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Truck Safety: Improvements Needed in FHwA's Motor Carrier Safety Program

RCED-91-30 Published: Jan 09, 1991. Publicly Released: Jan 18, 1991.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO examined the Federal Highway Administration's (FHwA) efforts to promote the safe operation of commercial motor vehicles, focusing on the progress FHwA made in: (1) rating motor carriers' safety fitness; and (2) ensuring that motor carriers with less than satisfactory safety fitness ratings correct their deficiencies.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Transportation The Secretary of Transportation should direct the Administrator, FHwA, to require division offices to follow up on carriers that do not submit certification letters to FHwA within 30 days of receiving a safety rating and to take enforcement actions when necessary.
Closed – Not Implemented
FHwA issued an interim final rule in August 1991 that eliminated the requirement for a certification letter. FHwA will require motor carriers to submit within 45 days of receiving an unsatisfactory safety rating documentation of corrective actions which may be used to change the rating. After 45 days, the carrier will be prohibited from transporting hazardous cargo or 15 or more passengers.
Department of Transportation The Secretary of Transportation should direct the Administrator, FHwA, to issue additional guidance and procedures, as necessary, to help the divisions effectively follow up on certification letters and enforce federal safety regulations.
Closed – Not Implemented
FHwA issued an interim final rule in August 1991 that eliminated the requirement for a certification letter. FHwA will require motor carriers to submit within 45 days of receiving an unsatisfactory safety rating documentation of corrective actions which may be used to change the rating. After 45 days, the carrier will be prohibited from transporting hazardous cargo or 15 or more passengers.
Department of Transportation The Secretary of Transportation should direct the Administrator, FHwA, to develop an action plan for improving the timeliness of compliance reviews, especially those for carriers rated as unsatisfactory.
Closed – Implemented
FHwA established a safety fitness rating group in June 1992. FHwA has developed an action plan for improving the timeliness of compliance reviews. Implementation of the plan began in March 1993.

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Topics

Transportation
Highway safetyInternal controlsMotor carriersMotor vehicle safetyNoncomplianceSafety regulationTransportation legislationTransportation safetyTrucking operationsMotor vehicles