The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced it will hold a public listening session to solicit input on key challenges facing the motor carrier industry, issues facing stakeholders and concerns that should be considered by FMCSA in developing its next five-year strategic plan.
The notice also invited written comments, suggestions and recommendations from all individuals and organizations on FMCSA’s mission, vision and strategic objectives for the plan.
The public meeting – at the Holiday Inn Washington-Capitol, 550 C St. S.W., Washington, D.C. – will be held Sept. 8 in three consecutive listening sessions: safety partners, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.; industry partners, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.; and enforcement partners, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Comments for discussion at the listening session may be submitted by Sept. 1. Additional written comments may be submitted by Sept. 30.
Following are some of the key issues that FMCSA hopes public comments will address.
In addition to general comments, the agency seeks any documents, studies or references relevant to the issues:
1. How should we strengthen FMCSA’s role/mission of improving the safety of commercial motor vehicles (CMV) and saving lives as it relates to some of FMCSA’s core program: commercial motor vehicle compliance and enforcement, commercial driver licensing, household goods protection, safe and secure transportation of hazardous materials?
2. How can FMCSA have a greater impact in the reduction of injury and loss of life on the nation’s highways?
3. How can FMCSA improve the way it does business, provides customer service and interacts with all road user groups? What are some of the challenges you have in interacting with FMCSA that prevent you from conducting your business effectively? What actions should FMCSA take to improve interactions between CMV drivers and drivers of private vehicles? Please identify possible improvements or ideas for doing
better.
4. How might FMCSA improve or strengthen its partnership with stakeholders representing state enforcement agencies, safety advocacy groups, the motor carrier industry and the general public to achieve its safety mission?
5. How should FMCSA balance driver-focused, vehicle-focused and motor carrier-focused compliance, interventions and enforcement to achieve its safety mission?
6. How will advanced vehicle technologies (such as crash avoidance, electronic onboard recorders and global positioning systems) impact the future of driver behavior, vehicle safety and motor carrier safety?
7. How will changes in the following areas impact the industry, your organization and/or FMCSA’s ability to achieve its mission in the future?
• Demographics
• Economics
• New policies in environment, energy and other areas
8. What technological changes could positively impact highway safety?
9. How will technology affect driver behavior? What issues related to vehicle/driver interaction could affect safety performance?
