OpenDOT Ideas

As I understand it, freight carriers apply for Standard Carrier Alpha Codes (SCACs) through the National Motor Freight Traffic Association. Once they are granted, they are passed to the DOT.

The DOT should make available all of the presently registered SCACs, and provide updates at a reasonable frequency (bi-weekly or monthly).

I agree with the concept and structure that the CSA program model is based on except for one Basic catagory. I feel that the Cargo Securement Basic does not adequately represent carriers of similar size and number of inspections. Deck carriers and Vanbody carriers although still subject the security of load regulations they do differ in a great way. I feel that carriers should be compaired by comodity and not by size ...more »

I think they need to do away with the HOS all together,and you will find everyone fast to sleep every night just like they are now.I drive more tired now than I ever did.

Hello ! THE STATE OF OREGON HAS ALMOST TOTALLY COMPLETED BUS CONNECTIONS BETWEEN ALL MAJOR CITIES NORTH OR EUGENE. WE ARE JUST TWO SHUTTLE BUS ROUTES SHORT OF CONNECTING SALEM TO CORVALLIS AND THEN CORVALLIS TO EUGENE. THEY NEED FUNDING! PRESENTLY THE CITY OF CORVALLIS, BENTON COUNTY, AND THE CITY OF MONROE ARE FUNDING THE 99 EXPRESS BUS BUT THE BUS STOPS IN JUNCTION CITY WHICH IS WITHIN LANE COUNTY WHO CLAIMS THAT ...more »

A digital transportation exchange needs real-time information to flow from people and machines who produce data, to other people and machines who need to use it. This flow of data needs to be intelligent and frictionless. This is why, conceptually, we think of DTE as a collection of these key elements - Cloud data. With so many disparate participants, the only possible common fabric is the cloud - Open Platforms, not ...more »

Truck Drivers with alot of over-regulatory circumstances in their daily travels. Since the creation of CSA emphasis is often on the Commercial Vehicles working order.Now many Drivers fear open scalehouses and checkpoints thinking they're looking for simple in need of repair items ( like marker lights or a trailer license plate light) to give them a reason to investigate the driver further. Among all the pressures of Driving ...more »

The U.S. government needs to provide each citizen the opportunity to create a government sponsored digital avatar. This avatar can be updated with information regarding the individual's credentials. I have a degree in engineering, and I have 3 years of experience writing software. But you don't know if I am being honest. You don't know how to separate my input on information technologies from the input of rambling ...more »

I suggest you...Invite We the People to the cost of this OpenDot website. From what I can see, it is absolutely worthless.Most Highway users want someone to champion the need for resolve to our traffic woes. But like usual, the governments plan is all Propaganda.Getting this site interactive with Highway user participants would be the most benificial program to come out of Government in a very long time. People need to ...more »

I suggest you...consider a new form of supplemental highways which are safer, faster, more economical to use and to build, use less space than a single lane highway. A single lane can transit over 15,000 vehicles per hour 120 miles, all electric, no oil, hand free, fully automated, called bimodal glideways and it will transform all transportation systems, an ecological and economic boom for the US. See video and data ...more »

Get active and tell the motoring public of this site. Continual conversation about Highway Drama keeps people interested and focused on better driving.Everyone ahs an opion about everyone elses driving. So let's get"em' Talkin!

Most highway users do not know this site exist. Our highways are a battlefield. The national news depicts frightening wrecks involving commercial vehicles. Of course the feds answer to any commercial vehicle crash is distracted driving, fatigue,hours of service or weather related. Indeed these crashes may have relationship to the crash. Many of "us", long time highway drivers know ther is more to the story that incidentals. ...more »

Dear DOT Team and readers, Just thought of sharing this idea with you, as I was reading through a book called "Lean Solutions" by Womack and Jones. During my last visit to US, in 2006, when I just landed up, during the initial days was commuting on the California city buses. Many times, the buses were half-empty / were not stopping even when I used to wave my hands and while I was reflecting on some of the pointers ...more »

