Your portal account on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) website provides the information you need to remain compliant, check your own record, and much more. It can certainly be frustrating when you can’t access the system for a variety of reasons. Below are some common causes of difficulty along with troubleshooting tips to get you back on the website.
Read moreWhat do I do if I have issues with my FMCSA Portal Account?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issues operating authority in several categories. The category you fall into depends on the type of goods you transport and your origination and destination points. We’ll explain what it means to be a household goods carrier.
On April 1, 2002, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) revised its regulations regarding the Motor Carrier Identification Report. The more common name for this report is MCS-150. For the past 18 years, the FMCSA has required motor carriers to update the report at least once every 24 months. This is true even if the motor carrier has no changes to report. The requirement came about in response to the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999, Section 217.
Read moreHow to change your Motor Carrier Identification Report information
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) operates a program known as Safety Measurement System (SMS) for three primary purposes. The first is to identify motor carriers that fail to meet the agency’s safety standards and begin intervention efforts with them. SMS also helps the FMCSA determine and track specific safety issues prior to the intervention. Lastly, the system aids in monitoring motor carriers that don’t comply with specific orders to improve performance.
Read moreWhat should I do if I can’t sign in to the Safety Measurement System?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has the enormous responsibility of providing safety oversight and implementing regulations for the millions of commercial motor vehicles (CMV) on our nation’s highways. The purpose of the organization is to reduce fatalities, injuries, and crashes associated with 18-wheel trucks and passenger buses. The FMCSA, established in 2000, currently employs approximately 1,100 people. In addition to regulation and enforcement, the FMCSA sponsors education, research, technology, and strategic partnerships. They also run numerous safety programs.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires all motor carriers to update their registration information every two years. This is true even if you haven’t had any changes in the past 24 months. It’s important to do the FMCSA biennial update of your information on time to avoid issues down the line.
Read moreWhat happens if you don’t do your FMCSA biennial update?
You may have some confusion about this requirement if you own or operate a trucking company. According to literature published by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the requirement to obtain an identification number from the Department of Transportation (DOT) applies only to the company. It does not apply to a specific vehicle or branch office. Here’s what to know if your trucking company has multiple branches.
Read moreShould all branches of a truck business have a DOT Number?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires all new carriers to participate in the New Entrant program during their first 18 months of employment. A new entrant does not have a domicile in Mexico and holds an identification number with the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT). New entrants are also involved with interstate commerce. Before motor carriers can become new entrants, they must complete Form MCS-150 Combined Motor Carrier Identification Report.
Read moreWhat occurs after a motor carrier becomes a new entrant?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) began on January 1, 2000 as an offshoot of the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT). Before that, the FMCSA was part of the Federal Highway Administration. This changed with passage of the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act, passed in 1999.
Read moreWhere do I find the FMCSA regulations for motor carriers?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires any individual or company subject to its authority to update information associated with its United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) registration every two years. This is true even if all information has remained the same since the last update. The FMCSA also requires a biennial update from any motor carrier that has gone out of business and didn’t previously update it or no longer participates in interstate operations. You might wonder if you can just go to your local FMCSA office to update it. We’ll explain.
Read moreCan I update my USDOT Number at my local FMCSA office?