What Does the Beyond Compliance Program within FMCSA Mean for Motor Carriers?

As a commercial motor vehicle operator, you are already familiar with the fine balance of meeting your delivery and transport deadlines and complying with the regulations required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. It might often seem like lots of paperwork and bureaucracy with little reward. 

However, the Beyond Compliance Program seeks to change the status quo by rewarding CMV drivers for going above the basic transportation industry standards. Federal Motor Carrier Authority Filings assists people in various positions within the trucking industry apply for and organize their licenses and filings, including the Unified Carrier Registration. We explore what the Beyond Compliance Program means for you below. 

What Is the Beyond Compliance Program?

In 2015, Congress enacted the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act. The FAST Act mandated that the FMCSA give credit to truck drivers who not only adhere to basic compliance standards but strive to improve their safety practices. Thus, the Beyond Compliance Program was born to reward motor carriers for their extra efforts.

As the name implies, the Beyond Compliance Program encourages ground transportation companies and their drivers to implement enhanced safety measures. In other words, you can go the extra mile to reap the program’s benefits. 

Understanding Its Goal

The program’s primary goal is to give credit where credit is due. As a trucker or company supervisor, you keep up with seemingly endless FMCSA compliance mandates. When you go beyond the minimal requirements, you should receive a reward for your extra efforts. 

When drivers and motor carriers receive Beyond Compliance benefits, they and others might become more inspired to implement further safety precautions, protecting their freight, employees, reputation, and other drivers on the roadways. Some new measures the FMCSA hopes to encourage include:

• Additional safety measures: Some drivers view more inconsequential infractions as optional. Rewarding individuals who adopt these measures can increase the number of transportation workers who make them common, required practices. 
• Increased advanced safety equipment installations: Some commercial vehicles lack the most recent safety technology. Motor carriers can reap credits when they outfit their fleets with these improvements. 
• Integration of safety monitoring tools and applications: As equipment advances, so do the tools used to monitor it and the driver’s performance. A carrier can integrate these applications to monitor and raise awareness about professional safety habits. 
• Stricter physical fitness measures: Carrier performance improvement begins with an alert, engaged driver. Taking extra precautions to ensure a driver’s fitness can prevent numerous issues later. 

If you begin integrating these recommendations now, you could see a return on your investment when the program becomes official later. 

You Might Have Answers That Aid the Program’s Development

Although the FMCSA has yet to officially launch the program, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance pushes for its launch sooner rather than later. Therefore, motor carriers and their drivers still have time to help improve the program by offering feedback. Transportation organizations urge trucking industry thought leaders to provide feedback about:

• Types of technology carriers can voluntarily integrate
• Goalposts carriers and drivers can reach
• Metrics to measure a carrier’s success and participation
• Worthy program incentives that might inspire participation
• Events or occurrences that might result in credit removal
• Ways the FMCSA can determine that a motor carrier fully participated

As interest in this program grows, the FMCSA aims to glean and use helpful feedback for a successful and rewarding launch. If you have ideas about improving the program development, you might help shape it before it launches. 

What Does the Beyond Compliance Program Mean for You and Other Truckers?

The FMCSA and related agencies designed the Beyond Compliance Program as voluntary. That means that motor carriers don’t have to participate. However, participation and consistent progress could mean:

• Improved professional reputations. Brokers, shippers, and other key players in the industry might choose Beyond Compliance participants over other carriers. Their enhanced safety measures indicate that cargo stays secure during transit. 
• Less scrutiny. Certified officers may pull trucks for fewer random inspections if the carrier participates in the programs. The trucking company already takes more care to adhere to safety regulations and enforce additional measures. 
• More quality talent. Experienced, high-performing truckers often prefer to work for motor carriers that reward their efforts. You could attract higher talent quality through your efforts. 
• Brand prestige. Carriers and drivers that go beyond basic compliance mandates may boost their public image and business opportunities. This might result in higher profits and your pick of clientele. 

Many other advantages may arise with Beyond Compliance’s launch drawing closer.  

Stay in the Loop with a Streamlined FMCA Filings Portal

FMCA Filings helps truckers and motor carrier companies comply with the basics of the FMCSA. We aim to clarify the purpose of Unified Carrier Registration and keep you updated about upcoming changes affecting operation capabilities and other transportation aspects. Create your portal today to make compliance and file organization easier.