The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is the primary agency responsible for safety on the roads when it comes to the trucking industry. The “New Entrant Safety Assurance Program” targets new carriers and aims to monitor and enforce safety standards for new companies in the industry.
What Does the Program Entail?
Safety Audits: During their first 12 months of operation, motor carriers that are new to the trucking industry are subject to safety audits. These audits assess a number of operational components of a carrier, including as driver credentials, vehicle upkeep, compliance with service hours, and more. Making ensuring newcomers adhere to the strict safety requirements established by the FMCSA is the aim.
Compliance Monitoring: In order to remain in compliance with federal safety rules, newly admitted motor carriers are required to set up methods to track their safety management. Trucking companies must take responsibility for the safety of their drivers and hundreds of other drivers on the road. The “New Entrant Safety Assurance Program” is designed to make sure that companies without experience in the industry are still taking the highest precautions.
Corrective Action: The FMCSA mandates that new entrant carriers provide proof of corrective action within 15 days of the designated date in circumstances where safety violations are discovered.
Are Truck Drivers Required to Do Anything Under the Program?
Truck drivers are not directly accountable to the New Entrant Safety Assurance Program, but drivers are essential to upholding safety regulations.
Truck drivers must do the following:
• Follow the Hours of Service (HOS) Guidelines
• Preserve Accurate Records with their ELDs
• Report Safety Concerns – Drivers of trucks should notify their motor carrier right once of any safety-related problems they come across while performing their jobs. This covers things like unsafe working conditions, broken hours of service, and defective vehicles.
The New Entrant Safety Assurance Program depends on truck drivers’ cooperation and attentiveness in addition to holding motor carriers responsible for their safety in order to uphold the highest levels of road safety. Newer trucking companies may be less compliant with safety, so truck drivers should always stay alert.