The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) was established as a separate administration within the U.S. Department of Transportation in the year 2000. FMCSA's primary mission is to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses. To that end, the FMCSA gathers facts and conducts research, develops programs, rules and regulations, and regulates registrations and licensing for passenger and motor carriers; it also testifies before and reports to the U.S. Congress.
As a national program, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is headquartered in Washington D.C. The FMCSA employs over 1,000 individuals throughout all fifty states and the District of Columbia who are dedicated to increasing road safety.
Strategy
In carrying out its safety mandate to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses, the FMCSA:
• Develops and enforces data-driven regulations that balance motor carrier (truck and bus companies) safety with industry efficiency;
• Harnesses safety information systems to focus on higher risk carriers in enforcing the safety regulations;
• Targets educational messages to carriers, commercial drivers, and the public; and
• Partners with stakeholders including Federal, State, and local enforcement agencies, the motor carrier industry, safety groups, and organized labor on efforts to reduce bus and truck-related crashes.
Key Programs
Utilizing its guiding strategy, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has developed several key programs to fulfill its mission. These include:
• Border and International Safety
• Commercial Driver's License Program
• COMPASS
• Enterprise Architecture and FMCSA
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs)
• Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMRs)
• Household Goods Program
• Medical Program
• Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP)
• Motor Carrier Safety Identification and Information Systems
• New Entrant Safety Assurance Process
• Performance & Registration Information Systems Management (PRISM)
• Research and Analysis
• Safety Education and Outreach
Education and Outreach
In addition to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's many internal programs, the FMCSA also recognizes that public education is critical to a safe roadway. The FMCSA has implemented multiple outreach programs designed to connect with drivers, passengers and truck and bus companies in order to teach principles that make everyone's journey safe and efficient. These include:
• TACT (Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks) Program
• CMV (Commercial Motor Vehicle) Safety Belt Partnership
• Share the Road Safely Program
• Moving Kids Safely By Bus
• How to Protect Your Move from Fraud
• Safety is Good Business—Crashes Hurt Your Bottom Line
• Truck Safety
• Bus Safety
• Hazmat
• Driver Safety
• Consumer Security Regarding Hijacking
• Health & Wellness Resources
• Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety
• Mexico Information Page/Spanish Website
• Educational PowerPoint Training Presentations (downloadable)
• The Presidential Volunteer Community Service Program
Special Funds
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration awards several grants each year, including:
o Border Enforcement Grant (BEG) Program
o Commercial Driver' s License (CDL) Program Improvement Grant
o Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS) Modernization Grant
o Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Operator Safety Training Grant
o Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks (CVISN) Grant
o Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) Basic and Incentive Grants
o Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) High Priority Grants
o New Entrant Safety Assurance Program
o Performance Information Systems Management (PRISM) Program Grant
o Safety Data Improvement Program Grant (SaDIP)
Additionally, it can provide financial assistance through cooperative agreements and procurement contracts.
Publications
FMCSA publishes many documents, primarily from their research and analysis divisions, with the goal of providing the information to base motor vehicle policy. These include technical briefs, reports, product guides, analysis briefs, studies and summaries. An on-going listing of all FMCSA publications is available for review here.
Leadership
Anne S. Ferro is the Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the executive leadership position within the administration. Rose A. McMurray is the Chief Safety Officer (CSO) and Assistant Administrator of the FMCSA at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
Contact the FMCSA
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration headquarters United States Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE Washington, DC 20590
FMCSA Information Line: 1-800-832-5660
A complete list of FMCSA field offices can be found on their website.
