AASHTO Journal - FMCSA Issues States $480M in Trucking Safety Grants

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently issued some $480 million in Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program or MCSAP grants to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to help prevent crashes, fatalities, and injuries involving commercial motor vehicles.

[Above photo by FMCSA]

The agency said its MCSAP grants specifically support safety inspections of large trucks and buses, investigations of motor carriers in response to safety concerns, and audits of new truck carriers and bus companies to “reinforce responsible operation” and ensure the safe movement of goods and passengers.

The funding – determined by a formula and awarded annually to the lead agency of each state or territory upon completion of an FMCSA-approved Commercial Vehicle Safety Plan – can also be used to promote outreach and education efforts that help combat human trafficking, distracted driving, and other roadway safety concerns.

MCSAP grant funding “is an important tool for reducing crashes and fatalities involving commercial motor vehicles,” said FMCSA Acting Deputy Administrator Sue Lawless in a statement.

“The number of fatalities on our nation’s roadways involving commercial motor vehicles decreased by an estimated 8 percent from 2022 to 2023,” she said. “We know the needle is moving in the right direction, but until we reach zero roadway deaths, there will always be more work to do. These grants help fund that work.”