Sen. Deb Fischer Criticizes FMCSA’s Regulatory Process
The chairwoman of the subcommittee on trucking issues in the U.S. Senate criticized the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on May 2 for its safety performance scoring program and the manner in which the agency crafts its regulations.
“Commercial carriers and businesses across our state will benefit from increased participation, clarity and transparency within the obscure and often controversial regulatory process at the FMCSA,” said Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), chairwoman of the Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security Subcommittee.
Fischer led a hearing in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, to tout the passage of the FAST Act five-year highway law and gain perspective on rural transportation issues for local officials.
Fischer stressed the industry needs FMCSA to ensure a safety performance scoring system reflects accurately the work carriers perform. FMCSA is required to reform the methodology of their Compliance, Safety, Accountability, or CSA, scoring program.
“Erroneous scores had prompted frivolous litigation and caused carriers to lose long-standing business contracts,” Fischer added.
She also praised provisions in the FAST Act aimed at reforming the regulatory structure at FMCSA and a pilot program designed to bring in younger veterans and reserve members to interstate trucking.
“This will help to address our nation’s serious truck driver shortage, while also providing work opportunities for those who have served our nation,” Fischer said.
