The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, also known as FMCSA, was established on January 1st, 2000 in accordance with the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999. FMCSA’s primary mission is to promote safe transportation conditions, and to prevent any commercial motor vehicle-related injuries or deaths.
Read on to learn more about FMCSA and their mission, and to explore some useful resources they provide drivers.
About FMCSA
FMCSA’s goal is to significantly reduce the amount of crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving any type of commercial motor vehicle. Established as a separate branch within the Department of Transportation (DOT), FMCSA researches, creates, and enforces safety regulations to save lives on the road.
There are a few strategies in place that FMCSA uses to do so:
- Use of data to develop and enforce strategies for safety and efficiency
- Use of safety information systems
- Targeting carriers, commercial drivers, and the general public with crucial information regarding highway transportation safety
- Prompting the reduction of accidents and injuries related to commercial motor vehicles by partnering with Federal and State Stakeholders, local enforcement agencies, the motor carrier industry, safety groups, organized labor, carriers, etc.
What are FMCSA’s Initiatives?
To break down what FMCSA does further, let’s take a look at the different initiatives FMCSA takes to enforce driver safety on a federal and state level. They include but are not limited to:
- Developing CDL Licenses
- Creates standards for CDL exams to test prospective commercial motor vehicle drivers before they can gain their CDL
- Data Analysis
- Uses collected data to direct resources and enforce rules and regulations to improve overall motor carrier safety
- Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement
- Operates enforcement programs to regulate high-risk carriers such as HAZMAT, and remove dangerous carriers from the nation’s highways
- Research and Technology
- Uses gathered research to develop and improve safety operations
- Safety Assistance
- Provides states with financial assistance to perform roadside inspections and other commercial motor vehicle safety programs
Other activities FMCSA is involved with support the unification of motor carrier safety procedures and requirements throughout the nation. FMCSA also participates in promoting motor vehicle safety throughout other parts of the world, as well.
In addition, FMCSA has also established a task force to identify and investigate motor carrier vehicles that have exhibited a consistent pattern of consumer abuse. Keeping our highways safe for truck drivers and the public remains FMCSA’s top priority.
FMCSA Resources
FMCSA offers many resources to both drivers and carriers. Through FMCSA’s website, you can access important information about different regulations and safety requirements, information about various licenses, different driver requirements, consumer protection regulations, and more.
More commonly used FMCSA resources are listed below:
- Links to determine whether or not you need a USDOT number
- Links to review company safety records
- Links to update your registration or operating authority
- Links to register for an MC Number
- Links to register for the New Entrant Assurance Safety Program
What Can FMCSA Offer Drivers?
FMCSA’s goal is to ensure a safe highway experience for truck drivers and everyday drivers alike. If you have any questions about FMCSA, you can contact them using the contact form on their website.
FMCSA was created as a resource for truck drivers and driver safety. If you are interested in becoming a truck driver, understand that you are entering an industry that values your safety. Trucking is an excellent career to pursue. Find a truck driving school near you to begin your training, and you could be career-ready in as few as 6 weeks.
