FEDERAL
MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
AUTHORIZATION:
Transportation
Act, Public Law 97-449, 49 U.S.C. 3102, 10927, 2314; Department
of Transportation Act of 1966, as amended, Public Law 92-574, 49
U.S.C. 1655; Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C. 1801;
Noise Control Act of 1972, 42 U.S.C. 4917; Motor Carrier Act of
1980; Bus Regulatory Reform Act of 1982, Public Law 97- 261; Surface
Transportation Assistance Act of 1982, Public Law 97-424; Motor
Carrier Safety Act of 1984, Title II, Public Law 98-554; Commercial
Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986, Title XII, Public Law 99- 570;
Motor Carrier Safety Act of 1991, Title IV, Public Law 102-240.
To
protect the public from risks inherent in commercial vehicle operations
on the public highways, and to minimize risks involved in moving
hazardous materials over public highways.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Training. Place Cursor Here for Definition
Investigation of Complaints. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Complaints
of unsafe truck operations and illegal or unethical motor carrier
operations are accepted from the public and other elements of government
at all levels. Complaints must be in writing, but public complaints
need not be signed. Orientation and training in motor carrier safety
inspection, hazardous materials identification, and incident response
are provided at no cost on a funds and time availability basis to
State and local enforcement and emergency response personnel.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: Anyone is eligible to file a complaint;
State and local police, rescue, and fire fighting units may request
safety and hazardous materials training.
Beneficiary
Eligibility: General public for investigation
of complaints; State and local police, rescue, and fire fighting
units for training.
Credentials/Documentation:
Written complaints for violations or unsafe practices; letterhead
request for orientation or training on safety and hazardous materials.
Pre-application
Coordination: This program is excluded from
coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application
Procedure: Letter of complaint for unsafe,
illegal or unethical practices; letterhead request for orientation
and training.
Award
Procedure: State Director assigns Safety Investigator
staff to follow up on complaints; Regional Director, Office of
Motor Carrier and Highway Safety State Directors assign resources
to orientation and training requests.
Deadlines:
None.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: From 3 to 7
days.
Appeals:
None.
Renewals:
None.
ASSISTANCE
CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula
and Matching Requirements: None.
Length
and Time Phasing of Assistance: Written complaints
investigated and orientation/training furnished subject only to
resource available limitations.
POST
ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
None.
Audits:
None.
Records:
None.
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION:
Account
Identification: 69-8083-0-7-401.
Obligations:
(Salaries and expenses) FY 01 $2,724,809; FY 02 est $3,195,273;
and FY 03 est $3,253,320.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance: Not applicable.
During fiscal year 2001, 6,654 compliance reviews were conducted
by FMCSA safety specialists. An additional 2,524 compliance reviews
were conducted by States participating in the Motor Carrier Safety
Assistance Program. Eleven thousand seventy three students (Federal
and State) were in hazardous materials transportation and motor
carrier safety regulations and drug interdiction programs.
REGULATIONS,
GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
"Federal
Motor Carrier Safety Regulations," 49 CFR 390-399, and "DOT Hazardous
Materials Regulations," 49 CFR 171-180.
INFORMATION
CONTACTS:
Regional
or Local Office: State-level office of the Federal
Motor Carrier Safety Administration, as listed in Appendix IV of
the Catalog.
Headquarters
Office: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration,
400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: (202)
366-2519.
Web
Site Address: http://www.dot.gov
EXAMPLES
OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
Training on motor carrier safety and hazardous materials enforcement
provided to State agencies involved in Motor Carrier Safety. These
efforts included instructions in applicable rules, inspection techniques,
drug interdictions, and workplace safeguards.
CRITERIA
FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
Substantive, non-frivolous complaints are investigated on an as-received
basis, incorporating risk- assessment criteria; training requests
are honored on a time and resource availability basis.
