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About FMCSA > Key FMCSA Programs
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Border and International Safety
FMCSA supports the development of compatible motor carrier safety requirements and procedures throughout North America. FMCSA works closely with the governments of Canada and Mexico to ensure that these countries' motor carriers, drivers, and vehicles operating in the United States (U.S.) meet the same safety standards as U.S. carriers.
FMCSA develops, monitors, and ensures compliance with the commercial driver licensing standards for drivers, carriers, and States.
COMPASS is a multi-year effort to modernize FMCSA's Safety Systems by integrating new information technologies with improved FMCSA business processes. Want to know more? Click here.
Just as builders would not undertake the construction of a house or an office building without a well-documented architectural blueprint, so too an agency should not undertake the development of information technology (IT) systems without a detailed, documented plan, or "blueprint." For FMCSA, that blueprint is called Enterprise Architecture.
FMCSA develops, maintains, and enforces Federal regulations that promote carrier safety, industry productivity, and new technologies. FMCSRs establish safe operating requirements for commercial vehicle drivers, carriers, vehicles, and vehicle equipment.
FMCSA enforces HMRs, which are designed to ensure the safe and secure transportation of hazardous materials. These rules address the classification of hazardous materials, proper packaging, employee training, hazard communication, and operational requirements.
FMCSA regulates interstate household goods movers and requires them to register with the agency. FMCSA has developed a Web site, www.ProtectYourMove.gov, to assist consumers moving across State lines. We also have a toll-free hotline (1-888-368-7238) and Web site, nccdb.fmcsa.dot.gov, for consumer complaints on interstate movers.
The mission of the FMCSA
Medical Program is to promote the safety of America's roadways through
the publication and implementation of medical regulations, policies and standards that ensure
commercial motor vehicle drivers engaged in interstate commerce are physically qualified to do so.
A Federal grant program that provides States with financial assistance to hire staff and implement strategies to enforce FMCSRs and HMRs. MCSAP funds are used to conduct roadside inspections and review motor carriers' compliance with FMCSRs and HMRs. MCSAP funds promote detection and correction of commercial motor vehicle safety defects, commercial vehicle driver deficiencies, and unsafe motor carrier practices before they become contributing factors to crashes and hazardous materials incidents.
Motor Carrier Safety Identification and Information Systems
FMCSA provides safety data, State and national crash statistics, current analysis results, and detailed motor carrier safety performance data to industry and the public. This data allows Federal and State enforcement officials to target inspections and investigations on higher risk carriers, vehicles, and drivers.
FMCSA ensures that new entrant motor carriers (carriers applying for a new USDOT number) are knowledgeable about applicable Federal motor carrier safety and hazardous materials regulations. There is an 18-month monitoring period for new applicants, which requires the 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.
A Federal-State partnership that makes safe performance a requirement for obtaining and keeping commercial vehicle registration. PRISM links Federal motor carrier safety records with the State's vehicle registration system. The USDOT number of the carrier responsible for safety is identified at the vehicle level allowing the State to determine a carrier's safety fitness before issuing license plates. Safety performance is continuously monitored, and carriers prohibited by FMCSA from operating in interstate commerce may have their ability to register vehicles denied. PRISM plays a key role in FMCSA's effort to remove high-risk carriers from our highways.
R&A 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.
Safety Education and Outreach
FMCSA 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.
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