Looking Both Ways

Please Support MCRR

By John Mueller
Posted Aug 26th 2017 4:00AM

This post of Looking Both Ways takes a look at the Motor Carriers for Regulatory Reform (MCRR) and seeks your support for this coalition.  Visiting this page allows you to support through a letter writing campaign in less than 2 minutes.  http://www.mcrr.net/teana/app/write-a-letter?1&engagementId=388393

You may revise the existing letter or compose your own.

 

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.  FMCSA has been fumbling through revising the way it measures safety of motor carriers – Safety Measurement System “SMS” with its Compliance, Safety and Accountability program “CSA” and the Safety Fitness Determination “SFD”.   Congress has mandated that FMCSA review and revise these programs and systems in MAP 21 and the FAST Act.  FMCSA at times ignores these Congressional mandates operating at will.

 

SMS methodology has been advanced over the past 12 years by FMCSA in the name of safety.  The Agency continues attempts to fix the methodology which is beyond repair.  Accident statistics show it does not work.  It should be repealed and replaced with a simple biennial on-line audit.  These audits are similar to the off-site audit required for all new entrant motor carriers and endorsed as feasible by FMCSA on July 31, 2017.  On-site follow up compliance reviews would take place only if concerns are noted.

 

The agency has an obligation to assign all carriers a safety rating.  The safety ratings should confirm that carriers which are fit to operate are fit to use.  Presently FMCSA assigns safety ratings to less than 1½% of carriers per year.  Most small carriers are unrated.  Shippers who use unrated carriers can be subject to lawsuits claiming negligent selection and vicarious liability.  

 

The MCRR site was originally launched by The Expedite Association of North America (TEANA).  The TEANA association is comprised of small expedite trucking companies.  This tiny niche segment of the very large trucking industry was successful in having CSA Basic scores removed from public view using the MCRR site and a similar letter writing campaign.  The reforms proposed by MCRR in this current letter writing campaign are important in addressing these issues.  These issues can affect the carrier you drive for, which ultimately affects you.

 

Please take a moment to support the MCRR coalition by submitting the letter found at:

http://www.mcrr.net/teana/app/write-a-letter?1&engagementId=388393

 

Keep up to date on changes within the industry by visiting and participating on www.MCRR.net and www.expeditersonline.com

 

 

Thank you drivers for all you do.

 

 

To read more of my blogs please visit:

https://www.expeditersonline.com/trucking-blogs/looking-both-ways/

 

©John Mueller, CDS, COSS

The Transportation Station

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