New FMCSA Policy on Driver, Vehicle, HazMat Out-of-Service and Crash Rates
Under 49 CFR 385.407, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) may not issue a hazardous materials safety permit (HMSP) to a motor carrier having a crash rate, or driver, vehicle, or hazardous materials (HM) out-of-service (OOS) rate in the top 30 percent of the national average. FMCSA has published an enforcement policy amendment revising the date used to calculate the threshold crash and OOS rates, from calendar year cycles to fiscal year cycles, from October 1 of a given year to September 30 of the following year. This provides motor carriers and the industry a 3-month preview of the crash and OOS rates FMCSA uses to determine HMSP eligibility, before the motor carrier HMSP registration cycle begins on January 1. This policy amendment is effective October 1, 2010. http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-23440.htm