Historical textIn force on Sept. 30, 2004Source: annual CFR editions 1996–2003

§ 385.5 Safety fitness standard.

Wording first on file in the 1996 annual edition, superseded by the 2004 annual edition.

govinfo, 2003 edition ↗

Compare with

Before Jan. 1, 2017 the record is one snapshot per annual CFR edition, revised as of October 1. This is the 2003 edition's wording. An amendment that took effect between Oct. 1, 2003 and Sept. 30, 2004 would not appear until the next edition, so check the citations below and the Federal Register for exact effective dates.

49 CFR § 385.5 — Safety fitness standard.. Text in force on September 30, 2004. This wording effective October 1, 1996 to October 1, 2004. Source: govinfo, 2003 edition, https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/CFR-2003-title49-vol4/CFR-2003-title49-vol4-sec385-5. Retrieved from FMCSR.com, https://fmcsr.com/reg/385.5?asof=2004-09-30, on October 26, 2026. Unofficial compilation; verify against the official source.

The satisfactory safety rating is based on the degree of compliance with the safety fitness standard for motor carriers. To meet the safety fitness standard, the motor carrier shall demonstrate that it has adequate safety management controls in place, which function effectively to ensure acceptable compliance with applicable safety requirements to reduce the risk associated with:

(a) Commercial driver's license standard violations (part 383),

(b) Inadequate levels of financial responsibility (part 387),

(d) Improper use and driving of motor vehicles (part 392),

(e) Unsafe vehicles operating on the highways (part 393),

(f) Failure to maintain accident registers and copies of accident reports (part 390),

(g) The use of fatigued drivers (part 395),

(h) Inadequate inspection, repair, and maintenance of vehicles (part 396),

(i) Transportation of hazardous materials, driving and parking rule violations (part 397),

(j) Violation of hazardous materials regulations (parts 170 through 177), and

(k) Motor vehicle accidents and hazardous materials incidents.

[53 FR 50968, Dec. 19, 1988, as amended at 58 FR 33776, June 21, 1993]

Amendment history

4 distinct wordings on file since Oct. 1, 1996

Oct. 1, 2012 → presentannual editions 2012–2016diff vs. previous
[77 FR 28454, May 14, 2012]
Oct. 1, 2010 → Oct. 1, 2012annual editions 2010–2011diff vs. previous
[75 FR 17241, Apr. 5, 2010]
Oct. 1, 2004 → Oct. 1, 2010annual editions 2004–2009diff vs. previous
[53 FR 50968, Dec. 19, 1988, as amended at 58 FR 33776, June 21, 1993; 69 FR 39367, June 30, 2004]
Oct. 1, 1996 → Oct. 1, 2004annual editions 1996–2003viewing
[53 FR 50968, Dec. 19, 1988, as amended at 58 FR 33776, June 21, 1993]

A new entry appears whenever the regulatory words change between government snapshots. Day-precise from the eCFR (2017 onward); before that, one snapshot per annual CFR edition (revised as of October 1). Bracketed citations are the Federal Register history printed with the section.