Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Administration

Formerly a part of the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries. Administration activities contribute to ensuring safety in motor carrier operations through strong enforcement of safety regulations, targeting high-risk carriers and commercial motor vehicle drivers; improving safety information systems and commercial motor vehicle technologies; strengthening commercial motor vehicle equipment and operating standards; and increasing safety awareness.

Although focusing primarily on motor carrier transportation, the FMCSA has a mandate to prevent school bus and motorcoach-related fatalities and injuries. In mid-summer of 2001 the agency exercised it authority in the school bus arena for the first time by citing school bus contractors in Minnesota and Pennsylvania for violating federal drug testing laws.

School bus service falls within its purview. Indeed, the FMCSA is the first federal agency to focus its efforts on the operational side of school transportation. It contribute to ensuring safety in motor carrier operations through strong enforcement of safety regulations such as the Commercial Driver's License program, targeting high-risk carriers and commercial motor vehicle drivers; improving safety information systems and commercial motor vehicle technologies; strengthening commercial motor vehicle equipment and operating standards; and increasing safety awareness. Click here to visit the FMCSA web site.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration carries out its duties through several key programs.

Safety Assistance: The MotorCarrier Safety Assistance Program is a Federal grant program that provides states with financial assistance for roadside inspections and other commercial motor vehicle safety programs.

Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement: The Administration's compliance reviews and enforcement activities and the states' roadside inspection activities are the principal means of ensuring that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and the Federal Hazardous Materials Regulations are enforced.

Commercial Driver's License Program (CDL): The FMCSA develops, issues, and evaluates standards for testing and licensing commercial motor vehicle drivers. These standards require states to issue a Commercial Driver's License only after drivers pass knowledge and skill tests that pertain to the type of vehicle operated. States are audited every three years to monitor compliance with Federal standards; noncompliance could result in loss of Federal funding.

Data and Analysis: The FMCSA collects and disseminates safety data concerning motor carriers. Based on identified trends, the Administration directs resources in the most efficient and effective manner to improve motor carrier safety