Every driver who works in commercial freight and passenger transportation knows about FMCSA. The central Federal Agency has FMCSA regulations and oversees the CMV’s safety. FMCSA stands for making laws and rules and conducting community work to improve road safety knowledge for truckers and other road users. For example, it has an FMCSA ELD-approved list. In the following article, we want to discuss the FMCSA, its mission, and its role in each CMV driver’s life.
What is FMCSA? Learn About its History
The FMCSA is the American federal entity for controlling the trucking sphere. The main aim is to decrease the number of road accidents involving trucks and other large CMVs and to decrease injuries and deaths due to traffic accidents. To this end, the Agency is actively cooperating with the authorities of all American states. The FMCSA stands for monitoring traffic laws and FMCSA regulations, conducting training, research, and implementing new technologies that contribute to improved highway safety.
Let’s take a quick look at how FMCSA was created. In 1999, Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act was issued. According to this document, on January 1, 2000, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) was created within the USA DOT. It remains an important date in the Agency’s history. When the FMCSA was still an element of the Federal Highway Administration, its primary goal was to prevent fatal accidents and serious injuries. After the Agency became an independent entity, its tasks expanded. The following functions have been added to the previous roles: bettering information security systems and hi-tech technologies, increasing driver awareness, monitoring compliance with laws and rules, and so forth.
The FMCSA main office is located now in Washington, DC. Imagine — more than 1,000 people across the United States work to benefit commercial drivers and other road users. They are active, enthusiastic, and dedicated workers who do everything for the security of American roads.
FMCSA Activities
- To provide the achievement of set tasks, the FMCSA engages in a variety of duties.
- CMV driver licensing. The Agency creates appropriate tests to check the necessary knowledge of potential commercial drivers.
- Analysis of road safety information. The FMCSA collects road safety information and works on strategies to improve it.
- Issuance of regulations. The Agency works on rules, regulations, standards, and pilot programs that positively impact road safety.
- Research and technology. The Agency looks at various new technologies and researches how devices can make a difference in road safety.
- Help with security. FMCSA provides material assistance throughout America so that every state can properly conduct road checks and implement safety projects.
What is FMCSA Regulations Issuance
The FMCSA is constantly developing regulations that aim to raise road safety. The Agency issues rules, standards, programs (including offering various pilot ones), notifications, declarations, and more. All FMCSA regulations issued can be found in the Federal Register. In addition, if you want to purchase a paper copy of any law, you can do so from the Government Printing Office. Also, all documents are freely available on the Internet.
One of the primary documents is the FMCSA ELD Mandate. It obliges all commercial drivers who must log their HOS to use electronic logging devices (ELD) only. This document finally entered into force on December 16, 2019. ELD devices (elog or electronic logging devices with electronic logbooks) are essential parts of FMCSA ELD compliance.
Essential documents include FMCSA-compliant ELD (electronic logging device, or the elog with electronic logbook) and HOS rules, which determine the driver’s time intervals, namely the time of driving, breaks, rest, and more. In addition, the Agency continuously works to improve the existing rules. So in September 2020, it made several changes, giving drivers more flexibility in their work. And now FMCSA’s ELD-approved list of ELD devices with FMCSA-approved ELDs is a quality standard for FMCSA ELD compliance.
The Strategy of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
What is FMCSA compliance? For more than 20 years, the FMCSA has been pursuing its primary mission — decreasing the number of fatal accidents, and injuries to road users in which commercial trucks and passenger buses take part. As a result, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has developed an effective strategy. Let’s discover more about it.
The FMCSA develops effective regulations to improve highway safety across the United States. For this reason, the information from the conducted research is used.
The FMCSA also controls that all truck and bus drivers strictly adhere to the set rules. In addition, the Administration actively uses information systems. Thus, it focuses on dangerous subjects while ensuring compliance with established road regulations.
The FMCSA continually communicates with carriers, CMV drivers, and other citizens. It shares educational messages to raise awareness about road rules. We advise you to operate with FMCSA-compliant ELD only.
The FMCSA actively collaborates with entities interested in improving road safety. They are federal, state, and local bodies, labor unions, security groups, etc. They fight together for the safest highways.
It should be noted that these goals would have been impossible without dedicated workers. Every day, they try to decrease traffic hazards and save human lives. Just use electronic logging devices from the FMCSA’s ELD-approved list.
FMCSA Careers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration offers excellent career chances for everyone. Therefore, if you dream of becoming an FMCSA superhero and saving CMV drivers, and passengers’ lives, you can become a part of the Administration. At the same time, you can get a job both in your state and Washington, where the main office is now located.
Working in such a critical structure involves more than just being able to contribute to all Americans’ safety. There are a lot of practical benefits. For instance, it is an excellent opportunity to work with leaders known around the world and a vast number of other talented, intelligent and innovative people. Every FMCSA hardworking employee gets endless professional growth, discoveries, the acquisition of excellent skills, and qualified knowledge expansion.
Besides, for graduates or those who are just starting their careers, the FMCSA offers a unique program. First, it provides an opportunity to gain the necessary experience and knowledge. Then, after years, the most productive and talented participants can receive job offers.
