PRISM Brochure - Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles ...

PRISM and Enforcement InformationEnforcement is the process by which carrier safetyis systematically tracked and improved. Carriersidentified as needing improvement in safetypractices are entered into the FMCSA MotorCarrier Safety Improvement Process (MCSIP).MCSIP carriers that fail to improve face penaltiesthat are progressively more severe culminating in afederal out-of-service order.Pursuant to Virginia Code § 46.2-609, DMVmay suspend or revoke the vehicle registrationof vehicles associated with a Federal MotorCarrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) out-ofserviceorder. Generally, DMV will revoke theregistration and repossess the license plates ofvehicles operated by a carrier subject to a safetyrelatedFMCSA out-of-service order. If your vehicleregistration is revoked, then your vehicle’s licenseplates cannot be reactivated and registration feeswill not be refunded.Contact InformationIf you have questions relating to PRISM or IRP,please contact DMV Motor Carrier Services at(804) 249-5130 or mcsonline@dmv.virginia.gov.For more information, visit www.dmvNOW.com orwww.fmcsa.dot.gov.DMV 258 (7/1/2014)© Commonwealth of Virginia,Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) 2014.All rights reserved.Virginia Department of Motor VehiclesPost Office Box 27412Richmond, Virginia 23269-0001Please recycle.

Virginia DMV participates in the federalPerformance and Registration Information SystemsManagement (PRISM) program. PRISM is apartnership between the Federal Motor CarrierSafety Administration (FMCSA) and the states topromote and enhance motor carrier safety.PRISM Requirements for InternationalRegistration Plan (IRP)A requirement for the United StatesDepartment of Transportation (USDOT)number and Taxpayer Identification Number(TIN) to be provided for each vehicle beingregistered. The TIN is the Federal EmployerIdentification Number (FEIN) or SocialSecurity Number (SSN). These numbers arefor the carrier that is responsible for the safeoperation of the vehicle.A requirement to specify whether the carrierresponsible for the safety of a vehicle isexpected to change during the registrationyear. If the carrier is not expected tochange, information about the responsiblecarrier is included in a bar code on the IRPregistration card to assist enforcement incompleting vehicle and carrier inspections.Vehicles associated with a carrier that has aninactive USDOT number or has been placedout of service by FMCSA will be deniedIRP registration until the inactive statusor the out of service condition has beensatisfied. The same applies for vehicles thatare subject to a vehicle-level out of serviceorder.Actions You Should Taketo Avoid Service DelaysWhen filing an IRP application ensure thatyou have completed the information aboutthe motor carrier responsible for the safety ofyour vehicle(s).If the carrier responsible for the safeoperation of any vehicle in your fleet doesnot have a USDOT number, the carriershould obtain one now. Apply onlinethrough the FMCSA website www.fmcsa.dot.gov under Registration or Licensing.If the responsible carrier has an outstandingout of service order issued by FMCSA, actionshould be taken to comply the order.If any vehicle in your IRP fleet has anoutstanding out of service order issued byFMCSA, action should be taken to complywith the order.The carrier responsible for the safe operationof any vehicles in the fleet must updatethe USDOT number census informationbiennially. This may be done online throughthe FMCSA website www.fmcsa.dot.gov.How to Determine theCarrier Responsible for SafetyThe motor carrier responsible for safety is theentity that is accountable for things like hoursof-serviceand other safety regulations, drug andalcohol testing, and vehicle maintenance.If the IRP registrant holds that responsibility for allthe vehicles in the registrant’s fleet, the USDOTnumber and TIN for the IRP registrant should belisted for each vehicle.If the IRP registrant only rents or leases its vehicles,the USDOT number of the rentor or lessee shouldbe listed regardless if it is a short term or long termlease.If the IRP registrant is an owner operator thatalways operates under another company’sinterstate operating authority, the USDOT numberof the carrier holding the authority should be listedregardless if it is a short term or long term lease.If the IRP registrant is a valid interstate motorcarrier, but also rents or leases vehicles to otherinterstate motor carriers who will be responsiblefor their safe operation, the following instructionsshould be followed when providing the USDOTnumber and TIN of the carrier responsible for thesafety of the individual rented or leased vehicles:Short Term Lease – if the vehicle will be rentedor leased for less than 30 days to an interstatemotor carrier, enter the IRP registrant’s USDOTnumber and TIN.Long Term Lease – if the vehicle will be leasedfor 30 days or more to an interstate motorcarrier, enter the lessee’s USDOT number andTIN.When a lease on a vehicle is changed, especiallywhen changed to a long term lease, you’reencouraged to submit an IRP application toupdate the motor carrier responsible for safety.We will issue a replacement registration cardwhich will help to ensure that safety related eventsare assigned to the proper carrier.