News

HMSP Reforms ? Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) Raises the ?ALSR? Issue

03/15/2013

The House Highways and Transit Subcommittee held a hearing this week on progress DOT has made to implement MAP-21.  FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro was a witness.  Rep. Graves asked her about progress made to provide HMSP holders with an administrative option to appeal or to request a waiver of OOS disqualifications, what industry called an “additional level of safety review” (ALSR). Ferro reiterated the agency’s official position that the ALSR option was being evaluated in the program assessment required by MAP-21, meanwhile HMSP holders had access to DataQs .  Rep. Graves  reiterated how important it was to provide an ALSR option.  She said she had an open mind on this matter.  IME submitted a statement for the record of the hearing.  IME talked to Ferro following the hearing, and asked her to re-examine options provided to the agency in JAN about how to implement such an administrative review prior to denial of a motor carrier’s HMSP.  In addition, IME underscored the safety record of the HMSP-holder universe compared with any other class of motor carrier.  Ferro promised to follow up with IME as well.