FMCSA Performance and Registration Information Systems Management (PRISM)

PRISM is a key component to FMCSA's mission and improves highway safety by partnering with states to create a safety mechanism to identify and immobilize motor carriers that are prohibited from operation by FMCSA due to a Federal Out-of-Service order. PRISM enforces a safety standard to incentivize motor carriers that are prohibited from operating by FMCSA to correct their safety deficiencies to continue operating, or face state registration and law enforcement sanctions. State CMV registration agencies, mainly the International Registration Plan (IRP) upload registration data to the Safety and Fitness Electronic Records (SAFER) database daily. This data allows FMCSA to link the motor carrier’s safety fitness to their vehicle registration, bringing safety down to the vehicle level. FMCSA disseminates this combined Federal and State safety data known as the “PRISM Target file” back to the States to support their daily PRISM enforcement activities and improve highway safety of interstate motor carriers.