Trucking news and briefs for Monday, July 31, 2023:
U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska) recently introduced the Motor Carrier Safety Selection Standard Act, which would require the U.S. Department of Transportation to establish a “safety fitness determination” test for shippers and brokers to ensure trucking companies are licensed, registered, and insured. U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) co-led the introduction of the legislation.
The bill also would require the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, within a year of the bill's enactment, to finalize efforts to revise the methodology for issuing carrier safety ratings. The bill arrives with the FMCSA in the process of planning a potential rulemaking to update that methodology.
“Our legislation is a common-sense measure to improve highway safety and end the confusion over motor carrier selection standards,” Fischer said. “Implementing a single, simplified federal rule will also strengthen America’s supply chain and provide much-needed clarity for the transportation sector. I want to thank Senator Crapo for his support to push this legislation forward.”
[Related: House bill would require FMCSA to update carrier safety rating regs]
If passed, the bill would require trucking companies to be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, meet at least the minimum insurance requirement, and not have an unsatisfactory safety rating. If this standard is followed, a shipper or broker would be considered to have selected a carrier in “a reasonable and prudent manner.”
A similar bill was introduced in the U.S. House in February by Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wisconsin).
