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Does being relieved of having to comply with DOT safety regulations make you less safe? A recent government study suggests the answer, at least in limited cases, is no.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) study looked at whether regulatory relief granted to six types of motor carriers and drivers in 2015 has harmed highway safety.
Unlike exemptions issued directly by the FMCSA, these six exemptions were granted by Congress as part of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. They include exemptions that:
Congress required the FMCSA to study the exemptions and report on whether they’re affecting highway safety. After surveying its state-level field officers and reviewing federal crash data, the agency could find little evidence of a safety impact:
The FMCSA cautions that the study had “significant limitations” due to a lack of data, partly due to the small number of eligible drivers.
Several of the exemptions may be found in current FMCSA regulations:
The Federal Highway Administration has guidance on the vehicle size and weight changes, at www.fhwa.dot.gov/fastact.
Contact your state licensing agency for information about the hazmat endorsement exemption.
Key to remember: A new study found no safety impact from six exemptions that Congress passed into law in 2015 as part of the FAST Act. Most of the exemptions remain in effect today.
Does being relieved of having to comply with DOT safety regulations make you less safe? A recent government study suggests the answer, at least in limited cases, is no.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) study looked at whether regulatory relief granted to six types of motor carriers and drivers in 2015 has harmed highway safety.
Unlike exemptions issued directly by the FMCSA, these six exemptions were granted by Congress as part of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. They include exemptions that:
Congress required the FMCSA to study the exemptions and report on whether they’re affecting highway safety. After surveying its state-level field officers and reviewing federal crash data, the agency could find little evidence of a safety impact:
The FMCSA cautions that the study had “significant limitations” due to a lack of data, partly due to the small number of eligible drivers.
Several of the exemptions may be found in current FMCSA regulations:
The Federal Highway Administration has guidance on the vehicle size and weight changes, at www.fhwa.dot.gov/fastact.
Contact your state licensing agency for information about the hazmat endorsement exemption.
Key to remember: A new study found no safety impact from six exemptions that Congress passed into law in 2015 as part of the FAST Act. Most of the exemptions remain in effect today.