We Are FMCSA Brochure

Our nation’s economy depends on the CMV industry. CMVs transport goods and carry thousands of passengers across the country every day. It is critical that America continues to have a strong and safe CMV industry.

At the same time, all motorists should be aware of the unique safety challenges of CMVs due to their size, weight, and operation—from wide turns and massive blind spots, to transportation of hazardous materials.

That’s why FMCSA asks everyone to be a partner in truck and bus safety.

MISSION: CRITICAL

As the lead government agency responsible for regulating  and providing safety oversight of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), FMCSA’s mission is to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses. 

Established in 2000, FMCSA partners with industry, safety advocates, and state and local governments to keep our nation’s roadways safe. Approximately 1,100 dedicated FMCSA employees across the country work diligently  every day to improve CMV safety by preventing large truck and bus crashes and saving lives through: 

• Partnerships
• Education
• Enforcement
• Research
• Technology 
• Regulation

KEY PRIORITIES

The Department of Transportation has three top priorities:

Safety – Keeping traveling Americans safe

Innovation – Engaging with emerging technologies

Infrastructure – Upgrading the nation’s infrastructure

FMCSA leads a wide array of programs for industry, drivers, and the public, including those featured below. 

FMCSA PROGRAMS

Compliance, Safety, Accountability 
Enforces compliance with CMV safety regulations by an array of measures including the Safety Measurement System (SMS), FMCSA’s performance-based method of focusing resources on the highest risk carriers.

Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse 
Maintains records of all drug and alcohol program violations in a central repository for employers to check whether current and prospective employees have incurred a drug or alcohol violation that would prohibit them from operating a CMV. 

Hazardous Materials (HM) Program 
Ensures compliance with Hazardous Materials Regulations, and provides industry information, training, and education on HM transportation safety, regulations, and emergency response. 

Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Program 
Establishes national standards for testing, licensing, and disqualifying commercial drivers and ensures that only qualified drivers are eligible to receive and retain a CDL. 

Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program 
Provides financial assistance to states to reduce the number and severity of accidents by sponsoring states’ CMV enforcement efforts.

New Entrant Program 
Requires CMV operators to register with FMCSA before  beginning interstate operations, and subjects new entrants to a safety audit and monitoring for the first 18 months.

Military Driver Program
Offers programs that make it easier, quicker, and less expensive for experienced military drivers to transition to civilian transportation careers and obtain CDLs.

Protect Your Move 
Educates consumers on household goods moving fraud  and how to research interstate moving companies using FMCSA resources.