What changed in the DataQs process

The new requirements apply to states that receive Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) funding. According to FMCSA:

States must name points of contact for crash and inspection requests, and must review requests filed within three years of an inspection or five years of a crash.
Every decision, especially one where no correction is made, must explain the reasoning, the evidence reviewed and the next step.
Reviews now run in three stages: an initial review that isn’t decided only by the issuing officer when a correction is denied, a reconsideration by independent subject-matter experts, and a final review by a senior decision-maker or independent panel.
Initial reviews must be completed within 21 days, reconsiderations within 21 days and final reviews within 45 days.

The DataQs Help Center adds that states must open a request within seven days, that requestors have 30 days to ask for the next stage, and that the state’s clock pauses while it waits up to 14 days for information it requested. FMCSA’s DataQs fact sheet notes the changes aren’t retroactive: they apply to requests submitted on or after September 18, 2026.

What this means for Arizona carriers

Roadside inspection and crash records feed the public safety data that shippers and brokers look at when they vet a carrier. One inaccurate violation can make a fleet look riskier than it is, and before these changes the review timelines weren’t standardized from state to state. With written deadlines and written reasons, a disputed record from an inspection in Arizona or any other state should get a documented decision within weeks.

For carriers running Phoenix-area lanes on I-10 and I-17, the practical steps are simple. Keep the inspection report, photos and any repair receipts together after every roadside stop. Send all of it with the first request, because the Help Center says new evidence added at a later stage sends the request back to initial review. Put the 30-day escalation window on the calendar. Each state’s implementation plan is posted in the DataQs system, so it’s worth reading Arizona’s before filing. Our carrier safety compliance guide covers the record-keeping habits that make these requests easier.

What this means for shippers

If you’re comparing carriers, a pending or corrected DataQs request is a normal part of keeping safety data accurate, not a red flag by itself. It’s fair to ask a carrier how it handles inspection paperwork and data reviews, especially when you’re setting up dedicated freight lanes you’ll rely on every week.

Connect Express moves dry van freight, flatbed loads and refrigerated shipments from our base at 5701 W Maryland Ave, Glendale, AZ 85301. Questions about a lane? Call 480-401-1998 or email admin@connectexpressllc.com.