What Is The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”) is a federal agency that regulates motor carriers like trucking companies, bus companies, moving companies, and companies that operate certain commercial motor vehicles. The Agency creates tractor- trailer safety regulations.
What Are The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Rules & Regulations?
The FMCSA Rules & Regulations are federal regulations passed by the FMCSA. They are safety standards that apply to truck drivers, trucking companies, bus drivers, bus companies, and many drivers and owners of commercial motor vehicles. They are intended to prevent and reduce injuries and deaths caused by drivers of commercial motor vehicles such as truck drivers and bus drivers.
What Vehicles Must Comply With The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Regulations?
The FMCSA Rules and Regulations apply to many commercial motor vehicles, such as tractor-trailers, semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, dump trucks and buses, operating in Georgia. Depending on whether the commercial motor vehicle is engaged in interstate or intrastate commerce, the FMCSA are enforced by different agencies.
The FMCSA regulates commercial motor vehicles engaged in interstate commerce, which is business that crosses state lines. Any commercial motor vehicle engaged in interstate commerce must comply with the FMCSA Rules and Regulations.
The Georgia Department of Public Safety regulates commercial motor vehicles engaged in intrastate commerce, which is business that does not cross state lines and stays within Georgia. The Georgia Department of Public Safety has adopted many of the FMCSA Rules and Regulations as its own regulations. Any commercial motor vehicle engaged in intrastate commerce must comply with the FMCSA Rules and Regulations as adopted by the Georgia Department of Public Safety.
What Qualifies As a Commercial Motor Vehicle?
- Any vehicle, truck or tractor-trailer that weighs, including its load, more than 10,001 pounds
- Any vehicle, truck or tractor-trailer that has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (as set by the manufacturer) of more than 10,001 pounds
- Any vehicle, truck or tractor-trailer carrying certain amounts of hazardous materials
- Is designed or used to transport 16 or more people, including the driver, not for compensation
- Is designed or used to transport 9 or more people, including the driver, for compensation
What Is The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating?
This is the maximum amount of weight that any vehicle can safely carry. It’s determined by the manufacturer of a vehicle. It includes the weight of the vehicle itself, passengers, and the load the vehicle is hauling. You can usually find it on a label inside the driver doorframe.