Source: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/49/31100
Timestamp: 2019-04-18 14:33:55+00:00

Document:
advancing promising technologies and encouraging adoption of safe operational practices.
the Safety Measurement System utilized by the CSA program (referred to in this part as the ‘SMS’).
the recommendations and findings of the Comptroller General of the United States and the Inspector General of the Department [of Transportation], and independent review team reports, issued before the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 4, 2015].
publish the report on a publicly accessible Internet Web site of the Department.
provides an estimate of the cost, including with respect to changes in staffing, enforcement, and data collection, necessary to address such deficiencies or opportunities.
shall be considered in any rulemaking by the Department that relates to the CSA program, including the SMS or data analysis under the SMS.
submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on the responsiveness of the corrective action plan to the recommendations described in paragraph (1).
satisfies other standards determined appropriate by the Administrator.
establishing a safety BASIC in the SMS.
The Administrator, after providing notice and an opportunity for comment, shall develop a process for identifying and reviewing advanced safety equipment, enhanced driver fitness measures, fleet safety management tools, technologies, and programs, and other standards for use by motor carriers to receive recognition, including credit or an improved SMS percentile, for purposes of subsection (a).
seek input and participation from industry stakeholders, including commercial motor vehicle drivers, technology manufacturers, vehicle manufacturers, motor carriers, law enforcement, safety advocates, and the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee.
The Administrator, after providing notice and an opportunity for comment, shall develop technical or other performance standards with respect to advanced safety equipment, enhanced driver fitness measures, fleet safety management tools, technologies, and programs, and other standards for purposes of subsection (a).
The Administrator may authorize qualified entities to monitor motor carriers that receive recognition, including credit or an improved SMS percentile, under this section through a no-cost contract structure.
any relevant statistics relating to the use of advanced safety equipment, enhanced driver fitness measures, fleet safety management tools, technologies, and programs, and other standards.
safety performance of such carriers.
the Secretary [of Transportation] has initiated modification of the CSA program in accordance with section 5222.
Information regarding alerts and the relative percentile for each BASIC developed under the CSA program may not be used for safety fitness determinations until the Inspector General of the Department makes the certification under subsection (a).
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, inspection and violation information submitted to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration by commercial motor vehicle inspectors and qualified law enforcement officials, out-of-service rates, and absolute measures shall remain available to the public.
a data analysis of motorcoach operators may be provided online with a notation indicating that the ratings or alerts listed are not intended to imply any Federal safety rating of the carrier.
The notation described in paragraph (1)(C) shall include the following: ‘Readers should not draw conclusions about a carrier’s overall safety condition simply based on the data displayed in this system. Unless a motor carrier has received an UNSATISFACTORY safety rating under part 385 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, or has otherwise been ordered to discontinue operations by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, it is authorized to operate on the Nation’s roadways.’.
Nothing in this section may be construed to restrict the official use by State enforcement agencies of the data collected by State enforcement personnel.
The Administrator shall develop functional specifications to ensure the consistent and accurate input of data into systems and databases relating to the CSA program.
shall be made available to public and private sector developers.
The Administrator shall ensure that internal systems and databases accept and effectively manage data using uniform standards.
Before implementing the functional specifications developed pursuant to subsection (a) or the standards described in subsection (c), the Administrator shall seek input from the State agencies responsible for enforcing section 31102 of title 49, United States Code.
Not later than 1 year after a certification under section 5223, the Secretary shall task the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee with reviewing the treatment of preventable crashes under the SMS.
Not later than 6 months after being tasked under subsection (a), the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee shall make recommendations to the Secretary on a process to allow motor carriers and drivers to request that the Administrator make a determination with respect to the preventability of a crash, if such a process has not yet been established by the Secretary.
report to Congress on how the Secretary intends to address the treatment of preventable crashes.
Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 13, 2006], the Secretary of Transportation, in cooperation with the Secretary [of Homeland Security], shall issue regulations to implement the recommendations contained in the memorandum of the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation issued on June 4, 2004 (Control No. 2004–054).
Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 13, 2006], the Secretary of Transportation, in cooperation with the Secretary [of Homeland Security], shall issue a regulation to implement the recommendations contained in the Report on Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Oversight of the Commercial Driver’s License Program (MH–2006–037).
Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 13, 2006], the Secretary [of Homeland Security], in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, shall draft guidelines for Federal, State, and local law enforcement officials, including motor carrier safety enforcement personnel, on how to identify noncompliance with Federal laws uniquely applicable to commercial motor vehicles and commercial motor vehicle operators engaged in cross-border traffic and communicate such noncompliance to the appropriate Federal authorities. Such guidelines shall be coordinated with the training and outreach activities of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration under section 4139 of SAFETEA-LU (Public Law 109–59) [set out below].
Pub. L. 109–59, title IV, § 4127, Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1741, as amended by Pub. L. 111–147, title IV, § 422(g), Mar. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 87; Pub. L. 111–322, title II, § 2202(g), Dec. 22, 2010, 124 Stat. 3525; Pub. L. 112–5, title II, § 202(g), Mar. 4, 2011, 125 Stat. 17; Pub. L. 112–30, title I, § 122(f), Sept. 16, 2011, 125 Stat. 349; Pub. L. 112–102, title II, § 202(f), Mar. 30, 2012, 126 Stat. 274; Pub. L. 112–140, title II, § 202(f), June 29, 2012, 126 Stat. 395; Pub. L. 112–141, div. C, title II, § 32603(f), div. G, title II, § 112002(e), July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 808, 983; Pub. L. 113–159, title I, § 1102(f), Aug. 8, 2014, 128 Stat. 1844; Pub. L. 114–21, title I, § 1102(f), May 29, 2015, 129 Stat. 222; Pub. L. 114–41, title I, § 1102(f), July 31, 2015, 129 Stat. 449; Pub. L. 114–73, title I, § 1102(f), Oct. 29, 2015, 129 Stat. 572; Pub. L. 114–87, title I, § 1102(f), Nov. 20, 2015, 129 Stat. 681, which provided for an outreach and education program, was repealed by Pub. L. 114–94, div. A, title V, § 5103(c)(4), Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1527. See section 31110(c) of this title.
Pub. L. 109–59, title IV, § 4128, Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1742, which provided for grants to States for projects and activities to improve the accuracy, timeliness, and completeness of commercial motor vehicle safety data reported to the Secretary of Transportation, was repealed by Pub. L. 114–94, div. A, title V, § 5101(e)(6), Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1525, effective Oct. 1, 2016.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Aug. 10, 2005], the Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration shall conduct outreach and provide training as necessary to State personnel engaged in the enforcement of Federal motor carrier safety regulations to ensure their awareness of the process to be used for verification of the operating authority of motor carriers, including motor carriers of passengers, and to ensure proper enforcement when motor carriers are found to be in violation of operating authority requirements.
provide advice and recommendations to the Administrator on motor carrier safety regulations.
The committee shall be composed of not more than 20 members appointed by the Administrator from among individuals who are not employees of the Administration and who are specially qualified to serve on the committee because of their education, training, or experience. The members shall include representatives of the motor carrier industry, safety advocates, and safety enforcement officials. Representatives of a single enumerated interest group may not constitute a majority of the members of the advisory committee.
The Administrator shall designate the chairman of the committee.
A member of the committee shall serve without pay; except that the Administrator may allow a member, when attending meetings of the committee or a subcommittee of the committee, expenses authorized under section 5703 of title 5, relating to per diem, travel, and transportation expenses.
The Administrator shall provide support staff for the committee. On request of the committee, the Administrator shall provide information, administrative services, and supplies that the Administrator considers necessary for the committee to carry out its duties and powers.
Reducing the number and rates of crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving commercial motor vehicles.
Improving the consistency and effectiveness of commercial motor vehicle, operator, and carrier enforcement and compliance programs.
Identifying and targeting enforcement efforts at high-risk commercial motor vehicles, operators, and carriers.
Improving research efforts to enhance and promote commercial motor vehicle, operator, and carrier safety and performance.
To increase the number of inspections and compliance reviews to ensure that all high-risk commercial motor vehicles, operators, and carriers are examined.
