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Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is an administration established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000, pursuant to the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999[i].  The FMCSA was formerly a part of the Federal Highway Administration.  The primary mission of the FMCSA is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.

Activities of the FMCSA contribute to the assignment and maintenance of safety in motor carrier operations as its highest priority through strong enforcement of safety regulations.  The activities of the FMCSA include improving safety information systems and commercial motor vehicle technologies and targeting high-risk carriers and commercial motor vehicle drivers.  The FMCSA ensures strengthening commercial motor vehicle equipment and operating standards, as well as increasing safety awareness.

The following are the functions of the FMCSA:

  • Developing standards to test and license commercial motor vehicle drivers;
  • Collecting and disseminating data on motor carrier safety;
  • Directing resources to improve motor carrier safety;
  • Operating programs for improving safety performance;
  • Removing high-risk carriers from national highways;
  • Coordinating research and development programs to improve the safety of motor carrier operations and commercial motor vehicles and drivers;
  • Providing financial assistance to States for roadside inspections and other commercial motor vehicle safety programs.
  • Supporting the development of unified motor carrier safety requirements and procedures throughout North America.
  • Participating in international technical organizations and committees in order to help share the best practices in motor carrier safety.
  • Enforcing regulations to ensure safe highway transportation of hazardous materials.

 

In order to accomplish these missions, the FMCSA works hand-in-hand with Federal, State, and local enforcement agencies, the motor carrier industry, labor safety interest groups, and others.

The FMCSA has established a task force for identifying and investigating carriers of household goods that have exhibited a substantial pattern of consumer abuse.  The FMCSA has implemented new training requirements for commercial drivers who pull two or more trailers or semi-trailers on interstate highways.

Pursuant to the requirement, drivers wishing to operate longer combination vehicles should complete a driver training program provided by qualified instructors.  However, this requirement shall not be applicable to drivers who have been operating longer combination vehicles for the past two years and have a safe driving record, but they should be issued a “Certificate of Grandfathering” to prove their exempt status.

The FMCSA shall consist of an Administrator, Deputy Administrator, and an Assistant Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator.  The head of the FMCSA, the administrator, shall be appointed by the President in consultation with and consent of the Senate and shall be an individual with professional experience in motor carrier safety.  The Administrator shall report directly to the Secretary of Transportation[ii].

The FMCSA shall have a Deputy Administrator appointed by the Secretary, with the approval of the President.  The Deputy Administrator shall carry out duties and powers prescribed by the Administrator.  The Assistant Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator shall be appointed in the competitive service by the Secretary with the approval of the President.  This Assistant Administrator shall be the Chief Safety Officer of the Administration and shall carry out the duties and powers authorized to him/her by the Administrator[iii].

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[i] 49 USCS § 113.

[ii] Id.

[iii] Id.


Inside Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)