PRISM

The Performance and Registration Information Systems Management (PRISM) program links the commercial vehicle registration process to motor carrier safety to achieve two purposes:

The PRISM program includes two major processes - the Commercial Vehicle Registration Process and Enforcement, which work in parallel to identify motor carriers and hold them responsible for the safety of their operation.  The performance of unsafe carriers is improved through a comprehensive system of identification, education, awareness, data gathering, safety monitoring and treatment.

Registration

The International Registration Plan (IRP) commercial vehicle registration process of the states provides the framework for the PRISM program.  It serves two vital functions.  First, it establishes a system of accountability by ensuring that no vehicle is plated without identifying the carrier responsible for the safety of the vehicle during the registration year.  Second, the use of registration sanctions provides powerful incentive for unsafe carriers to improve their safety performance.

The vehicle registration process ensures that all carriers engaged in interstate commerce are uniquely identified through a USDOT number when they register their vehicles.  The safety fitness of each carrier can then be checked prior to issuing vehicle registrations.  Those motor carriers that have been prohibited from operating in interstate commerce by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) may have their ability to register vehicles denied by the State.

Enforcement

The Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Process (MCSIP) is the means by which carrier safety is systematically tracked and improved.  MCSIP is a data-driven process that uses current safety event information such as crashes, inspections, driver violations, compliance review data and other data to assess and monitor motor carrier safety performance.  Safety events are assigned to the motor carrier responsible for the safety of the motor vehicle and are weighted according to severity, frequency and time since the occurrence.

The process is designed to improve the safety performance of carriers with demonstrated poor safety performance through accurate identification, performance monitoring and treatment.

Once the carrier exceeds the bounds of the established safety threshold, the motor carrier enters MCSIP. MCSIP provides opportunities for the motor carriers to improve operations and return to a safe condition.  Within MCSIP, carriers with potential safety problems are identified and prioritized for an on-site review using the Motor Carrier Safety Status (SafeStat) prioritization methodology developed for the PRISM program. A federal operations out-of-service order and concurrent state registration suspension or revocations is the ultimate penalty if there is no improvement in the motor carriers' safety fitness record.

How PRISM affects IRP registration

IRP serves as the framework for the PRISM program.  The USDOT number of the motor carrier responsible for the safety of every vehicle registered must be identified during the registration process as well as the USDOT number of the registrant.

Additionally, an updated MCS-150 form for each identified motor carrier responsible for safety on an IRP account and an updated MCS-150 form for the registrant is required unless the motor carrier and the registrant have each submitted one within 12 months prior to the first day of the renewal period.  Or have updated the information directly on the FMCSA web page at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov.

In many IRP accounts, the registrant that maintains the IRP account and the motor carrier that is responsible for safety are the same.  Table A outlines USDOT number and MCS-150 update requirements associated with PRISM and IRP registration in these instances.

Table A: IRP account registrant and motor carrier responsible for safety of the vehicles are the same.

In some cases the IRP registrant and the motor carrier responsible for the safety of individual vehicles in an account may be different.  The following examples and Table B outline USDOT number and MCS-150 update requirements associated with PRISM and IRP registration in common instances.

Rental/leasing Registration

Rental/leasing companies who register in their own name must provide the USDOT number and copies of updated MSC-150 forms to the registration office for the rental/leasing company and also for all lessees who are responsible for the safety of the vehicles.  The USDOT number for the rental/leasing company should be recorded in Section C (Carrier Information) of the IRP application.  The appropriate USDOT number for the lessee must also be recorded in Section E (Vehicle Information).  If the terms of the lease cover the full registration year, an "N" must be entered in the appropriate box in Section E to indicate safety will not change.

Owner/operators Registration

Owner/operators who register in their own names must obtain a USDOT number for themselves. This number is for registration purposes only and does not provide the owner/operator with his/her own operating authority.  In addition, the owner/operator must provide the USDOT number for the company to whom he/she leases.  Updated copies of the MCS-150 must be submitted for the owner/operator and all companies responsible for safety (the lessees).  The companies must complete the MCS-150 forms themselves.  The owner/operator must record his/her USDOT number in Section C (Carrier Information) of the IRP application.  The USDOT number of the motor carrier responsible for safety must also be entered in the appropriate box in Section E (Vehicle Information).  An "N" or "Y" must be entered in the appropriate box in Section E to indicate whether the term of the lease is as long as the registration year.

Companies using leased vehicles

Companies who use all leased vehicles registered in the name of the lessors (rental/leasing or owner/operators) must provide the lessor with an updated copy of the MCS-150.  The lessor will submit it to the state registration office in order to have the vehicle's registration renewed.

Table B: IRP account registrant and motor carrier responsible for safety of all/some of the vehicles at the time of registration are different.