November 30, 2005

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) hosted an industry capabilities meeting for an upcoming project entitled "The Motor Carrier Efficiency Study" on February 9, 2006, in Miami, FL. The purpose of the meeting was to gather input from the wireless and trucking industries on this congressionally directed effort. Specifically, FMCSA was seeking information relative to supply-chain management and wireless technology capabilities to improve the safety and productivity of motor carrier freight transportation, including intermodal operations, cross-border movements, and points-of-freight interchange.

The Motor Carrier Efficiency Study, as specified in Section 5503 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) transportation authorization legislation, will address the following areas:

• Identification of inefficiencies in the transportation of freight;
• Evaluation of the safety, productivity, and increased cost savings that may be achieved through the use of wireless technologies to address the inefficiencies in the transportation of freight; and
• Field demonstrations of how wireless technologies will improve inefficiencies.

You may obtain a copy of the "Summary of the Industry Capabilities Meeting," in the Reports section of the FMCSA Web site.