Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is an agency in the United States Department of Transportation that regulates the trucking industry in the United States. The primary mission of the FMCSA is to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses.

History

The agency was established as a separate administration within U.S. Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000, pursuant to the "Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999." FMCSA is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and employs more than 1,000 people in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with the goal of making "roadways safer for the public and the CMV industry".

Main functions

In carrying out its safety mandate to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses, FMCSA:

Develops and enforces data-driven regulations that balance motor carrier (truck and bus companies) safety with efficiency;

Harnesses safety information systems to focus on higher risk carriers in enforcing the safety regulations;

Provide the information on consumer complaints, authority status, and carrier insurance;

Targets educational messages to carriers, commercial drivers, and the public; and

Partners with stakeholders including Federal, State, and local enforcement agencies, the motor carrier industry, safety groups, and organized labor on efforts to reduce bus and truck-related crashes.

Leadership

Raymond P. Martinez was sworn in as administrator of the FMCSA on February 28, 2018. Previously, Martinez served as chairman and chief administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. He left office on October 31, 2019, and the post has been without a permanent occupant ever since.

Cathy F. Gautreaux became the agency's deputy administrator in November 2019 after having served as the executive director of the Louisiana Motor Transportation Association for 29 years. She left office on January 20, 2021.

Meera Joshi served as acting administrator of the FMCSA from January 20, 2021, prior to her appointment as deputy mayor for operations of New York City in January 2022.