In The News
Darling updates FMCSA employees on top five initiatives
WASHINGTON — Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Acting Administrator T. Scott Darling Tuesday sent an e-mail letter to his "FMCSA family" updating employees on the top five priority initiatives for 2015.
"Over a year ago, I stepped into the role as acting administrator for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration," he wrote. "Each day, I am privileged to represent this agency and its 1,100 employees nationwide. Through my ongoing conversations with the FMCSA family, I know we remain committed to saving lives by working toward zero crash fatalities involving large trucks and buses."
Here, directly from the e-mail, is the information Darling provided employees.
Safety Fitness Determination (SFD)
FMCSA is in the final stages of publishing a proposed rule that would increase the use of inspection data in making Safety Fitness Determinations for motor carriers. This rule would propose important changes to the agency's process for assessing the safety performance of truck and bus companies, focusing on incorporating current on-road safety performance data (i.e., roadside inspection and crash data) and evaluating carriers based on their own performance. We will be seeking public input on the proposed rule and look forward to hearing your views as we develop a final rule.
Inspection Modernization
FMCSA launched a new version of our inspection software program — Aspen 3.0. It features a new look and feel and enhanced capabilities. Many of the functions needed at roadside are now integrated into the Aspen system without requiring external software. Law enforcement personnel are also able to obtain direct access to out-of-service notices. We launched a series of training webinars this month that go into great detail on the many improvements.
Unified Registration System (URS)
FMCSA will implement a new, revamped system designed to improve the accuracy and timeliness of the information in our database of registered motor carriers based on our 2013 final rule. URS will streamline manual processes and combine several forms that regulated entities are required to submit into one unified registration – the electronic "smart form." It is important that we get this right. As such, we will move forward with a new phased implementation that will ensure a successful launch. A Federal Register notice will be published in October that will provide details on the updated implementation timeline.
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) Phase III
In preparation for a successful launch of the final two CSA interventions — offsite investigations and cooperative safety plans — we are lining up the necessary training for Federal and State investigators and outreach to the industry. Two important things to note:
- The agency is also moving forward on a new type of investigation — the crash BASIC investigation — that focuses on identifying trends in carrier crash behaviors.
- FMCSA will be fine-tuning the SMS algorithm to better identify carriers for investigation so that we can intervene more quickly with those found to be at greatest risk. A second Federal Register notice announcing the preview of the changes will be published in the coming months.
Electronic Logging Devices (ELD)
A final rule on ELDs is being reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget and is scheduled to be out later this year. Although we cannot discuss the provisions of a final rule before it is made public, I can say that the rule is designed to benefit everyone by:
- Improving Hours of Service compliance, which we estimate will prevent about 20 fatalities and over 400 injuries each year;
- Helping businesses cut paperwork and save money;
- Protecting drivers from harassment; and
- Making it easier for law enforcement and safety inspectors to review driver HOS records.
"I thank you for all your work on these priorities, and I look forward to continuing our work together in support of our common goal to save lives on our nation's roadways," Darling said in concluding the letter. "And as always, please remember to think safety first at home and at work."
Darling has been serving as head of the agency since former Administrator Anne S. Ferro resigned in August 2014. He was appointed acting administrator when Ferro left, but had to relinquish the acting administrator title six month later as federal regulations allow an acting administrator to carry that title for only six months. He has remained in charge of the agency as its chief counsel and re-assumed the title of acting administrator when President Barack Obama announced last month he was appointing Darling as Ferro's successor and had sent Darling's name to the Senate for confirmation.
No vote on the confirmation has been scheduled.
The Trucker staff can be reached to comment on this article at [email protected].