WASHINGTON — With recent reports showing a marked increase in fatalities related to commercial motor vehicle crashes, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has awarded more than $463 million in grants to states to fund efforts to reduce CMV-involved crashes, fatalities and injuries through CMV safety programs.
The Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) grant program includes funding to state and local law enforcement and other government agencies for safety inspections of trucks and buses, investigations of motor carriers in response to safety concerns, and audits of new trucking and bus companies to reinforce the importance of responsible operation and ensure the safe movement of goods and passengers in the U.S. economy.
In preliminary 2021 data released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there was a 13% increase in fatalities from 2020.
These grants will help the U.S. Department of Transportation implement its National Roadway Safety Strategy, which was announced earlier this year to address traffic fatalities and serious injuries by adopting the “safe system” approach, which focuses on safer roads, safer people, safer vehicles, safer speeds and better post-crash care.
“We are using resources available through the president’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to award more funding than ever before — a 52% increase from last year — to help prevent truck and bus crashes in every state and territory,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “These grants will help improve the safety of our trucks and buses and save lives on our nation’s roadways.”
All 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands will receive federal funds.
“FMCSA’s core mission is safety, and our work supports the U.S. Department of Transportation’s comprehensive National Roadway Safety Strategy working towards zero fatalities on our roadways,” said FMCSA Deputy Administrator Robin Hutcheson. “MCSAP grant funding is an important tool to help reduce large truck crashes by supporting critical CMV safety programs in every state.”
To find out more about FMCSA’s grants and financial assistance, click here.
The Trucker News Staff produces engaging content for not only TheTrucker.com, but also The Trucker Newspaper, which has been serving the trucking industry for more than 30 years. With a focus on drivers, the Trucker News Staff aims to provide relevant, objective content pertaining to the trucking segment of the transportation industry. The Trucker News Staff is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.