Hello fellow Traffic Safety Advocates! Inerested in a campaign to create a Driving Education program? The Traffic Safety advocasy formerely known as " MY HIGHWAY" is about to launch a podcast that broadcast Driver Education. Interested parties can contact this new Traffic Safety Alliance at; myhighwayman@gmail.com

I suggest you...The change the people were looking for at election time was, the way government works. We the people don;t want to see Studies about studies or conferences on exotic islands.We want roll up your sleves, get out there and get dirty rather than A different suit everyday so you can go discuss, lobby, rediscuss and lobbby somemore. Heck when 911 happened,I saw my congress sing " GOD BLESS AMERICA" rather than ...more »

I suggest you...Utilze weigh Stations to extend your Traffic Safety intentions. Weigh Stations should be in the interest of Promoting Public Safety and Good Driving Habits. Private Safety Organizations march right to the government to demand something be done because their loved one was involved in a traffic dilemna. All the dialogue,conferences and studies,etc., could have funded a campaign to hand out literature at ...more »

I suggest you...Allow Veteran Commercial Drivers w/excellent safety records be allowed to report bad driving behaviors of other trucks. Giving these drivers this accredidation bolsters the professional driver image and quite frankly gives DOT an avenue to seek out Dangerous Driving Behaviors,THAT CAN BE REMEDIED!

I suggest you...Look into utize corporate sponsorship to provide regular maintenance on bridges or pre-existing structures where a traffic safety message could be placed. Keeping motorist focused on good driving behavior is the guidance that every highway user needs.

As we harvest wheat this year in our great state of Kansas and haul our grain to town we see people texting, putting on makeup, talking on phones, looking at papers or maps, we see everything sitting up high in our trucks. I would have had several mishaps this year alone if I had not been on my toes, as farmers all we are trying to do is earn a living and take our crops to town. We are already regulated to death, spraying ...more »

Through all the so-called benefits, I would like to know if any of you has driven the Pennsylvania Turnpike-the weights for safety are at a max. Blowing smoke at us of one 'study' of the UK, that is not comparable to our interstate system does not fly. The motive is clear, the same trend we see across the country with our politicians/government owned by corporate America-to eliminate jobs or shrink the pay of middle class ...more »

Trains are creating a lot of noise pollution in the US. I would like to inform you about what happens in Europe where population and train traffic is a lot denser than here in the US: Trains in Europe don't honk. Period. Drivers are assumed to respect the red lights, barriers and bell signals at the railroad crossings. Offenders are caught by cameras just as they are caught while not-respecting a red light at other traffic ...more »

I suggest you.add a flashing light inside with the green light that will flash two seconds before the green light changes to yellow. This will help especially truck drivers by telling them that the light is about to change to yellow. I drive a truck and when loaded I have a hard time trying to stop on the time allowed on the yellow light.The two extra seconds could be the difference in me running a red light.

II would like you to consider upgrades in traffic control. To keep this short I would like to do some quick math. I car uses approximately 1 ounce of gasoline idling for one minute. Traffic lights typically cycle in 30 second to 1 minute cycles. If we saved just 1 ounce of gasoline at only 1000 traffic lights per hour per state (51 counting DC) the math goes like this: (1ounce)X(1000lights)X(24hours)X(365days)X(51states)divided ...more »

Provide forms in which riders can issue safety complaints. After yet another terrible morning commute on MARC, I took a stab in the dark and contacted the FTA - I actually recieved a response from them referring me to the Federal Railroad Administration. I have looked at their site and there is no place to register a safety complaint - on a Title VI complaint. Personally, I consider my right to continuing living as ...more »

In the past, the federal government has had industrial competitions to improve energy efficiency (refrigerators, for example). How about similar competitions to improve our infrastructure technology. For example, we still repave roads with asphalt, which deteriorates pretty rapidly, especially when subjected to freeze/thaw cycles in the Northeast. This technology has not changed in generations! Can't we improve the ...more »

I suggest you look at a promising new technology from a company in Israel called "Innowattech" They have recently been awarded a multi million dollar contract in Italy to install a system into a highway that converts mechanical energy into electricity. The system uses what is called "Piezo Electric Generators" that are placed under the surface of the road way. The generators converts the motion of passing vehicles into ...more »