Motor Carrier Safety Specialist (Safety Investigator)

Overview

FMCSA Safety Investigators (SI) are located throughout the United States, and the positions carry the responsibility for achieving the agency's primary crash reduction goals.  The primary role of a Safety Investigator is to conduct compliance investigations on transportation companies, which can take place at a carrier's place of business or remotely. 

Duties

As an SI, you will receive assignments, make appointments, and conduct in-depth reviews of a motor carrier's compliance with applicable Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.  When violations are discovered, you gather evidence and develop comprehensive reports which outline recommendations, findings and penalties.  Investigation outcomes may also include unsafe entities being declared out-of-service.

Your assignments are generated from an advanced data evaluation system titled the Safety Measurement System (SMS) which identifies transportation companies engaged in unsafe behaviors.  The knowledge that your investigations and findings contribute to prohibiting unsafe companies from operating on highways provides a rewarding and stimulating career.

Essential skills of Safety Investigators are:

• Analytical
• Problem solving
• Communication
• Writing
• Math
• Computer/Technology Literacy 
• High energy
• Some positions located in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and  California may require written and verbal skills in English and Spanish.

Training

FMCSA invests in people.  New safety investigators can expect to benefit from a robust training program, which will include a 10-week academy session and additional field training involving learning from an experienced Safety Investigator and others in a supportive environment.

Why work for the FMCSA?

FMCSA offers a variety of career opportunities and career advancement in one of our many field locations or at our headquarters in Washington, D.C. A safety investigator is a complex and very challenging job, which keeps work exciting and interesting. All of our work is geared to helping truck and bus drivers and the public share the roads safely so their people and goods all arrive at their destination safe and sound. 

Additionally, the work we do makes a difference. Investigators save lives by ensuring that vehicles operate on our nation's highway are safe and have qualified drivers at the wheel.  Ending your day knowing that you changed unsafe behaviors is rewarding.

The federal government is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Hiring and advancement in the federal government are based on qualifications and job performance. All qualified candidates will be considered for employment regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, or any other non-merit factors.