To establish a Motor Carrier Safety Research Analysis Committee (MCSRAC) that can provide professional analysis to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) on its research work.

The establishment of an external standing research review committee is considered a standard practice for executive branch agencies that support research and development.

This project's funds were used to support the services of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) in strengthening FMCSA’s Research and Technology Program to better meet the needs of the Agency’s safety mission as well as to inform commercial motor vehicle carrier enforcement, the research community, safety advocates, and industry of active and planned projects. This was achieved through the establishment of a MCSRAC, a panel of 8–10 nationally recognized experts in transportation-related research and technology who could provide professional analysis to FMCSA on its research work. The committee provided a process for recognized experts to review the Agency’s research portfolio and provide knowledgeable suggestions for addressing pressing motor carrier safety challenges and opportunities. FMCSA’s research program benefited from the suggestions and ideas on prioritizing scarce research dollars, and increasing the quality, relevance, and dissemination of motor carrier-related research projects.

August 2016: Kick-off meeting
October 2016: Panel members selected
October 2016: Establishment of subject matter for panel review
December 2016: First committee meeting

March 2017: Publish first letter report

FY 2016: $150,000

Complete—the first letter report with recommendations was published in March 2017 and is available at: http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/175792.aspx.

TRB