 On July 6, 2012, President Obama signed into law a new two year transportation reauthorization bill, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act ("MAP-21"; P.L. 112-141). This new law includes many important provisions intended to help the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration in its important mission to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities involving large trucks and buses. Many of the provisions in MAP-21 track the Agency's strategic framework to improve commercial motor vehicle safety by supporting its three core principles: - Raise the bar to enter the industry and operate on our roads;
- Hold motor carrier and drivers to the highest safety standards to continue operations; and
- Remove the highest risk drivers, vehicles, and carriers from our roads and prevent them from operating.
MAP-21 takes effect October 1, 2012. The new law provides $561 million in fiscal year (FY) 2013 and $572 million in FY 2014 for the Agency's administrative expenses and grant programs. The Agency is beginning to reach out to stakeholders as it continues to implement this law and invites your feedback. Please email your comments to fmcsamap21@dot.gov.
Updates
March 12, 2014
Today, FMCSA transmitted a report on the hazardous materials safety permit (HMSP) program. The report provides information on the study overview, the number of HMSPs, State equivalency to Federal permits, and recommendations to improve the HMSP program. This report is required by Section 33014 of MAP-21.
February 20, 2014
Today, FMCSA issued an NPRM to establish a national CDL drug and alcohol clearinghouse to further strengthen longstanding, zero-tolerance, federal regulations prohibiting controlled substance and/or alcohol abuse by truck and bus drivers who hold safety sensitive positions. The proposed rule, pursuant to section 32402 of MAP-21, requires FMCSA-regulated employers and professionals supporting DOT testing programs to report drug test results and information on follow-up testing. The proposed rule also requires employers to report actual knowledge of traffic citations for driving a CMV while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The comment period ends April 21, 2014.
January 30, 2014
Today, FMCSA transmitted a report on the field study on the efficacy of the restart provisions of the final Hours of Service rules. These rules, which were published on December 27, 2011, are applicable to operators of commercial motor vehicles hauling property, who are subject to maximum driving time requirements established by DOT. The report describes the design, methods, research findings, and conclusions of the field study. This report is required by Section 32301 of MAP-21.
November 8, 2013
Today, FMCSA transmitted a report that identifies steps FMCSA should take to help ease the transition for military service personnel seeking employment in the motor carrier industry. The report compares FMCSA's testing and licensing requirements for commercial motor vehicle drivers with similar military requirements and makes recommendations that FMCSA is beginning to implement. This report is required by section 32308 of MAP-21.
October 1, 2013
The FMCSA today issued a Final Rule adopting certain regulations required by MAP-21. The majority of these statutory changes were effective October 1, 2012, while others are effective October 1, 2013. This rule amends FMCSA's regulations so that they conform to 17 of the statutory requirements enacted by MAP-21. These conforming changes ensure that FMCSA's regulations are current and consistent with applicable statutes. Adoption of these requirements is a nondiscretionary action that can be taken without issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking and receiving public comment. This rule is effective October 1, 2013.
September 25, 2013Today, FMCSA and PHMSA issued a Final Rule amending the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and Hazardous Materials Regulations, respectively, to prohibit a driver of a commercial motor vehicle or of a motor vehicle transporting certain hazardous materials, agents, or toxins from entering onto a highway-rail grade crossing unless there is sufficient space to drive completely through the grade crossing without stopping. This action is in response to section 112 of the Hazardous Materials Transportation Authorization Act of 1994, as amended by section 32509 of MAP-21. The intent of this rulemaking is to reduce highway-rail grade crossing crashes.
September 5, 2013Today, FMCSA issued guidance on the implementation of certain provisions of MAP-21 concerning persons acting as a broker or a freight forwarder.
Section 32915 of MAP-21 requires anyone acting as a broker or a freight forwarder and subject to FMCSA jurisdiction, including motor carriers, to register and obtain broker or freight forwarder authority from FMCSA.
