When the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration comes to mind, most truckers don’t automatically think “cutting edge efficiency and technology.” The Government Accountability Office must have had the same thought, because they launched a review of the FMCSA’s IT, data collection, and management systems. While it probably won’t surprise you that the FMCSA fell short, how far short they fell just may.
In 2011, the FMCSA started an initiative to update its Information Technology (IT), data collection, and management systems. By updating the way they gathered, stored, and used information, they would be able to make better decisions about life-saving safety programs.
Then, in 2015, Congress mandated that the GAO look in to what was taking so long with the updates.
The goal of the GAO’s study was to see how the update was going. It turns out that not only has the update not been going well, the FMCSA doesn’t even have a “complete plan” for modernizing. And yet, somehow, the FMCSA reported that it spent around $46 million for its IT investments in fiscal year 2016 alone.
While the report doesn’t go into specific detail about what having up-to-date IT, data collection, and management systems would allow the agency to accomplish, a common criticism of the FMCSA’s regulations (like the 2013 hours of service changes) are that they are made with too little research, too little data, and too little insight into the real-world impact they will have.
But it’s not just major reforms that are impacted by the agency’s failure to get with the times. One example given in the GAO report is about creating a Unified Registration System. The program was supposed to “replace current registration systems with a single, online federal system.” This would streamline the registration process and allow the patchwork of systems currently used to be retired, improving efficiency and saving money. Unfortunately, the program hit a wall and hasn’t progressed at all since early this year.
The report also notes that in order to move forward with an update of its systems, the FMCSA will need positions filled that the Trump administration hasn’t even nominated someone for yet.
You can read a summary of the report here, or read the entire GAO report which reads like a scathing letter here.
Source: gao, gao, truckinginfo, fleetowner, fedscoop
Rufus Crank says
I think we should issue them an Out of Service Order.
Powers says
10/4 bunch of useless dummies that couldn’t survive the real world.
Craig says
Amen! A nice healthy malmart fine may be in order also.
Warren McKinney says
So every decision made from their “surveys” should be over turned,re evaluated ,then when new data is correct…then recommend changes for “safer and more efficient highways”
Arline Bennett says
but the thing is that everything that has been put in place has nothing to do with safer highways. Now the new one they just forced Dec. 18th is a joke. They need to educate the 4 wheelers how to maneuver near and around semi’s ,,,89 % of truck wrecks are because of 4 wheelers. Nothing that has been put in place by the FMCSA has safety in mind at all. They need to give this back to the ICC at least they had more safety in mind than the FMCSA
Sean says
I think that more drivers should just get out of it. I can make more $$$$ by doing math at 40 hrs a week than by driving a truck at 60 to 70 hrs a week. More time ofc and more money,…..And the trucking industry wonders why there is a driver shortage. Take a page from the railroad playbook
They cooperate with each other…that is why you see a BNSF car on a CSX train. And so forth. Very simple and more efficient. Less turnover.
Brian says
Then what the hell did they do with the $46M?!!! Trump needs to fire some fools in the FMCSA!!!
Ronald Jewell says
That’s how they got the job! He just replace them with higher paid fools! Howbout accountability with prison terms of embelizement & fraud charges. Then make them drive for Swift!
Paul Yancey says
Where did the money go then???!!!!
Ron says
Fmcsa, it’s nothing but about money, And the money they clam they spent,well someone’s pocket got full. Everything should back the way it was. Besides they can’t use the excuse, that Trump hasn,t filled spots, Mr. Trump wasn’t even in the picture, when they were formed.
Kenneth S Askew says
The whole ELD issue is bullshit.i have been using one for 5 months and wow!!! Time wasted , stress level through the roof new meaning to go! Go! Gooo!!!! Lost revenue of around 12,000 already.Nothing to do with safety.After 25 years of driving I now feel likely I am becoming one of the most dangerous drivers on the Rd.Someone needs to Shut this attack on the trucking industry down.
A.E. Kelly says
That explains why Iowa Troopers pull over CMV’s and try to place them out of service until the driver shows him the regulation and then shows him the clarification from DOT!! It’s happened to me twice in the last couple of months 😑
Daniel Gibbs says
Some of the programs that are in place Now , If put in the wrong hands, they can really hurt you. Maybe you need to rethink the entire program. The main objective here is public safety. I am seeing accidents that should not be taking place. we never had these types of problems years ago. Trucks not stopping in stopped traffic. Trucks running off the road and so on. Lack of training the do s and don,t s .
Griffin says
Sounds pretty hypocritical to me…
I keep telling people that hypocrisy is by no means limited to the religious realms.
Antinomian says
Just remember a “regulator” is someone with a law degree …and no clients.
Gary H says
Abolish the FMCSA!…And the damn ELD!….Both are complete BS!
Tom says
And the beat goes on.
Richard says
Then if their system isn’t updated to collect data of research then they should repeal every regulation that was put in place si nce they were researching the issue.. Then forbid any regulation being set to precedence until they get more research data from people that ha e exp audience in this field