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About Us Who We Are . . . The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) was established as a separate administration within the U.S. Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000, pursuant to the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999. Our primary mission is to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses . FMCSA is headquartered in Washington, DC. We employ more than 1,000 individuals, in all 50 States and the District of Columbia, dedicated to improving bus and truck safety and saving lives. What We Do . . . In carrying out its safety mandate, FMCSA
Key Programs . . . FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY REGULATIONS (FMCSRs) FMCSA develops, maintains, and enforces federal regulations that promote carrier safety, industry productivity, and new technologies. FMCSRs establish safe operating requirements for commercial vehicle drivers, carriers, vehicles, and vehicle equipment. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS REGULATIONS (HMRs) FMCSA enforces HMRs, which are designed to ensure the safe and secure transportation of hazardous materials. These rules address the classification of hazardous materials, proper packaging, employee training, hazard communication, and operational requirements. COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE PROGRAM FMCSA develops, monitors, and ensures compliance with the commercial driver licensing standards for drivers, carriers, and States. MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY IDENTIFICATION AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS FMCSA provides safety data State and national crash statistics, current analysis results, and detailed motor carrier safety performance data to industry and the public. This data allows Federal and State enforcement officials to target inspections and investigations on higher risk carriers, vehicles, and drivers. NEW ENTRANT SAFETY ASSURANCE PROCESS FMCSA ensures that new entrant motor carriers (carriers applying for a new USDOT number) are knowledgeable about applicable Federal motor carrier safety and hazardous materials regulations. There is an 18-month monitoring period for new applicants, which requires the carrier to pass a safety audit and maintain safe operations to receive permanent USDOT registration. New entrant motor carriers that fail to maintain adequate basic safety management controls may have their temporary USDOT registration revoked. MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (MCSAP) A Federal grant program that provides States with financial assistance to hire staff and implement strategies to enforce FMCSRs and HMRs. MCSAP funds are used to conduct roadside inspections and review motor carriers' compliance with FMCSRs and HMRs. MCSAP funds promote detection and correction of commercial motor vehicle safety defects, commercial vehicle driver deficiencies, and unsafe motor carrier practices before they become contributing factors to crashes and hazardous materials incidents. PERFORMANCE & REGISTRATION INFORMATION SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT (PRISM) A Federal-State partnership that makes safe performance a requirement for obtaining and keeping commercial vehicle registration. PRISM links Federal motor carrier safety records with the State's vehicle registration system. The USDOT number of the carrier responsible for safety is identified at the vehicle level allowing the State to determine a carrier's safety fitness before issuing license plates. Safety performance is continuously monitored, and carriers prohibited by FMCSA from operating in interstate commerce may have their ability to register vehicles denied. PRISM plays a key role in FMCSA's effort to remove high-risk carriers from our highways. RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY (R&T;) R&T; work is aimed at gaining fundamental and applied knowledge in order to develop new methods and technologies to enhance truck and bus safety and security. BORDER AND INTERNATIONAL SAFETY FMCSA supports the development of compatible motor carrier safety requirements and procedures throughout North America. FMCSA works closely with the governments of Canada and Mexico to ensure that these countries' motor carriers, drivers, and vehicles operating in the United States meet the same safety standards as U.S. carriers. SAFETY EDUCATION AND OUTREACH FMCSA implements educational strategies to increase motor carrier compliance with the safety regulations and reduce the likelihood of a commercial vehicle crash. Messages are aimed at all highway users including passenger car drivers, truck drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. HOUSEHOLD GOODS PROGRAM FMCSA regulates interstate household goods movers and requires them to register with the agency. FMCSA has developed a Web site, http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/factsfigs/moving.htm, to assist consumers moving across State lines. We also have a 24-hour toll-free hotline (888-368-7238) and Web site, http://www.1-888-dot-saft.com , for consumer complaints on interstate movers. For more information about FMCSA's safety programs: Contact the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590. Phone: 202-366-2519. Internet, http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov . Important FMCSA Web Sites FMCSA's official Web site is linked to many related and subsidiary sites. Below are frequently asked questions and the corresponding sites:
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