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IMCAC was established in 1996 for the purpose
of improving highway safety. IMCAC determines safety ratings on carriers based on safety
performance data that are either obtained from publicly available sources, or recently
obtained from the carrier and verified as current and accurate by IMCAC. IMCAC AUDITED/Data VERIFIED safety ratings are reliable, consistent and up-to-date, reflecting the motor carrier's current performance record. Carriers that have an interest in demonstrating their safety and reliability to their customers, volunteer to have their operations audited, and receive an IMCAC AUDITED/Data VERIFIED rating.
HOW DOES IMCAC IMPROVE HIGHWAY SAFETY? IMCAC provides a rating on all motor carriers (truck and bus companies) for which data are available. The best class of ratings, those designated AUDITED/Data VERIFIED is based on accident involvement and on confirmation of the carrier’s compliance with regulations and proper management controls. However, IMCAC ratings cannot improve highway safety unless they are considered as part of the customer's hiring criteria. Highway safety will only be improved if you, the carrier customer, factors safety into your hiring decision. IMCAC provides you with the tool -- the IMCAC rating – upon which to base your decision.
WHY USE AN IMCAC RATING? The IMCAC rating is really similar to a credit rating, in that it helps you, the carrier customer, determine what the relative risk may be in hiring a particular carrier. Lending institutions who extend credit to an individual, first determine their credit risk through an evaluation of past history or performance. Similarly, you should not entrust your valuable cargo to a carrier, whether it is passengers, lumber, or anything else, without first evaluating the risks. Though majority of motor carriers do run a safe operation (unlike portrayed in the media) customers need to be able to recognize and avoid carriers with poor safety performance, and to concentrate on those demonstrating superior performance. The IMCAC rating is the easiest way to do this.
CAN YOU GET THIS INFORMATION FROM ANOTHER SOURCE? The Federal Highway Administration (FWHA) does provide public access to some information on carrier safety performance through their SAFER system and through the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS), Motor Carrier Profile. However, this information is not easy to interpret, does not help you to know how a carrier stands relative to other carriers, and unfortunately is sometimes inaccurate and frequently out-of-date. Most of this is due to the limited budget and staff of the FWHA.
CAN’T YOU JUST EXPECT THAT A CARRIER IS SAFE IF IT HAS A LICENSE TO OPERATE? No. The Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Office of Motor Carriers, is an enforcement agency of the Government. Their primary responsibility is to develop and enforce the regulations. Consider the facts:
The Results? Over 350,000 Motor Carriers have never been seen by FHWA! Only the IMCAC rating provides you with a consistent and up-to-date method of evaluating a carrier’s safety.
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