WASHINGTON — Truck drivers, motor carriers and others in the trucking industry now have more ways to report safety concerns, suspected fraud and regulatory violations through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) enhanced online complaint center.
The updated platform, now called the FMCSA Complaint Center, was formerly known as the National Consumer Complaint Database (NCCDB).
In a Nov. 6 announcement, FMCSA outlined improvements to its complaint system, including expanded reporting categories covering property brokers, CDL training providers, intermodal equipment providers, and registration-related fraud and identity theft.
According to FMCSA, the latest improvements build on an updated system launched in 2025. The changes are intended to make it easier for drivers, industry professionals and members of the public to report potential violations of federal motor carrier safety and hazardous materials regulations.
More ways to report industry concerns
Among the most notable changes is the addition of complaint categories addressing issues that can directly affect truck drivers and motor carriers.
The expanded system allows users to report suspected violations involving:
• Property brokers: Complaints may involve brokers operating without required authority or registration, misrepresenting their operations or failing to maintain required transaction records.
• CDL training providers: Individuals can report concerns about entry-level driver training programs, including unqualified instructors, failure to follow required curricula and unsafe training vehicles or facilities.
• Registration fraud and identity theft: Carriers can report suspected unauthorized use of their registration information, fraudulent registration applications or attempts to obtain account access through phishing or other deceptive tactics.
• Intermodal equipment providers: Complaints may involve unsafe or improperly maintained equipment, inadequate inspection procedures or failures to address equipment problems before a driver departs.
The new categories expand the scope of the complaint system beyond traditional concerns involving motor carrier safety.
Drivers can also continue reporting employers who pressure them to violate federal safety regulations, including hours-of-service requirements, as well as problems involving unsafe equipment.
Other eligible complaints include potential violations involving electronic logging device providers, drug and alcohol testing service agents and hazardous materials transportation.
FMCSA notes that its jurisdiction over property broker complaints generally involves operating authority and financial responsibility requirements. The complaint center is not intended to resolve every business or payment dispute between carriers and brokers.
The agency has also reorganized its complaint categories, placing medical review officers and substance abuse professionals under a broader Drug and Alcohol Service Agents category.
How to file a complaint
FMCSA has redesigned the complaint center’s website and submission forms and updated its complaint search tool to make the system easier to navigate.
Complaints can be submitted online through the FMCSA Complaint Center or by calling 1-888-DOT-SAFT (1-888-368-7238) between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
The agency encourages individuals to report suspected violations as soon as possible. Complainants do not need to have every detail before filing but should provide as much information as they have available.
FMCSA reviews complaints along with other information to determine whether a company or regulated entity warrants additional scrutiny. However, submitting a complaint does not automatically trigger an investigation or result in enforcement action, a violation or a penalty.
A complete list of reportable issues and examples is available on FMCSA’s eligible complaints webpage.
For emergencies or situations requiring immediate assistance, FMCSA advises calling 911.
Linda Garner-Bunch has been with The Trucker since 2020, picking up the reins as managing editor in 2022. Linda has nearly 40 years of experience in the publishing industry, covering topics from the trucking and automotive industry to employment, real estate, home decor, crafts, cooking, weddings, high school sports — you name it, she’s written about it. She is also an experienced photographer, designer and copy editor who has a heartfelt love for the trucking industry, from the driver’s seat to the C-suite.
