Sen. Fischer’s legislation would also require all future FMCSA rulemakings to be published in the Federal Register, and for proposed regulations costing more than $1 million to be subject to a negotiated rule-making process.
Over the past several years, Congress, stakeholders, and independent agencies—including the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Department of Transportation Inspector General—have expressed serious concerns with the FMCSA’s regulatory approach. Dozens of new regulations from FMCSA have led trucking industry stakeholders to question their overall purpose. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) noted at a recent congressional hearing that 41 regulatory changes have been made in recent years by FMCSA.
Congress has also expressed concern in the growth of FMCSA. Over the last 13 years, the agency’s budget has more than doubled since its first full year of operation in 2002, and now stands at $572 million. “I am also concerned about the growth of FMCSA,” said Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO), Chair of the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit. “While I support a strong safety program, we need to ensure that funds are being spent on initiatives that will move the needle in terms of reducing crashes, injuries, and fatalities on the nation’s highways.”
The onslaught of FMCSA regulations for heavy-duty trucks is becoming an increasing compliance burden for NLBMDA members. The lumber and building supply industry wants safer roads and to deliver building materials to the jobsite on-time; however, new regulations should be based on representative data and cost-effective. We look forward to continuing to work with Congress in providing the proper oversight to ensure new commercial truck regulations have the intended benefit improving safety.