Definition
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is an operating administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation. It was created as a separate administration on January 1, 2000, under the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999. Its stated primary mission is to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities involving large trucks and buses.
What FMCSA regulates
FMCSA writes the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations in 49 CFR Parts 350 to 399. The parts repair shops meet most often are:
- Part 390: general rules and definitions, such as commercial motor vehicle, motor carrier and gross vehicle weight rating.
- Part 392: driving rules, including the driver's equipment check in 392.7.
- Part 393: parts and accessories necessary for safe operation, such as brakes, lighting, tires and frames.
- Part 396: inspection, repair and maintenance, including DVIRs, the annual inspection, and inspector qualifications.
FMCSA also runs compliance reviews and audits of carriers, and partners with state agencies that conduct roadside inspections.
Why it matters to repair shops
FMCSA rules bind motor carriers, but Part 396 says the carrier's agents and employees concerned with inspection or maintenance must also know and comply with it. A shop that performs annual inspections, certifies DVIR repairs or keeps maintenance records for a fleet is doing work FMCSA expects the carrier to be able to show in an audit. Clear, complete repair records help your customers pass those reviews.
Related
See 49 CFR 396, CVSA, and 49 CFR 396 explained for shops. The current text of every rule is on eCFR.