Due to how expansive the industries involved are, the FMCSA has had to update these regulations yearly. This work keeps up with industry changes to maintain safe roadways.

There are numerous regulations at play thanks to the FMCSA. With their help, roadways have remained safe due to stricter rules regarding commercial and passenger vehicles on roads.

What They Are

FMCSA, again, is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The name itself is self-explanatory. Its focus is on motor carriers and safety, keeping everything and everyone safe. It does this through regulations with which drivers and carriers must comply.

FMCSA’s regulations target large trucks and buses, commercial motor vehicles. These vehicles require a heavy focus on safety due to the risks they can pose to drivers and others on the road. When safety is not ensured, injuries and death may occur.

Regulations look at functionality, equipment, usability, driver error, and other factors that may put the driver and others at risk. By finding a balance between safety and efficiency, the FMCSA is able to keep the roads safer.

Through these regulations, there have been fewer crashes, injuries, and deaths due to buses and trucks. Drivers and carriers must comply with these regulations to be road-legal, otherwise, they may face severe penalty.

Every driver and carrier across the country should meet minimum standards for the regulations. The FMCSA creates a minimum expectation of safety for all involved, and those who fail to meet that expectation cannot get on the road.

How It Works

Since FMCSA is a government organization, it has to follow regulatory procedures to create regulations. Obviously, it cannot create regulations as it pleases, so it has to follow specific steps.

These steps are separate from that of a law. Instead of having it go through three branches of government, the FMCSA will propose a new regulation. Assuming there are no major problems with it, it goes through. That is how they, and other government organizations, pass regulations into law.

Once that regulation passes, all citizens and businesses must adhere to them. For the FMCSA, anyone who drives large commercial trucks and buses will have to understand and follow the regulations.

It is not all regulations, though. The FMCSA works on multiple levels to ensure that the public remains safe from potential risks on the roadway. One way that the FMCSA hopes to protect citizens is through education.

Education is an effective means of protecting the public. When the public understands the risks at hand, they become equipped to handle them. Giving them the tools and knowledge necessary can lessen their risk if in a dangerous situation.

They also work with governments and organizations to lower crashes. Governments on all levels and organizations that are directly involved can help greatly in reducing crashes. Through laws, education, widespread changes, and cooperation, it is easier to change a dangerous system.

The FMCSA uses a mix of methods to protect citizens from the truck- and bus-related crashes. Due to their risk and the potential for serious injury or death, they work tirelessly to keep the roadways safe for everyone. This includes carriers, drivers, and others on the road.

Auto Transport and The FMCSA

Regulations from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration can change the industry significantly. Car Carriers will have to comply with current standards for road-legal consideration. Those who fail to do so may lose that status and may face other consequences as a result.

Due to this, the auto transport industry has a lot to lose if not in compliance. They have to continually update their licenses, bonds, and insurance (where applicable) and be aware of any changes in the laws.

This puts pressure on the industry. While it is a necessary pressure to protect individuals, it is a pressure nonetheless. Carriers are primarily responsible for being in compliances more so than the transport companies that hire them. They must remain aware of the current standards.

Since they must remain compliant, these carriers have to remain educated on current regulations. They have to understand new regulations and they have to make changes as it is required.

It is not just on the carriers, however. The drivers themselves must learn new regulations and achieve compliance on their part as well. Specific operation standards are mandatory for drivers. Failing to meet standards can damage their financial future and their future within the industry.

The FMCSA does make this information readily available through their website. Anyone in or out of the industry can learn about the regulations as they come out.

Strategies

Not only does FMCSA release regulations, they also release strategies. They make their multi-year strategy known immediately to ensure that all carriers and drivers comply.

Strategies cover:

· Truck Safety

· Maintaining or Achieving Higher Standards of Equipment and Personnel

· Removing High Risk Carriers and Personnel

These strategies are to remove problems that may harm people. The goal of FMCSA is to keep roads safe, which is why they want to keep risks at their lowest. Raising standards and removing risks is how they accomplish this.

They go over the methods of how they plan to achieve these goals and when. The current plan is 2015 – 2018, but they do add new plans once the current wraps up. Currently, they have been able to meet expectations and successfully save lives.

The commercial motor vehicle industries and workers may feel the pressure, but it is something they have to go through for the safety of everyone involved. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has helped to save thousands of lives through their changes by removing high risk equipment, individuals, carriers, and situations. They have been able to develop a safer industry that remains efficient and capable.