U.S. lawmakers again consider shifting OMC to NHTSA

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 10) — U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf, R-VA, has once again introduced legislation to move the Office of Motor Carriers from the Federal Highway Administration to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The FHWA is responsible for infrastructure. NHTSA oversees highway safety. Trucking industry groups have lobbied for the OMC to remain with the FHWA when the same proposal was introduced last year.

The industry’s lobbying effort was aided by senior OMC officials, a clear conflict of interest that prompted a shakeup in leadership at the office.

In announcing his new legislation, Wolf cited the investigation that found this improper activity, as well as a separate investigation that found border states aren’t doing a good job of inspecting Mexican trucks coming into the country.

“Trucks can be dangerous,” Wolf said. “Many, if not most, of the truckers and trucking companies operating in America today are safe. But when a truck is involved in an accident on the highway, regardless of who was at fault, the consequences are often deadly.

“The FHWA does a very good job at what they do — maintaining and building America’s highway infrastructure. However, the OMC would operate better in an agency focused on highway safety and enforcement, such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.”

The House Appropriations subcommittee on Transportation, which Wolf chairs, will be holding hearings on the issue Feb. 23.

In addition, Rep. Bud Shuster, chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Rep. Tom Petri, chairman of the Subcommittee on Ground Transportation, start hearings tomorrow on the status of motor carrier safety and the effectiveness of the OMC — including whether the office should be transferred to NHTSA.

— Deborah Lockridge