Quick Answer
- The investigating officer has 10 days to file the CR-3 with TxDOT; the report usually becomes available in TxDOT’s online system within about two weeks of the crash (Tex. Transp. Code § 550.062).
- Injured parties and their authorized representatives can purchase the report online from TxDOT for $6 (regular copy) or $8 (certified copy) once it is processed.
- The old “CR-3C” commercial vehicle supplement is no longer a separate form; commercial vehicle data (carrier ID, USDOT number, vehicle operation status, and more) is built into the standard CR-3 and has been since the 2010 form revision.
- In Bexar County, the investigating agency can be SAPD, TxDPS Highway Patrol, or the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, depending on crash location. Each agency keeps its own copy, which may be available sooner than TxDOT’s system.
Key Takeaways
- The CR-3 (Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report) is the only mandatory statewide crash report in Texas. There is no current separate “CR-3C” form; the commercial vehicle supplement was folded into the main CR-3 around 2010.
- CMV-specific fields within the current 2023 CR-3 include carrier name, USDOT or TxDOT carrier identification number, vehicle operation type (interstate or intrastate commerce), vehicle type, and hazardous materials class.
- The report is confidential under Tex. Transp. Code § 550.065, but injured parties and their attorneys can receive an unredacted copy. The public receives only a redacted version.
- Getting the CR-3 quickly matters, but it is not enough in a commercial vehicle case. ELD data, ECM records, and the carrier’s accident register all have shorter retention windows and must be preserved by letter before the report even arrives.
- The CR-3 cannot be introduced as evidence in a civil trial under Tex. Transp. Code § 550.066, but it is the fastest way to confirm the carrier’s identity, USDOT number, and insurance carrier so your attorney can send preservation letters and verify coverage.
The CR-3 Today: One Report Covers the Commercial Vehicle Data
After a crash involving a commercial truck, delivery vehicle, or other commercial motor vehicle (CMV) on Bexar County roads, the responding officer completes a Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report, Form CR-3. That is the crash report in Texas. There is no separate form to request on top of it.
This surprises many people, because older legal materials and industry references still mention a “CR-3C” (Peace Officer’s Commercial Vehicle Crash Report). That form was real; TxDOT last revised it in June 2008. When TxDOT updated its crash reporting forms for 2010, the commercial vehicle fields were merged directly into the main CR-3. Every CR-3 filed since then captures carrier information, USDOT or TxDOT identification numbers, vehicle type, vehicle operation (interstate or intrastate commerce), and hazmat class in dedicated CMV fields on the form.
The current 2023 CR-3 (effective April 1, 2023) reflects the same structure. Fields 28 through 38 on the CR-3 Code Sheet (Form CR-3CS) cover commercial motor vehicle data. Officers are required to complete those fields when a CMV is involved. Those fields include the carrier ID type (USDOT, TxDOT, or ICC/MC), carrier name, vehicle operation, vehicle type (truck tractor, tractor/semi-trailer, single-unit truck, bus, etc.), and hazardous materials class if applicable.
Attorney Insight: The CMV fields are the first thing to check in a commercial vehicle crash. In cases we handle, a correct USDOT number on the CR-3 lets us run the carrier’s Safety Measurement System (SMS) profile, confirm active insurance, identify the motor carrier and policy limits, and get a preservation letter out the same day. An incorrect or missing USDOT number means additional steps. Officers sometimes leave CMV fields blank, enter a local truck identification instead of the federal USDOT number, or list the operating driver’s employer rather than the actual registered motor carrier. Always cross-check what is on the CR-3 against the FMCSA SAFER database.
When Is the Report Filed and How Long Until You Can Get It?
Texas Transportation Code § 550.062 requires a law enforcement officer to submit the CR-3 to TxDOT no later than the 10th day after the crash. Once TxDOT receives the report, it can take up to an additional four business days to process. That gives a practical outside window of about two weeks before the report shows up in TxDOT’s Crash Report Online Purchase System.
Two things can extend that window. First, if the crash was complex or involved a fatality, the officer may use the full ten-day period and may later file a supplemental report to update injury severity codes. Second, TxDOT processes reports as they come in; high-volume periods can slow the queue slightly. If a search on TxDOT’s system returns no results shortly after the crash, try again in a few days.
The faster path in many Bexar County cases is to contact the investigating agency directly. SAPD, TxDPS Highway Patrol, and the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office each keep their own copy of the CR-3. Those agencies can often provide a copy within days of filing, sometimes before the report clears TxDOT’s processing cycle. Each agency has its own records request procedure, typically by phone, in-person visit, or online portal.
