FMCSA extends comment period on proposal to revise safety fitness determinations

Washington — Stakeholders now have until Nov. 29 to comment on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s process for determining whether truck and bus companies are able to operate safely.

In an advance notice of proposed rulemaking published Aug. 29, the agency asked for feedback on whether the regulations prescribing the safety fitness determination process need to be revised.

FMCSA determines whether motor carriers are fit to operate safely by using existing motor carrier data and data collected during compliance reviews. This forms a three-tiered rating system of satisfactory, conditional or unsatisfactory.

The agency is also asking for feedback on:

• Available science or technical information to analyze regulatory alternatives for determining the safety fitness of motor carriers.
• Current agency safety fitness determination regulations, including feedback on the process and impacts.
• Available data and costs for regulatory alternatives reasonably likely to be considered.

Further, FMCSA seeks input on 12 specific questions related to safety fitness determinations, including whether to retain the three-tiered rating system.

The agency says the safety fitness determination system “is resource-intensive and reaches only a small percentage of motor carriers.”

In 2017, FMCSA withdrew a proposed rule that would have changed the process for motor carriers.