Transportation Division

I. Transportation - Administration Division

The Transportation Administration Division was created by General Order No. 195.53 of the Public Service Commission of West Virginia dated December 2, 2005. Generally, motor carrier, coal resource transportation system, and hazardous materials registration responsibilities were placed within the new division. The Transportation Administration and the Transportation Enforcement Divisions continue to work closely on a daily basis, one with the other, to accomplish the mission of each respective Division.

The current Transportation Administration Division consists of the Director’s office and three (3) operation sections:

(1) Motor Carrier
(2) Hazardous Material Registration
(3) Coal Resource Transportation System

From time to time, other responsibilities are undertaken by the division.

Motor Carrier

The Motor Carrier Section enforces economic regulations (limited to transportation of passengers, household goods movers and solid waste for rates, territory and registration as it relates to intrastate carriers, and also third party towing for rates only on tows requested by anyone other than the owner or driver of the vehicle).  This Section also enforces safety regulations (adopted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations) over interstate and intrastate commercial motor vehicles (private and for-hire).  The Section is the lead agency for the Motor Carrier State Assistance Program (MCSAP).  The Public Service Commission of West Virginia has been a member of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) since 1983 and the Motor Carrier Section takes a very active part in the Alliance.  A significant portion of this responsibility also is vested with the Transportation Enforcement Division.
The staff of the Motor Carrier Section is responsible for issuing permits and certificates, maintaining insurance records and other administrative operations within the Section.  In addition, an assigned legal representative to the Transportation Administration Division participates is Commission proceedings as well as Motor Carrier cases in various county, state, and federal courts.

Coal Resource Transportation System

During the 2003 Regular Session of the West Virginia Legislature, the Legislature enacted Senate Bill No. 583 which, among other things, transferred weight enforcement responsibility for all commercial motor vehicles from the Division of Highways to the Public Service Commission.  This legislation also enacted an important piece of legislation establishing the Coal Resource Transportation System and empowered the Commission to develop and enforce the system for permitting vehicles upon the CRTS.  The legislation also imposed reporting requirements for coal shippers and receivers, especially upon the Coal Resource Transportation System highways.  Staff established and monitors electronic reports, sale of permits, and issues Notices of Violation that occur upon the system.

Coal Resource Transportation System Hazardous Material Registration

The Transportation Administration Division also is responsible for registration of hazardous material transportation in the State of West Virginia and is responsible for a multi-state project that provides for identification, registration and permitting of commercial motor vehicles transporting such materials in and through the state of West Virginia.

II. Transportation - Enforcement Division

The Transportation Division consists of the Director’s Office and five separate operating Sections:

(1) Safety Enforcement Section
(2) Weight Enforcement Section
(3) Railroad Safety Section
(4) Special Operations Section
(5) Logistics Section

The following sections are responsible for inspections and safety related investigations as well as logistical needs. These safety related responsibilities are carried out by Utility Inspectors.

Safety Enforcement

The Safety Enforcement Section consists of 23 enforcement officers who report to a manager. They enforce economic regulations (limited to the transportation of passengers, household good movers and solid waste for rates, territory and registration, and also third party towing for rates only on tows requested by anyone other than the owner or driver of the vehicle.) This Section also enforces safety regulations (adopted the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations) over interstate and intrastate commercial motor vehicles (private and for-hire). The Section is the lead agency for the Motor Carrier State Assistance Program (MCSAP). The WV Public Service Commission has been a member of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) since December 9, 1983 and the Motor Carrier Section takes a very active part in the alliance.
The non-field staff of the five sections includes administrative, clerical and legal staff. This staff is responsible for day to day administrative functions of these sections. In addition, the legal staff of the sections participates in Commission proceedings as well as in motor carrier cases in various county, state and federal courts.

Weight Enforcement

During the 2003 Regular Session, the Legislature enacted Senate Bill No. 583 which, among other things, transferred weight enforcement responsibility for all commercial motor vehicles from the Division of Highways to the Public Service Commission.
The Weight Enforcement Sections’s field staff consists of 53 enforcement officers and five regional supervisors, who report to a manager. The officers are assigned to territories which, in the aggregate, encompass the entire state. They are assigned to receive, investigate and report on formal and informal complaints. They staff eight permanent weigh stations on the Interstate highway system.
The Weight Enforcement Officers perform weight and oversize inspections of the commercial motor vehicles operated on all state maintained highways. Inspections are performed on a daily basis in the enforcement officer’s assigned work area and at regional road check sites in coordination with Transportation enforcement inspectors. The permanent weight stations are staffed 40 to 50 hours per week depending on personnel available and vehicular traffic.
Both Weight and Safety Sections currently are undergoing administrative and functional consolidation whereby personnel responsibilities will be shared.

Railroad Safety

The Railroad Safety Section is responsible for the administration and enforcement of federal and state safety regulations governing the transportation of persons and property by rail. The Commission’s economic regulation of railroad rates and service standards was abolished by the Staffers Act of 1980. In an effort to reduce the number of grade crossing accidents, the Railroad Safety Section has assumed responsibility for the West Virginia Operation Lifesaver, Inc. program.

Special Operations Section

Special Operations Section, which consists of 11 officers who report to a supervisor, is responsible for conducting safety audits on West Virginia motor carriers involved in interstate commerce. This section also conducts compliance reviews on non-hazardous material intrastate motor carriers.
Special Operations Section is also responsible for the Special Patrol Unit whose function is to address high commercial vehicle accident areas within the state of West Virginia.

Logistics Section

The Logistics Section consists of a manager and support staff of three persons. The responsibility of this section is the procurement and inventory of all supplies and equipment to support the Transportation Enforcement Division. This section also installs and maintains all electronic equipment used by the Transportation Enforcement Division.