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Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590

202-366-2519
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov

ADMINISTRATOR(vacancy)
Deputy AdministratorMeera Joshi
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/mission/leadership

ESTABLISHMENT AND ORGANIZATION

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000, pursuant to the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 (113 Stat. 1750).

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-113/pdf/STATUTE-113-Pg1748.pdf

Statutory material that affects the organization of the FMCSA has been codified in the United States Code (U.S.C.) and assigned to 49 U.S.C. 113.

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title49-section113&num=0&edition=prelim

ACTIVITIES

Formerly a part of the Federal Highway Administration, the FMCSA reduces commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries. Administration activities increase the safety of motor carrier operations by enforcing safety regulations—targeting high-risk commercial drivers and carriers; improving safety information systems and commercial motor vehicle technologies; strengthening equipment and operating standards; and increasing safety awareness. When carrying out these activities, the Administration works with representatives of the motor carrier industry, labor safety interest groups, and Federal, State, and local enforcement agencies.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/mission/about-us

Commercial Licensing

The FMCSA develops standards to test and license commercial motor vehicle drivers.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/commercial-drivers-license

Data / Analysis

The FMCSA collects and disseminates data on motor carrier safety and directs resources to improve motor carrier safety.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/data-and-statistics/motor-carrier-safety-progress-reports

Regulatory Compliance / Enforcement

The FMCSA operates a program to improve safety performance and remove high-risk carriers from the Nation's highways.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations

Research / Technology

The FMCSA coordinates research and development to improve the safety of motor carrier operations and commercial motor vehicles and drivers.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/research-and-analysis/active-research-projects

Safety Assistance

The FMCSA provides States with financial assistance for roadside inspections and other commercial motor vehicle safety programs.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety

Other Activities

The FMCSA supports the development of unified motor carrier safety requirements and procedures throughout North America. It participates in international technical organizations and committees to help share best-practices in motor carrier safety worldwide. It enforces regulations ensuring safe highway transportation of hazardous materials and maintains a task force for identifying and investigating household goods carriers that exhibit an unmistakable pattern of consumer abuse.

Sources of Information

Archived Records

The "Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States" indicates that FMCSA records have been assigned to record group 557. That record group, however, does not have a description that is associated with it.

https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/000.html

Bicyclists / Pedestrians

Bicyclists and pedestrians share roads with large trucks and buses. The FMCSA website has resources that address safety issues affecting riders, walkers, and drivers.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/resources-bicyclists-and-pedestrians

Career Opportunities

The FMCSA posts job announcements on the USAJobs website. Application tips, information for students and recent graduates, and reasons for pursuing a career at the FMCSA are available on its website. Phone, 800-832-5660.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/careers

In 2020, the FMCSA ranked 138th among 411 agency subcomponents in the Partnership for Public Service's Best Places To Work Agency Rankings.

https://bestplacestowork.org/rankings/detail/?c=TD17

Certified Medical Examiners

Inclusion in the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners is limited to medical professionals who complete training and pass an exam on the FMCSA's physical qualification standards.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/national-registry/national-registry-certified-medical-examiners

Commercial Carriers

The FMCSA website has resources to help carrier companies with registration and safety and regulatory matters.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/resources-for-carrier-companies

The FMCSA website has resources—regulatory information and safety publications—to make complying with regulations easier for passenger carriers and to help them operate more safely.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/passenger-safety/passenger-carrier-safety-information

Commercial Drivers

The FMCSA website has resources for drivers who want to increase safety and who may need help them with the registration and licensing processes.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/resources-for-drivers

Company Safety Records

The FMCSA maintains websites that provide convenient access to safety-related information. To perform a search, a user must know a company's name, USDOT number, or motor carrier number.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/company-safety-records

Contact Information

The "Contact Us" web page has a table that contains email addresses, phone numbers, and web forms.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/contact-us

Data / Statistics

The annual "Pocket Guide to Large Truck and Bus Statistics" highlights the FMCSA’s role in collecting and analyzing data on large trucks and buses. The pocket guide is a compilation of statistics from the overall state of the industry to enforcement activity, details on traffic violations and other incidents, the costs of crashes, and more.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/data-and-statistics/commercial-motor-vehicle-facts

The Analysis Division compiles the information used for "Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts," an annual report containing descriptive statistics on fatal, injurious, and property-damage-only crashes involving large trucks and buses.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/data-and-statistics/large-truck-and-bus-crash-facts

Federal Register

Significant documents and documents that the FMCSA recently published in the Federal Register are accessible online.

https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/federal-motor-carrier-safety-administration

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

The FMCSA supports efforts to create a more open and transparent Federal Government. Accordingly, it conscientiously carries out the requirements of the FOIA. The FMCSA ensures that nonexempt documents or records are accessible to anyone who properly files a FOIA request. Phone, 202-366-2960. Fax, 202-385-2335.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/foia | Email: foia@fmcsa.dot.gov

The FMCSA's electronic reading room contains frequently requested records, as well as final opinions and orders, policy statements, and staff manuals.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/foia/foia-electronic-reading-room

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The FMCSA posts answers to FAQs on its website.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/faq

Grants

State and local government agencies in the 50 States and the District of Columbia, as well as in American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Northern Mariana and the U.S. Virgin Islands may apply for safety grant funding.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/mission/grants

Look Before You Book

The FMCSA website has resources for those making travel plans and for those looking to charter a bus for a sporting event, field trip, or other group activity. Safety tips and information, software applications (apps) to research bus operators, and information on reporting safety violations are available on the "Look Before You Book" web pages.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/passenger-safety/bus-passengers-look-you-book

Bus travel safety kits for seniors, students, and those traveling to faith-based events are available on "Look Before You Book."

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/look-you-book/consumer-safety-resources

Newsroom

The FMCSA posts events, news releases, speeches, and testimony on its website.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/newsroom

Protect Your Move

The "Protect Your Move" web pages have a trove of information on and resources for planning a move, selecting a mover, and filing a moving fraud complaint.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/protect-your-move

Safety Violations

Safety, service, or discrimination issues involving a bus or truck or moving company or a cargo tank facility? If so, file a complaint on the National Consumer Complaint Database website or by phone on weekdays, 8 a.m.–8 p.m., eastern time. Phone, 888-368-7238.

https://nccdb.fmcsa.dot.gov/nccdb/home.aspx

Service Centers / Field Offices

Contact information for service centers and field offices is available on the FMCSA website. Phone, 800-832-5660.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/mission/field-offices

Social Media

The FMCSA tweets announcements and other newsworthy items on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/fmcsa

The FMCSA has a Facebook account.

https://www.facebook.com/FMCSA

USDOT Numbers

The FMCSA website features an interactive tool that can determine whether or not a commercial vehicle requires a USDOT number.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/do-i-need-usdot-number

Veterans

The FMCSA helps veterans find employment in the motor carrier industry. Several provisions in the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act support this effort.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/fastact/veteran-drivers