The U.S. Department of Transportation’s latest Unified Agenda provides the first comprehensive look in more than a year at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s regulatory priorities, outlining an ambitious list of rulemakings touching everything from CDL security standards and broker transparency to autonomous vehicles and English-language proficiency requirements. While the agenda identifies where the agency intends to focus its efforts, it does not carry the force of law and frequently reflects goals that may evolve as priorities and resources change.
In a FreightWaves article examining the agenda, P. Sean Garney, co-director of Scopelitis Transportation Consulting, describes the document as “a decent barometer” of the types of issues the federal government is considering, while noting that many agenda items have appeared for years without reaching completion. Sue Lawless, a partner with Scopelitis Law Firm and former FMCSA official, adds that the agenda provides only high-level descriptions of potential actions and should not be viewed as a definitive roadmap for implementation.
The article also highlights industry questions about whether FMCSA has the resources to advance such a large number of significant rulemakings on the timelines suggested in the agenda. For motor carriers and other stakeholders, the document offers valuable insight into the administration’s regulatory thinking, but should be viewed as an indicator of direction rather than a firm commitment to future action. Read the article here.
