FMCSA Request Comments on Beyond Compliance Initiative

On Dec. 18, 2019, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published a notice in the Federal Register and requests public comments on the Beyond Compliance program. The FAST Act requires FMCSA to allow recognition, including credit or an improved Safety Measurement System (SMS) percentile, for motor carriers that: (1) Install advanced safety equipment; (2) Use enhanced driver fitness measures; (3) Adopt fleet safety management tools, technologies, and programs; or (4) Satisfy other standards determined appropriate by the Administrator.

The FAST Act also requires the FMCSA Administrator to carry out the Beyond Compliance provisions through:

1.  Incorporating a methodology into the Compliance Safety Accountability (CSA) program; or
2. establishing a safety Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Category (BASIC).

FMCSA intends to meet the requirements of the FAST Act by:

1. Developing a process for identifying elements of technology and safety programs as a basis for recognition;
2. seeking input from stakeholders;
3. using a third party for a monitoring program; and
4. providing a report to Congress.

The primary purpose of the ICR is to obtain information from motor carriers, which will allow FMCSA to study and to assess the effectiveness of various technologies, programs, and policies on motor carrier safety performance in support of the implementation of the FAST Act Beyond Compliance requirements. To accomplish this, the study will complete the following three objectives:

1. Identify high-performing carriers in terms of safety performance.
2. Determine the safety technologies, programs, and policies employed by these carriers.
3. Gauge the relative effectiveness of those safety technologies, programs, and policies based on the expert opinion and performance metrics of the high-performing carriers.

TIA’s Highway Logistics Conference and CSA-Carrier Selection Framework Subcommittee, will review the information and advocate where necessary on behalf of the 3PL industry. Comments are due to the Agency by Feb. 18, 2020. If you have any questions, please contact TIA Advocacy (advocacy@tianet.org, 703.299.5700).