FMCSA announces the completion of its New Entrant Safety Assurance Program Operational Test (Operational Test) and the national implementation of the Offsite Safety Audit Procedures. The Offsite Safety Audit Procedures allow FMCSA, and its Motor Carrier Safety Assurance Program State Partners (State Partners), to complete an Offsite Audit of an eligible new entrant motor carrier whereby the new entrant motor carrier can demonstrate basic safety management controls by submitting compliance documentation to a Safety Auditor via electronic mail (Email), fax, or U.S. mail rather than being subject to an Onsite Safety Audit. FMCSA, working with its respective State Partners, conducted an 18-month Operational Test of the Offsite Safety Audit Procedures on new entrant motor carriers domiciled in the following six States: Alaska, California, Florida, Illinois, Montana, and New York; and the Canadian Provinces contiguous to Montana and New York. The Operational Test began July 15, 2013, and concluded on December 31, 2014.
Upon conclusion of the 18-month Operational Test, FMCSA determined that the Operational Test data supported the effectiveness of the Offsite procedures in determining the safety fitness of eligible new entrant carriers. The Offsite procedures further allowed FMCSA to better meet the regulatory obligation of conducting Safety Audits on all new entrant carriers within the MAP-21 timeframes. As a result, FMCSA is moving forward with a nationwide implementation of the Offsite Safety Audit Procedures.
Based on the success of the Operational Test, FMCSA began national implementation of the Offsite Safety Audit Procedures for eligible new entrant motor carriers under the New Entrant Safety Assurance Program. Starting in the summer of 2015, FMCSA will phase in use of the Offsite procedures as additional State partners are able to be trained on the process, policy, and information technology system used in conducting an Offsite Safety Audit.
Phase I includes the following 12 States and Washington, D.C.:
- Georgia
- Maine
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Vermont
- Wyoming
- Washington, D.C.
Phase II began in February 2016. The following list will be updated as States complete their training and implement offsite safety audit procedures.
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Connecticut
- Hawaii
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Missouri
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin