FMCSA Announces Millions In Trucking Safety Grants To States
Ryan Bradley | June 9, 2011 | Federal Motor Carrier Regulations \ Tractor Trailer Personal Injury News \ Truck Accident
The federal government recently announced that state agencies will receive millions of dollars in a concerted effort to reduce the number of trucking accidents in Missouri and around the nation. After extensive research and discussion with state-level safety leaders, the federal government is awarding several states grant funds to bolster trucking safety. The federal grants are awarded by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
The FMCSA, an agency within the United States Department of Transportation, is a segment of the federal government designed to improve the safety of motor carriers operating in the United States. The FMCSA’s motor carrier regulations apply to commercial vehicles like semi-trucks, tractor trailers, and passenger buses among others. Motor carriers operating in violation of FMCSA regulations may be sanctioned. If a motor carrier commits a serious safety violation, the FMCSA may order the motor carrier to cease operation.
The FMCSA also provides grant funds to help other authorities monitor and improve trucking safety. For example, the North Dakota Highway Patrol will receive a trucking safety grant of $1,1963,108. According to the FMCSA, the North Dakota Highway Patrol will use this grant to “conduct compliance reviews, safety audits, and thousands of inspections” within its state as well as on its borders. The Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will receive a trucking safety grant of $7.9 million from the FMCSA. The multi-million grant will go toward monitoring high-crash traffic corridors, conducting safety audits of new commercial motor vehicles, and upgrading the licensing test for commercial motor vehicle drivers.
The FMCSA prides itself on its partnerships with state and local traffic safety agencies. However, the FMCSA has yet to announce traffics safety grants specifically for Missouri. Like many other states, Missouri loses too many of its citizens in fatal Missouri trucking accidents each year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 800 Missourians were killed in fatal traffic accidents in 2009 alone.
Missouri law enforcement agencies and Missouri traffic safety agencies work hard to decrease the number of Missouri truck accidents. However, Missouri trucking accidents are not entirely preventable. Some trucking companies do not properly maintain their fleet despite federal regulations. Some truck drivers negligently operate commercial motor vehicles despite extensive safety training. If and when a Missouri trucking accident occurs, accident victims need skilled Missouri car accident lawyers to help them obtain compensation for their injuries.
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