WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is making up to $30 million available to state governments in an effort to improve data collection and communication about commercial vehicle safety.

The money is being made available to states through two programs designed to modernize technology infrastructure, enhancing data collection dissemination to roadside inspectors and law enforcement personnel.

Up to $25 million is available through the Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks (CVISN) program, which focuses enforcement on high-risk operators, improves efficiency through electronic screening of commercial vehicles, and enables online application and issuance of Registration and Fuel Tax credentials.

A further $5 million will be made available through the Performance Registration Information Systems Management (PRISM), designed to further nationally integrate state commercial motor vehicle (CMV) registration and licensing systems. It enables states to determine the eligibility of a motor carrier or registrant at the time of licensing or registration of the company’s vehicles.  The PRISM system automatically suspends or withholds ineligible commercial vehicle registration from one state to another.

“Safety is our highest priority and we expect that truck and bus companies, and their drivers, are also focused on safety at all times,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.

“Providing our state partners with the most effective tools for identifying unsafe trucks, buses, and commercial drivers in real time is an investment that pays dividends in preventing crashes and saving lives.”

FMCSA works closely with state commercial vehicle inspectors and law enforcement personnel to monitor the compliance of truck and bus companies and commercial drivers with federal safety regulations. All violations discovered during unannounced roadside inspections, as well as all driving violations by truck and bus drivers, are entered into a national data system that can be retrieved throughout the country. The availability of timely data to roadside inspectors and law enforcement personnel is crucial to improving safety on the nation’s highways and roads.

“FMCSA has long embraced the latest technology in pursuit of our mission reducing the number and the severity of crashes involving large trucks and buses,” said FMCSA Acting Administrator Scott Darling.  “With advanced, real-time data tools, roadside inspectors are able to prioritize carriers for detail inspections based upon their past performance, while assisting law enforcement officers conducting on-scene crash investigations.  The value of these technological tools cannot be overstated.”

In November 2014, FMCSA announced an additional funding opportunity to help states strengthen commercial vehicle safety through the Agency’s Commercial Driver’s License Program Implementation (CDLPI) grants.  To ensure only qualified individuals receive and retain a commercial driver’s license, the CDLPI grants aids states in updating computer hardware and software, strengthen quality control, training and related areas.