The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently sent warning letters to 23,000 carriers that need to address areas of compliance, Administrator Anne Ferro said March 15.

The letters, which are less serious than an onsite audit, are part of the agency’s new Compliance, Safety, Accountability program, which outlines how FMCSA will intervene with carriers whose performance is sub-par.

Ferro spoke to Truckload Carriers Association members at TCA’s annual meeting in San Diego.

She said CSA and other regulatory initiatives support FMCSA’s three basic goals of raising standards for those entering the trucking industry, ensuring high standards for those in it and “getting the bad guys off the road,” meaning trucks, drivers, carriers, brokers or others.

Regarding the new plan for restarting cross-border trucking, Ferro said it has stronger safety standards than the 2009 pilot program. It will be “an opportunity for Mexico to lift the tariffs that have done so much harm to farmers and other industries in the U.S.”

A pre-operational component will include intensive screening of drivers, carriers and trucks. Carriers will be required to have U.S.-based insurance. Carriers that meet all safety criteria will receive provisional operating authority and will continue to be inspected. Those that continue to meet standards will receive full authority after 18 months.