WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, recently introduced the Motor Carrier Safety Selection Standard Act. The bill would improve highway safety by requiring the U.S. Department of Transportation to establish a Safety Fitness Determination test for shippers and brokers to ensure trucking companies are licensed, registered, and insured. U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) co-led the introduction of the legislation. 

“Our legislation is a common-sense measure to improve highway safety and end the confusion over motor carrier selection standards. Implementing a single, simplified federal rule will also strengthen America’s supply chain and provide much-needed clarity for the transportation sector. I want to thank Senator Crapo for his support to push this legislation forward,” said Senator Fischer. 

“The entire nation benefits when our interstates and highways are made safer. The Motor Carrier Safety Selection Standard Act directs the Department of Transportation to establish new safety standards for motor carriers, and sets interim requirements to help ensure shippers and manufacturers hire safe, reliable drivers that are properly licensed, registered and insured,” said Senator Crapo.

“TIA applauds Senator Fischer on the introduction of the Motor Carrier Safety Selection Standard Act in the United States Senate. TIA thanks Senator Fischer for her continued support to address highway safety and confusion in the supply chain as it relates to motor carrier selection. Senator Fischer is a leader on policy issues in the transportation and supply chain and continues to be a champion on major issues that impact motor carriers, brokers, the motoring public, and highway safety,” said Anne Reinke, President and CEO of the Transportation Intermediaries Association.

“Senator Fischer has consistently been a champion of common-sense safety reform, and she demonstrates that again with the introduction of the Motor Carrier Safety Selection Standard Act. Without a clear federal standard, the result is a confusing patchwork of standards that threaten the nation’s economy and public safety. Some companies have already begun excluding motor carriers from their logistics networks based on their own assessment of who is ‘safe’ and who is not. This harms small carriers with five trucks or fewer who make up 90% of the market. Congress established the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and their trained safety experts to keep the motoring public safe. With this bill, Senator Fischer will improve safety and increase access to freight for small motor carriers, which will improve the nation’s supply chains,” said Ben Campbell, Chief Legal Officer of C. H. Robinson.

Background:

Currently, third-party logistics providers (3PLs) lack a reliable national standard to determine the safety of a truck carrier. The Motor Carrier Safety Selection Standard Act provides clarity to shippers and 3PLs by establishing a national motor carrier hiring standard.

The standard requires motor carriers to be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), meet at least the minimum insurance requirement, and not have an unsatisfactory safety rating. If this standard is followed, a 3PL would be considered to have selected a carrier in “a reasonable and prudent manner.”

Click here to view text of the legislation.

 

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