Three Ways to Get the CR-3 on a Commercial Vehicle Crash in Bexar County
| Method | Typical Timeline | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| TxDOT Online Purchase System (cris.txdot.gov) | About 2 weeks after crash (10-day officer deadline + up to 4-day TxDOT processing) | $6 regular; $8 certified | Standard purchase; report delivered by email after payment |
| Direct request to investigating agency (SAPD, TxDPS, BCSO) | Often 3-7 business days after the officer files | Varies by agency; typically similar copy fees | Fastest option; also retrieves dash-cam video, field notes, photos (not available from TxDOT) |
| TxDOT CRIS subpoena or affidavit system (litigation) | Affidavit: 10 business days; Subpoena: 20 business days | $8 per request (plus minimal surcharge) | Formal litigation records; certified and attested copies for court use |
For active commercial vehicle injury cases, many attorneys request from both TxDOT and the investigating agency at the same time. TxDOT holds the official custodial record; the investigating agency may have supplemental documentation (photos, body camera footage, field notes) that TxDOT does not.
Which Bexar County Agency Investigated Your Crash?
Knowing the right agency to contact saves time. In Bexar County, crash investigation jurisdiction depends on where the crash happened:
- San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) handles crashes on city streets within the City of San Antonio limits.
- Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS) Highway Patrol handles crashes on state highways and interstates, including I-10, I-35, US-281, Loop 1604, and Loop 410, regardless of whether those roads pass through city limits.
- Bexar County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) handles crashes in unincorporated areas of Bexar County that are not on state highways and not within a city jurisdiction.
Commercial vehicle crashes on I-10 or I-35 through San Antonio, which are major trucking corridors, are almost always investigated by TxDPS. If you are unsure which agency responded, the dispatch center that took the 911 call can direct you. Keep in mind that a single crash may involve multiple agencies on scene, but typically one agency takes primary reporting responsibility and files the CR-3.
Who Has Access to the Unredacted CR-3?
Texas crash reports are confidential under Tex. Transp. Code § 550.065. The general public can receive only a redacted copy. An unredacted copy is available to persons directly involved in the crash, including injured parties, vehicle owners, their authorized representatives, their attorneys, and applicable insurers. That means an injured person and their legal counsel can request the full, unredacted report, including all commercial vehicle fields, without any special proceeding.
If you do not meet the criteria under § 550.065(c), TxDOT will issue a redacted copy. The redacted version omits personal identifying information but still includes the factual narrative of the crash, vehicle information, and many of the CMV fields. Attorneys representing injured parties qualify under subsection (c)(2) as authorized representatives and receive the complete unredacted report.
Attorney Insight: “Confidential” here does not mean secret. It means the report is not open to the general public for any purpose, which is a meaningful distinction. Adjusters and defense attorneys for the trucking company can also obtain the report, and they will. Getting it first and reviewing it before the carrier’s team does can matter, especially if CMV fields were left blank or a carrier identification number was entered incorrectly.
The CR-3 Is the Starting Point, Not the Finish Line
In a commercial vehicle case, the CR-3 is the document that gets the investigation moving, not the document that ends it. Here is the order of operations that follows getting the report:
- Pull the USDOT or TxDOT carrier number from the CMV fields and run it through FMCSA’s SAFER system (safer.fmcsa.dot.gov) to verify the carrier’s registered name, insurance, and safety history.
- Confirm insurance coverage and policy limits. Use the USDOT number to pull the carrier’s MCS-90 endorsement or TxDOT Form E on file with TxDMV.
- Send a spoliation and preservation letter to the motor carrier immediately covering ELD data, ECM/black box data, dash-cam recordings, driver qualification file, drug and alcohol test results, hours-of-service logs, and maintenance records. ELD overwrites older data; ECM data can be purged. These records do not wait for the CR-3 timeline.
- Check the carrier’s accident register (49 CFR 390.15). Motor carriers are required to keep a register of all crashes for three years. This register can reveal a pattern of incidents that the CR-3 alone will not show. Cross-referencing it with the driver’s hours-of-service logs often surfaces fatigue-related patterns.
- Review the CR-3 CMV fields against the SAFER profile and flag discrepancies. A carrier operating under a different name than registered, a lapsed MCS-90, or a unit type mismatch can each affect liability and coverage.
- Request the investigating agency’s complete file, including field notes, scene photographs, and any body-camera or dash-camera recordings. TxDOT does not hold these; they must come directly from the law enforcement agency.
Why Commercial Vehicle Crash Reports Need a Lawyer’s Review
A CR-3 in a commercial vehicle case names a driver. In our experience representing injured Texans, a driver’s name is the beginning, not the end of the liability analysis. Motor carrier cases can involve the driver, the registered operating carrier, the trailer owner, a broker, a freight shipper, a maintenance contractor, or a combination of these parties. Each party may carry separate insurance, and those policies may have very different limits. Identifying them all starts with the USDOT number on the CR-3 and builds out from there. Ryan Orsatti Law handles commercial vehicle accident cases for injured people and families across San Antonio and throughout Texas. In serious truck and 18-wheeler crash cases, the firm reviews the CR-3 alongside the FMCSA safety profile, available carrier records, and physical evidence to map the full scope of liability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the CR-3 shows no commercial vehicle fields even though a truck was involved?
