 804). Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Accessed February 6, 2026, at *[https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/​Api/​Public/​ViewPublication/​812804](https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812804).*

Back to Citation [FR Doc. 2026-05137 Filed 3-16-26; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P

Published Document: 2026-05137 (91 FR 12896)