In support of the mission of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to improve truck and bus safety on our nation's highways, on January 1, 2005, the Agency began phasing in the Federal Hazardous Materials Safety Permit Program for intrastate, interstate, and foreign motor carriers transporting certain types and amounts of hazardous materials. These carriers must maintain a certain level of safety in their operations and certify they have programs in place as required by the Hazardous Materials Regulations and the HM Permit regulations.