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1
An Introduction to the Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Administration
2
Who We Are

• A separate administration within the U.S.
• Department of Transportation.
• Created to reduce crashes, injuries and
  fatalities involving large trucks and buses
• Headquartered in Washington, D.C.
• Over 1,000 employees in all 50 states
  (including Washington, D.C.)

3
What We Do

• Develop and enforce data-driven regulations
  that balance safety with efficiency
• Harness safety information systems to focus on
  higher risk carriers
• Target educational messages to carriers,
  commercial drivers and the public

4
Key Programs of the FMCSA

• Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program
• Performance Registration Information Systems
  Management (Prism)
• Research and Technology
• Border and International Safety
• Safety Education and Outreach
• Household Goods Program

• Federal Motor Safety Regulations
• Hazardous Materials Regulations
• Commercial Drivers License Program
• Motor Carrier Safety Identification and
  Information Systems
• New Entrant Safety Assurance Process

5
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs)

• FMCSA develops, maintains and enforces federal
  regulations that promote carrier safety,
  industry productivity and new technologies
• Establishes safe operating requirements for
  commercial vehicle drivers, carriers, vehicles
  and equipment

6
Hazardous Material Regulations (HMRs)

• These are rules designed to ensure the safe
  and secure transportation of hazardous
  materials by addressing
• Classification of hazardous materials
• Proper packaging
• Employee training
• Hazard communication
• Operational requirements

7
Commercial Drivers License Program

• FMCSA develops, monitors and ensures
  compliance with the commercial driver licensing
  standards for drivers, carriers and States.

8
Motor Carrier Safety Identification and
Information Systems

• Provides safety data to the industry and the
  public, such as
• State and national crash statistics
• Current analysis results
• Detailed motor carrier safety performance data
• This data allows officials to target inspections
  and investigations on higher risk carriers,
  vehicles and drivers.

9
New Entrant Safety Assurance Process

• Ensures that new entrant motor carriers are
  knowledgeable about FMCSRs and HMRs
• 18-month monitoring period requires carrier to
  pass a safety audit and maintain safe
  operations to receive permanent USDOT
  registration
• New entrant motor carriers that fail to
  maintain adequate basic safety management
  controls may have their temporary USDOT
  registration revoked

10
Motor Carrier Safety Assurance Program (MCSAP)

• Federal grant program that provides states with
  financial assistance to hire staff and implement
  strategies to enforce FMCSRs and HMRs. Funds are
  used to
• Conduct roadside inspections and review motor
  carriers compliance with regulations
• Promote detection and correction of safety
  defects, driver deficiencies and unsafe motor
  carrier practices

11
Performance Registration Information Systems
Management (PRISM)

• A Federal-State partnership that makes safe
  performance a requirement for obtaining and
  keeping commercial vehicle registration.
• PRISM plays a key role in FMCSAs effort to
  remove high-risk carriers from our highways.

12
Performance Registration Information Systems
Management (PRISM)

• Links Federal motor carrier safety records with
  the States vehicle registration system
• The USDOT number of the carrier responsible for
  safety is identified at the vehicle level (before
  license plates are issued).
• Carriers prohibited by FMCSA from operating in
  interstate commerce may have their ability to
  register vehicles denied.

13
Research and Technology (RT)

• RT work is aimed at gaining fundamental and
  applied knowledge in order to develop new
  methods and technologies to enhance truck and
  bus safety and security.

14
Border and International Safety

• Supports the development of compatible motor
  carrier safety requirements and procedures
  throughout North America
• Works closely with the governments of Canada
  and Mexico to ensure that these countries
  motor carriers, drivers and vehicles meet the
  same safety standards as U.S. carriers

15
Safety Education Outreach

• Implements educational strategies to increase
  motor carrier compliance with the safety
  regulations and reduce the likelihood of a
  commercial vehicle crash
• Messages are aimed at all highway users
  including passenger car drivers, truck
  drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists.

16
Household Goods Program

• Regulates interstate household goods movers
  and requires them to register with the agency.
• FMCSA has developed a Web site to assist
  consumers moving across State lines
• http//www.fmcsa.dot.gov/factsfigs/moving.h
  tm
• 24-hour toll-free hotline [phone]
• Web site for consumer complaints
• http//www.1-888-dot-saft.com

17
For More Information

• MAIL Federal Motor Carrier Safety
  Administration 400 Seventh Street, SW
  Washington, DC 20590
• PHONE
• [phone]
• INTERNET
• http//www.fmcsa.dot.gov

18
In Conclusion

• Presently we are updating the current Spanish
  Website in order to better serve Mexico-based
  motor carriers that are and will be operating
  in the U.S.
• The mission of the FMCSA is to prevent
  commercial motor vehicle- related fatalities and
  injuries.