The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) relies on strategic partnerships with State and local government agencies to execute its safety mission. Through several critical grant programs, approximately 7,000 certified roadside inspectors throughout the United States assist the Agency by conducting approximately 3.5 million roadside inspections per year and 8,000 investigations per year.
Starting in Fiscal Year 2017, the FAST Act consolidates several grant programs into two primary grant programs: The Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) Basic program and the MCSAP High Priority Grant program. The MCSAP Basic grant program, starting in Fiscal Year 2017, will include funding for activities and/or programs that previously fell within the Border Enforcement Grant, New Entrant, Safety Data Improvement Program (SaDIP), and Performance and Registration Information Systems Management (PRISM) grant programs. The High Priority Grant program, starting in Fiscal Year 2017, will include funding for activities that previously fell under the Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks (CVISN) grant program and the MCSAP High Priority Grant Program This consolidation will allow for more efficient use of funds.
Pursuant to the FAST Act, FMCSA has initiated a working group to analyze requirements and factors for the establishment of a new MCSAP allocation formula. In addition, the FAST Act requires full participation by State grantees in the Performance and Registration Information Systems Management (PRISM) program no later than October 1, 2020. Alternatively, a State may demonstrate to the Secretary an alternative approach with an equivalent level of safety to be eligible for MCSAP funding.