The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said it will hold a public listening session to get feedback on key challenges facing the motor carrier industry, issues facing stakeholders and concerns that should be considered by the agency in developing its next five-year strategic plan.


The public meeting will be held Sept. 8, 2010, in three consecutive listening sessions. Safety partners are invited to attend from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., while industry partners can participate from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Enforcement partners are encouraged to attend from noon to 2 p.m.

The agency also invites written comments, suggestions and recommendations from all individuals and organizations on FMCSA's mission, vision and strategic objectives for the plan. FMCSA is accepting comments for discussion at the listening session by Sept. 1. Other written comments may be submitted by Sept. 30, 2010.

The agency hopes the public will address or provide answers to the following key issues:

1. How should we strengthen FMCSA's role/mission of improving the safety of commercial motor vehicles (CMV) and saving lives as it relates to some of FMCSA's core program: commercial motor vehicle compliance and enforcement, commercial driver licensing, household goods protection, safe and secure transportation of hazardous materials?

2. How can FMCSA have a greater impact in the reduction of injury and loss of life on the nation's highways?

3. How can FMCSA improve the way it does business, provides customer service, and interacts with all road user groups? What are some of the challenges you have in interacting with FMCSA that prevent you from conducting your business effectively? What actions should FMCSA take to improve interactions between CMV drivers and drivers of private vehicles? Please identify possible improvements or ideas for doing better.

4. How might FMCSA improve or strengthen its partnership with stakeholders representing state enforcement agencies, safety advocacy groups, the motor carrier industry, and the general public to achieve its safety mission?

5. How should FMCSA balance driver-focused, vehicle-focused, and motor carrier-focused compliance, interventions, and enforcement to achieve its safety mission?

6. How will advanced vehicle technologies (such as crash avoidance, electronic onboard recorders, and global positioning systems) impact the future of driver behavior, vehicle safety, and motor carrier safety?

7. How will changes in the following areas impact the industry, your organization, and/or FMCSA's ability to achieve its mission in the future?

* Demographics
* Economics
* New policies in environment, energy, and other areas

8. What technological changes could positively impact highway safety?

9. How will technology affect driver behavior? What issues related to vehicle/driver interaction could affect safety performance?