Summary

FMCSA is the primary enforcement and regulatory agency responsible for truck and bus safety, the companies that own them, and the drivers who operate them. The agency proposes rules, implements enforcement programs, and develops systems to reduce crashes involving large trucks and buses. In recent years, the FMCSA’s work has contributed to a dramatic reduction in severe and fatal Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) related crashes, with a combined 1,497 fewer lives lost between 2007, 2008, and 2009, when fatalities in crashes with large trucks and buses numbered 5,116; 4,545; and 3,619, respectively.

Demand for commercial truck and bus services will grow as the nation’s economy continues to improve. With increased CMV Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT), risks of CMV-involved crashes and potential injuries and fatalities on our nation’s roadways will likely increase. Recently released crash data from the National Highway Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Fatal Analysis Reporting System (FARS) confirms an increase in fatalities and injuries from crashes involving trucks in 2010. Bus passenger fatalities in 2011 unfortunately were higher than the prior 5-year average for motor coach crashes.

The Agency’s proposed FY 2013 budget is structured to allow FMCSA to complete core safety programs that close the loopholes on unsafe carriers and improves the capability of roadside enforcement to get unsafe operators off the road. It supports the Agency’s commitment to collaborating with the other surface modes on the Department’s Roadway Safety Plan in order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of safety initiatives.