Officers are required to complete CMV fields when a commercial motor vehicle is part of the crash. If those sections are blank or incomplete, the report may need to be supplemented. A supplemental CR-3 can be filed by the investigating officer to correct or add information. An attorney can contact the investigating agency and request that missing fields be completed or flagged for correction, particularly the USDOT carrier identification number, which is critical for confirming insurance.
Can the CR-3 be used as evidence in my civil case?
Not directly. Under Tex. Transp. Code § 550.066, the crash report and information in it may not be introduced as evidence in a civil trial or arbitration proceeding. Courts generally treat it as hearsay. Its value in litigation is investigative: identifying parties, confirming carrier numbers, and guiding discovery. The underlying facts in the report may be independently proven through witnesses, physical evidence, and expert testimony.
The report has errors on it. What can I do?
Factual errors (names, vehicle identification numbers, crash location) can often be corrected by contacting the investigating agency and asking the officer to file a supplemental report. The officer decides whether to amend the report; there is no formal guarantee of correction. If the officer declines to change a fault-related conclusion, your attorney can attach a written statement to the record and challenge those conclusions through your own evidence in litigation or pre-litigation proceedings.
Does the CR-3 tell me the trucking company’s insurance limits?
The CR-3 captures the carrier identification number and carrier name when completed correctly, but it does not state policy limits. Once you have the USDOT or TxDOT number from the report, you can check the carrier’s insurance filing on FMCSA’s SAFER database for the insurance company and policy number. Getting actual limits typically requires a formal limits letter request to the insurer or discovery once litigation is filed.
If the investigation is still open, can I still get the report?
Yes, usually. The investigating officer’s deadline to file the initial CR-3 is 10 days regardless of whether a criminal investigation is pending. A supplemental report may follow later if injury severity changes or additional facts are confirmed, but the initial CR-3 is filed on the standard schedule. An open criminal investigation does not suspend the civil crash report system.
Should I wait to call a lawyer until I have the CR-3?
No. The CR-3 timeline (up to two weeks) is too slow for the most time-sensitive evidence in a commercial vehicle case. ELD data can be overwritten in days or weeks, depending on the carrier’s systems. ECM data has similar retention issues. Dash-cam footage may be overwritten on a rolling 72-hour cycle. Getting a lawyer involved immediately allows preservation letters to go out before the CR-3 even arrives. Waiting for the report means evidence is disappearing while you wait.
Source Notes
This post relies on the following primary sources. Links are gathered here rather than scattered throughout the article.
- Tex. Transp. Code § 550.062 (officer’s 10-day filing deadline): statutes.capitol.texas.gov
- Tex. Transp. Code § 550.065 (release of crash record information, fee, and confidentiality): statutes.capitol.texas.gov
- Tex. Transp. Code § 550.066 (inadmissibility of crash report in civil proceedings): statutes.capitol.texas.gov
- 43 Tex. Admin. Code § 25.977 (TxDOT crash reporting requirements for investigating officers): regulations.justia.com
- TxDOT Crash Reports and Records page (fees, online purchase system, subpoena/affidavit timelines): txdot.gov
- TxDOT 2023 Peace Officer’s Crash Report Code Sheet (CR-3CS, CMV fields 28-38): ftp.txdot.gov
- TxDOT CRIS Request System (subpoena and affidavit requests): cris.dot.state.tx.us
- TxDOT Crash Report Online Purchase System: cris.txdot.gov
- FMCSA Safety Measurement System (SMS) carrier profiles: ai.fmcsa.dot.gov
- FMCSA SAFER database (carrier registration, insurance, safety data): safer.fmcsa.dot.gov
- 49 C.F.R. § 390.15 (motor carrier accident register requirements): ecfr.gov
If you were injured in a commercial vehicle crash in San Antonio or anywhere in Texas and have questions about the crash report or the next steps, you can talk through your options with Ryan Orsatti Law in a free consultation. Deadlines apply to Texas injury claims, and evidence in commercial vehicle cases does not wait for the paperwork. Call 210-525-1200 any time, day or night.
Ryan Orsatti Law
4634 De Zavala Rd, San Antonio, TX 78249
Phone: 210-525-1200
ryanorsattilaw.com
This blog is for informational purposes only, not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee future results.
Hurt in an accident in San Antonio? Learn how a San Antonio truck accident lawyer can help with your claim. Call 210-525-1200 or request a free consultation. There is no fee unless we win.
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Primary legal and public-data sources
Ryan Orsatti Law
4634 De Zavala Road, San Antonio, TX 78249
Source links verified August 7, 2026.