Section 32918 amended the financial security requirements applicable to property brokers and created new requirements for freight forwarders.
This guidance explains how brokers and freight forwarders can comply with the new requirements and provides information regarding FMCSA's enforcement of these provisions.
June 19, 2013Today, FMCSA submitted the "Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks and Grants Workforce Plan Report to Congress," as required by Section 32605 of MAP-21.
The report includes information about the established timeframes and milestones for resuming the Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks (CVISN) program and a strategic workforce plan for the grants management office.
For more information on CVISN, visit www.fmcsa.dot.gov/facts-research/cvisn/index.htm.
For more information on FMCSA grants, visit www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/GRANTS/financial-assistance.aspx.
May 10, 2013 Today, FMCSA issued a NPRM allowing State and Federal enforcement officials to easily share and view the most current and accurate information about a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) driver's medical certification status. The proposed rule would require certified medical examiners performing physical examinations on drivers of CMVs to use a newly developed Medical Examination Report form, and to use a new form for the medical examiner's certificate. In addition, the Certified Medical Examiners would be required to report results of all completed commercial drivers' physical examinations (including the results of examinations where the driver was found not to be qualified) to FMCSA by close of business on the day of the examination using the new form. This NPRM is a follow-on rule to the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners published on April 20, 2012, and the Medical Certification Requirements as part of the CDL rule published on December 1, 2008.
March 14, 2013
Today, FMCSA issued a Final Rule promulgating the regulatory exemptions for the "transportation of agricultural commodities and farm supplies" and for "covered farm vehicles" and their drivers enacted by sections 32101(d) and 32934, respectively, of MAP-21. Although prior statutory exemptions involving agriculture are unchanged, some of these exemptions overlap with MAP-21 provisions. In these cases, regulated entities will be able to choose the exemption, or set of exemptions, under which to operate. They must, however, comply fully with the terms of each exemption they claim.
February 6, 2013
The provisions in MAP-21 enhance the FMCSA's ability to obtain compliance with the consumer protection regulations. In an effort to provide clarity on some of the provisions in MAP-21, FMCSA has developed a set of questions and answers to clarify regulatory requirements for brokers and freight forwarders. These questions and answers will address changes in consumer protection requirements that impact registration, financial security, and freight interlining operations.
January 22, 2013 On October 1, 2012, FMCSA published a Federal Register notice informing motor carriers and enforcement officials of two statutory exemptions in MAP-21 for certain motor carriers transporting agricultural commodities and farm supplies. Since that time, FMCSA has received numerous inquiries from enforcement officials and motor carriers looking for answers to specific questions. Below FMCSA has compiled a list of those questions and answers, and is sharing them to expand knowledge among the enforcement and agricultural communities. Nothing contained in the questions and answers is meant to expand or limit the statutory exemptions.
October 1, 2012
Today, FMCSA issued a notice alerting motor carriers and enforcement officials of two statutory exemptions in MAP-21 for certain motor carriers transporting agricultural commodities and farm supplies. Section 32101 of MAP-21 provides a statutory exemption from the hours-of-service regulations for certain carriers transporting agricultural commodities and farm supplies. Section 32934 provides a statutory exemption from most of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for the operation of covered farm vehicles by farm and ranch operators, their employees, and certain other specified individuals under certain specific circumstances. This notice is part of the Department's ongoing efforts to provide relief for the Nation's farmers and continues the implementation of MAP-21.
September 28, 2012The FMCSA kicked off its MAP-21 stakeholder engagement by listening to representatives from a broad cross-section of organizations most closely involved in commercial motor vehicle safety, including industry leaders, associations, safety advocates, and other key stakeholders. FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro provided an overview of the MAP-21 implementation and explained how it aligns with FMCSA's safety priorities and gives the Agency important new enforcement tools to fulfill its mission of preventing crashes and saving lives. Use the following link to view the presentation.
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