What out-of-service means
An out-of-service (OOS) order immediately removes a vehicle, driver, or entire carrier from operation until safety violations are corrected. Truck Graph tracks 63,000 OOS orders in its database. Vehicle OOS is triggered by defects like brake failure, tire condition below minimums, or inoperative lighting. Driver OOS is triggered by hours-of-service violations, CDL issues, or impairment. Carrier-level OOS shuts down an entire fleet — the most severe enforcement action short of authority revocation.
National OOS rates from the data
Based on 5,250,000 inspections in Truck Graph's database: the vehicle OOS rate is 14.5% (approximately 1 in 5 vehicles inspected are found to have safety defects severe enough to be taken off the road), and the driver OOS rate is 5.5%. These are the benchmarks. A carrier with a vehicle OOS rate significantly above 14.5% has worse-than-average maintenance practices. Rates above 30% indicate systemic issues that increase crash risk.
How OOS rates predict crash risk
OOS rates are one of the strongest predictors of future crash involvement in the FMCSA safety measurement system. Truck Graph's composite risk score weights OOS rates at 30% — the highest single factor — because the correlation between maintenance defects and crashes is well-established in the 900,000 crash records in our database. Carriers with OOS rates double the national average are significantly more likely to appear in crash records.
Using OOS rates in carrier vetting
When evaluating a carrier in Truck Graph, compare their OOS rate to the 14.5% national average for vehicles and 5.5% for drivers. A carrier below these benchmarks demonstrates above-average safety performance. Carriers above 30% vehicle OOS rate should be flagged for additional scrutiny. Carriers with fewer than 5 inspections in the past 24 months may not have statistically reliable rates — interpret with caution for small operators.
The connection to revocations and enforcement
Persistently high OOS rates trigger escalating FMCSA enforcement: warning letters, targeted investigations, compliance reviews, and ultimately authority revocation. Of the 650,000 revocations in Truck Graph's database, many were preceded by extended periods of high OOS rates that went unaddressed. Monitoring a carrier's OOS trend over time — not just a single snapshot — reveals whether safety is improving or deteriorating.
Source: FMCSA compliance records. 695,586 carriers, 5,250,000 inspections, 967,983 insurance filings analyzed. View methodology
External references: FMCSA: Commercial Vehicle Safety Data
Frequently asked questions
What is a good out-of-service rate?
Based on 5,250,000 inspections in our database, the national average vehicle OOS rate is 14.5%. Rates below 15% indicate strong maintenance programs. Rates above 30% indicate systemic issues.
How is OOS rate calculated?
OOS Rate = (Inspections with OOS violations ÷ Total inspections) × 100. Truck Graph calculates this from actual inspection records using a 24-month rolling window for individual carriers.
Does a high OOS rate mean the carrier will be shut down?
Not immediately. But consistently high rates trigger FMCSA interventions that can escalate to unsatisfactory safety ratings and ultimately authority revocation. Of 650,000 revocations on record, high OOS rates are a leading indicator.
How many inspections does a carrier need for a reliable OOS rate?
At least 5 inspections in the past 24 months for directional accuracy. For statistical confidence, 10+ inspections are needed. Carriers with fewer inspections should be evaluated using other available data points.
Where does Truck Graph's OOS data come from?
All inspection and OOS data comes from FMCSA records — 5,250,000 inspections conducted by federal and state safety inspectors at roadside checkpoints, weigh stations, and targeted enforcement operations.