WASHINGTON - Time is running out for motorcoach operators to act on a request by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that operators preview their company data under proposed improvements the agency wants to make to the Safety Measurement System component of its CSA program.

The changes are designed to improve the FMCSA ability to prioritize its workload, but it wants feedback from operators before it fully implements the modifications.

The Safety Measurement System is a key aspect of the Compliance, Safety, Accountability enforcement program introduced by the FMCSA roughly 19 months ago.

The safety agency is recommending bus and truck operators log in and see where they stand based on the refined methodology. The FMCSA says its updated "SMS Preview" gives motor carriers time to take the following actions:

Improve safety compliance by diagnosing issues and taking action to correct organizational problems, train drivers or take other appropriate measures to improve safety.

Request corrections to any inaccurate data.

Provide feedback to FMCSA about refinements they think should be made before the changes are implemented.

The SMS Preview comment period ends July 30.

The FMCSA said it is reviewing the comments it receives and will make any necessary changes prior to implementation.

Carriers can access the SMS Preview through two FMCSA websites:

Go to the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) website http://csa.fmcsa.dot.gov -- and log in with an FMCSA-issued USDOT number and a personal identification number.

Log in to the FMCSA Portal -- https://portal.fmcsa.dot.gov/login -- and select the "CSA Outreach" link.

On the CSA website resources page, visitors can access a document that provides additional information about the SMS changes. A Federal Register notice outlining the changes is also available for review.

Written comments regarding the changes can be filed to the Federal Docket Management System, Docket ID Number FMCSA-2012-0074.