FMCSA is preparing to take the next major step in the COMPASS program (the Agency's IT modernization initiative). The first phase of the COMPASS program was the FMCSA Portal, which was rolled out in September of 2007. Since the roll-out of the Portal, FMCSA has completed most of the Single Sign-On infrastructure work, and there are nearly 10,000 FMCSA and State Enforcement personnel with active Portal accounts.

Now the Agency is preparing for the next phase of COMPASS with the release of the Sentri. The Sentri is a new application that will ultimately combine the functionality from all of FMCSA's legacy Field systems and streamline the Agency's existing workflow processes. This important new tool will aid State Enforcement and Field personnel in their efforts to target unsafe carriers and drivers and keep them off of our roadways.

The first release of the Sentri will allow Enforcement personnel to perform more stringent Safety Audits on carriers who fall under the New Entrant Safety Assurance Process (New Entrant Rule) and to monitor and follow up on results more efficiently. The application will be available for use beginning on December 21, 2009.

Expected to be released in phases, the Sentri will offer the following benefits in its final form:

• A single environment with one, easy-to-use interface where users can conduct inquiries, inspections, investigations, and interventions, and create and review reports.
• Improved data quality, with a central, standardized database and consistent edit checks.
• Connectivity that will allow users to work online or offline. When online, users will have real-time access to carrier, vehicle, and driver information.

Development of the Sentri will continue over the coming months. Later releases of the application will incorporate inspections, interventions, enforcement cases, enforcement follow-up, and reporting functionality in support of the Comprehensive Safety Analysis (CSA) 2010. Beginning in July of 2010, the Sentri will incorporate the new interventions and BASIC (Behavioral Analysis Safety Improvement Categories) scores defined by CSA 2010 and will ultimately facilitate FMCSA's new Safety Measurement System (SMS). By optimizing FMCSA business processes and improving the Agency's IT functionality, COMPASS and CSA 2010 will help FMCSA and State Enforcement personnel make better decisions, identify high-risk carriers and drivers more effectively, and apply a wider range of interventions to correct high-risk behavior earlier.

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