New Commercial Trucking Rules May Make American Roads Safer
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or FMCSA, announced at the end of August that it will implement several provisions of its ambitious strategic plan, Moving Ahead for Progress in 21st Century, or MAP-21. The FMCSA’s goal is to develop 29 new rules in the next 27 months. These rules will likely improve safety for all road users over the next few years.
Rule Changes to Take Place by October 2012
In an aggressive move, by this October, the FMCSA will change its rules on how it reprimands motor carriers that are found to be immediately dangerous to other drivers and a significant risk for truck accidents. Currently, the agency can immediately shut down a company whose fleet is an imminent hazard to road safety. A carrier may be labeled an “imminent hazard” if it fails to take required safety precautions and creates conditions that may cause imminent death, serious injury or property or environmental damage before a formal proceeding can be completed.