The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has published a notice proposing revisions in its approach to Safety Measurement Scores (SMS) when identifying carriers for intervention.
If the proposal is adopted, it will have repercussions throughout the industry, according to Ken Presley, Vice President, Legislative & Regulatory Affairs & Industry Relations/COO with the United Motorcoach Association.
UMA was at the epicenter of a coalition of passenger and truck carrier associations opposing earlier proposals that led to legislation compelling FMCSA to engage the National Academy of Sciences.
“A perfunctory read reveals considerable thought and work has gone into the proposal,” said Presley. “Initially, we have some reservations to work through. However, there are likely many areas we can support.”
Operators can preview impact
FMCSA is making it possible for operators to preview their company through the lens of the proposed SMS at https://csa.fmcsa.dot.gov/prioritizationpreview, through the CSA website, or the FMCSA portal. Operators can observe how the proposed methodology may impact their company’s prioritization results.
FMCSA intends to hold a series of question-and-answer sessions for the industry and the public. The dates and times will be announced later and published in the Bus & Motorcoach NewsFLASH.
The SMS uses data from roadside inspections, crash reports and investigations to identify and prioritize for intervention the motor carriers that pose the greatest risk to safety. These latest FMCSA proposals aim to identify better the companies needing the most intervention and will help companies use this data to produce safer behaviors.
“Safety is FMCSA’s core mission,” said FMCSA Administrator Robin Hutcheson in a statement announcing possible changes to SMS. “The proposed changes are part of the agency’s continued commitment to enhancing the fairness, accuracy, and clarity of our prioritization system.”
FMCSA strongly encourages stakeholders to participate in the preview and submit their comments to the public docket. To review the proposed changes, click here. Final comments are due May 16.
Editor’s note: The deadline has been updated.
