U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY
ACTION PLAN
MAY 25, 1999
THE CHALLENGE AND OUR COMMITMENT
Over the past ten years, the truck fatality rate has been significantly lowered, 
but still, about 5,000 people die in truck crashes every year. There is enormous 
personal loss for victims and their families associated with these statistics
The progress we?ve made in the past is not enough. We are committed to reducing 
deaths and injuries. We are committed to achieving an aggressive goal of 
reducing fatalities resulting from large truck crashes 50 percent within the 
next ten years.
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS 
    Increased Enforcement - Tougher Review of Carrier Operations and Increased 
    Penalties 
    Shutting down "unfit" motor carriers. Using new authorities given the 
    Department under TEA-21. 
    Increased penalties for violations: Safety investigators have been direct to 
    use their new authority to levy penalties of up to $10,000 for each separate 
    violation. Record keeping violations that conceal a fact constituting a 
    serious violation can lead up to a $5,000 penalty per violation. This should 
    persuade irresponsible carriers, who have histories of repeat violations, 
    that small fines are not just a cost of doing business. 
    Doubling the number of compliance reviews each safety investigator will 
    conduct each year, from 24 to 48. 
    Where a death occurs in a crash, aggressively pursuing criminal or civil 
    actions, when warranted. 
    Limited negotiated settlements of fines in enforcement cases. "Wrist slaps" 
    will be eliminated. 
    Backlog Elimination: By January 1, 2000, we will have eliminated the current 
    backlog of 1200 enforcement cases. 
    Increased Resources: The Administration has amended its FY 2000 budget 
    asking Congress to provide $55.8M to expand our capabilities and further aid 
    our state partners. 
Enhanced Regulatory Power - More Tools for Safety Inspectors 
    Our goal is to have a final rule on hours-of-service completed as soon as 
    possible. We will engage all interested and affected parties in the process 
    of achieving this goal. 
    Railroad grade crossing violations. By this Summer, we will complete final 
    rules to disqualify from holding a commercial drivers license, drivers who 
    violate warnings. 
Improved Information Management Systems
    Aid state efforts to improve the quality and timely reporting of data they 
    collect on accidents and enforcement actions in their states. This will help 
    target investigations and enforcement. 
    By this Fall, a newly strengthened collaborative among FHWA, NHTSA, and BTS 
    will be started to collect better data on the causes of truck crashes. 
New Research and Technology Initiatives
    Improve safety in over-the-road motor coach operations. Collaborative 
    research with the motor coach manufacturing and operating industries will 
    start this Fall to identify possible improvements that can practicably be 
    made to improve rollover protection while maintaining existing frontal crash 
    performance. 
    Real-world, in-service evaluation of advanced technology collision avoidance 
    systems. Testing will begin early next year. 
Public Information, Education, Partnership, and Outreach
    Begin this Fall, a new safety awareness campaign, titled "Safety is Good 
    Business." The needs of new motor carriers entering the business will 
    receive special attention. The campaign will highlight the links between 
    profitability and following proven safety practices. 
    Expand the "Share the Road/No Zone" campaign to inform all drivers how they 
    can operate more safely and comfortably around large trucks with which they 
    share our highways. 
FUTURE ACTIONS
During the next 90 days, engage all affected parties in frank discussions about 
the long range strategy that will be needed to achieve our aggressive fatality 
and injury reduction goal. This broad agenda will involve the integrated and 
coordinated efforts of the Federal Highway Administration, the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration, the Research and Special Programs Administration, 
the Federal Transit Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, and the 
Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Actions that will be considered include:
    Crashworthiness requirements to reduce fatalities in truck/car collisions. 
    Requirements for effectively controlling speeding of large trucks. 
    Imposing requirements that new carriers demonstrate knowledge of existing 
    safety regulations. 
    Setting aggressive and accountable goals for states to reduce fatalities. 
    Imposing stiffer requirements on CDL applicants for traffic and drug and 
    alcohol related violations. 
    Establishing a National Commission to study how pay affects drivers’ 
    decisions to drive too many hours. 

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