What Is FMCSA in Trucking?
Also called: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
FMCSA is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. It is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Congress created it in 1999, and it began on January 1, 2000. It writes and enforces the safety rules for trucks and buses. By law, it must treat safety as its highest priority (49 U.S.C. 113). Its rules for carriers and drivers are in Chapter III of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
Last reviewed September 23, 2026 · Facts checked October 29, 2026
Key Points
- FMCSA is an administration of the Department of Transportation (49 U.S.C. 113(a))
- Congress created it in Public Law 106-159, signed on December 9, 1999. The law took effect on January 1, 2000
- The law says FMCSA shall treat safety as its highest priority (49 U.S.C. 113(b))
- The Administrator leads FMCSA. The President appoints the Administrator, with the advice and consent of the Senate. The person must have experience in motor carrier safety. The Administrator reports to the Secretary of Transportation (49 U.S.C. 113(c))
- FMCSA does the Secretary of Transportation's work on motor carrier safety (49 U.S.C. 113(f))
- FMCSA's rules are in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter III. Subchapter B holds the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations
- Its rules cover drug and alcohol tests (Part 382), driver files (Part 391), hours of service (Part 395) and inspection (Part 396)
What is FMCSA?
FMCSA stands for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. It is the federal agency that sets and enforces the safety rules for commercial trucks and buses in the United States. Congress made it a separate administration inside the Department of Transportation in 1999. FMCSA's job, set out in 49 U.S.C. 113, is to carry out the federal duties on motor carriers and motor carrier safety.
Is FMCSA part of the DOT?
Yes. 49 U.S.C. 113(a) says FMCSA is an administration of the Department of Transportation. Its head, the Administrator, reports to the Secretary of Transportation. People often say DOT when they mean FMCSA, but the two are not the same. Other DOT agencies have other jobs. These include the Federal Highway Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. State officers often do the roadside inspections.
What does FMCSA do for truckers and carriers?
FMCSA writes the safety rules. They cover hours of service, driver qualification, drug and alcohol testing, and vehicle inspection. It registers carriers and issues USDOT numbers and operating authority. It keeps public safety records that anyone can look up. It also runs the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. Our carrier and broker lookup and authority history checker read the public data FMCSA publishes.
Where are FMCSA's rules written?
They are in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49, Chapter III. Subchapter B is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. You can read the current text for free on eCFR.gov. Our regulation pages explain the rules most owner-operators and small fleets meet, with the exact section for each point and the date we last checked it.
Who runs FMCSA?
The Administrator runs FMCSA. The President appoints the Administrator, and the Senate must agree. The person must have experience in motor carrier safety (49 U.S.C. 113(c)). The law also sets up a Deputy Administrator and a Chief Safety Officer. They carry out the duties the Administrator assigns (113(d) and (e)).
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is FMCSA?+
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the federal agency that sets and enforces safety rules for trucks and buses. It is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (49 U.S.C. 113(a)).
Is FMCSA part of DOT?+
Yes. The law says FMCSA is an administration of the Department of Transportation (49 U.S.C. 113(a)). Its Administrator reports to the Secretary (49 U.S.C. 113(c)).
When was FMCSA created?+
Congress created it in Public Law 106-159, signed on December 9, 1999. It took effect on January 1, 2000.
What does FMCSA do?+
It writes and enforces the federal safety rules for commercial trucks and buses and treats safety as its highest priority (49 U.S.C. 113(b)). It also registers carriers and publishes safety records.
How much is an FMCSA DOT number?+
A USDOT number is free. Operating authority has its own filing fee. Our USDOT number and MC number pages list the steps and the current fee.
Is the FMCSA Clearinghouse mandatory?+
Employers of CDL drivers must check the Clearinghouse before hiring a driver and at least once a year after that (49 CFR 382.701). Our Clearinghouse page explains who must register.
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