For Immediate Release: September 18, 2012

Washington, D.C. — In a letter to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) today, Congressman Duncan Hunter expressed strong concerns regarding the accuracy of motor carrier safety records. Specifically, under the current system, driver safety records administered by the FMCSA account for citations dismissed in court, therefore adversely affecting a driver’s ability to operate.  The issue remains a topic of scrutiny among congressional panels and industry groups.

“Safety is always a foremost priority,” said Congressman Hunter, a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.  “Driving records reveal important information that is useful in making judgments that are conducive to the safety of American highways.  Driver infractions need to be noted and with the amount of time motor carrier operators spend on the road, a comprehensive but accurate account for every driver is necessary.  But in cases where infractions are dismissed in court, operators are put at a disadvantage because the infraction is not automatically removed from their safety records.

“This system is unfair and harmful to operators, and it hurts their marketability.  And, overall, what’s needed is a system that is accurate and reliable, not one that continues to misrepresent operator safety records.”