To eliminate, with meaningful safety measures, the backlog of rulemakings.
To improve the quality and effectiveness of data bases by ensuring that all States and inspectors accurately and promptly report complete safety information.
To eliminate, with meaningful civil and criminal penalties for violations, the backlog of enforcement cases.
To provide for a sufficient number of Federal and State safety inspectors, and provide adequate facilities and equipment, at international border areas.
In addition, the strategy and annual plans shall include estimates of the funds and staff resources needed to accomplish each activity. Such estimates shall also include the staff skills and training needed for timely and effective accomplishment of each goal.
In developing and assessing progress toward meeting the measurable goals set forth in this subsection, the Secretary and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator shall not take any action that would impinge on the due process rights of motor carriers and drivers.
Beginning with fiscal year 2001 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress the strategy and annual plan at the same time as the President’s budget submission.
The Secretary and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator.
The Administrator and the Deputy Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator.
The Administrator and the Chief Safety Officer of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
The Administrator and the regulatory ombudsman of the Administration designated by the Administrator under subsection (f).
Each annual performance agreement entered into under paragraph (1) shall include the appropriate numeric or measurable goals of subsection (b).
Consistent with the current performance appraisal system of the Department of Transportation, the Secretary shall assess the progress of each official (other than the Secretary) referred to in paragraph (1) toward achieving the goals in his or her performance agreement. The Secretary shall convey the assessment to such official, including identification of any deficiencies that should be remediated before the next progress assessment.
In deciding whether or not to award a bonus or other achievement award to an official of the Administration who is a party to a performance agreement required by this subsection, the Secretary shall give substantial weight to whether the official has made satisfactory progress toward meeting the goals of his or her performance agreement.
No less frequently than semiannually, the Secretary and the Administrator shall assess the progress of the Administration toward achieving the strategic goals of subsection (a). The Secretary and the Administrator shall convey their assessment to the employees of the Administration and shall identify any deficiencies that should be remediated before the next progress assessment.
The Secretary shall report annually to Congress the contents of each performance agreement entered into under subsection (d) and the official’s performance relative to the goals of the performance agreement. In addition, the Secretary shall report to Congress on the performance of the Administration relative to the goals of the motor carrier safety strategy and annual plan under subsection (a).
The Secretary may establish a commercial motor vehicle safety advisory committee to provide advice and recommendations on a range of motor carrier safety issues.
The members of the advisory committee shall be appointed by the Secretary and shall include representatives of the motor carrier industry, drivers, safety advocates, manufacturers, safety enforcement officials, law enforcement agencies of border States, and other individuals affected by rulemakings under consideration by the Department of Transportation. Representatives of a single interest group may not constitute a majority of the members of the advisory committee.
The advisory committee shall provide advice to the Secretary on commercial motor vehicle safety regulations and other matters relating to activities and functions of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
develop effective safety improvement policies and programs.
The study shall be designed to yield information that will help the Department and the States identify activities and other measures likely to lead to significant reductions in the frequency, severity, and rate per mile traveled of crashes involving commercial motor vehicles, including vehicles described in section 31132(1)(B) of title 49, United States Code. As practicable, the study shall rank such activities and measures by the reductions each would likely achieve, if implemented.
The Secretary shall make available for public comment information about the objectives, methodology, implementation, findings, and other aspects of the study.
The Secretary shall promptly transmit to Congress the results of the study, together with any legislative recommendations.
The Secretary shall review the study at least once every 5 years and update the study and report as necessary.
Pub. L. 106–159, title II, § 225, Dec. 9, 1999, 113 Stat. 1771, directed the Secretary, in cooperation with the States, to carry out a program to improve the collection and analysis of data on crashes, including crash causation, involving commercial motor vehicles and to transmit a report on the program and authorized appropriations for fiscal years 2001, 2002, and 2003.

References: § 4127
 § 422
 § 2202
 § 202
 § 122
 § 202
 § 202
 § 32603
 § 112002
 § 1102
 § 1102
 § 1102
 § 1102
 § 1102
 § 5103
 § 4128
 § 5101
 § 225