Key Programs
FEDERAL MOTOR
CARRIER SAFETY REGULATIONS (FMCSRs)
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.
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
REGULATIONS (HMRs)
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.
COMMERCIAL DRIVER’S
LICENSE PROGRAM
FMCSA develops, monitors, and ensures compliance with the commercial
driver licensing standards for drivers, carriers, and States.
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.
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NEW
ENTRANT SAFETY ASSURANCE PROCESS
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.
MOTOR CARRIER
SAFETY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (MCSAP)
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.
PERFORMANCE &
REGISTRATION INFORMATION SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT (PRISM)
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.
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RESEARCH AND
TECHNOLOGY (R&T)
R&T 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.
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
meet the same safety standards as U.S. carriers.
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.
HOUSEHOLD GOODS
PROGRAM
FMCSA regulates interstate household goods movers and requires
them to register with the agency. FMCSA has developed a
Web site, http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/factsfigs/moving.htm,
to assist consumers moving across State lines. We also have
a 24-hour toll-free hotline (888-368-7238) and Web site,
http://www.1-888-dot-saft.com,
for consumer complaints on interstate movers.
For
more information about FMCSA’s safety programs: Contact
the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 400 Seventh
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590. Phone: 202-366-2519. Internet,
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov
(English) http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/español
(Spanish)
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Service
Centers
Eastern
10 S. Howard Street, Suite 4000
Baltimore, MD 21201-2819
410-962-0043
Southern
61 Forsyth Street, SW., Suite 17T75
Atlanta, GA 30303-3104
404-562-3600
Midwestern
19900 Governors Drive, Suite 210
Olympia Fields, IL 60461-1021
708-283-3577
Western
201 Mission Street, Suite 2100
San Francisco, CA 94105
415-744-3088
The Administration also maintains division
offices in each state.
For Further Information:
Contact the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590. Phone,
202-366-2519. Internet, http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov.
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The
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) was
established as a separate administration within the U.S.
Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000, pursuant
to the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999. Our
primary mission is to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities
involving large trucks and buses. FMCSA is headquartered
in Washington, DC. We employ more than 1,000 individuals,
in all 50 States and the District of Columbia, dedicated
to improving bus and truck safety and saving lives.