Skip to main content
Date Issued
Submitting OIG
Department of Transportation OIG
Agencies Reviewed/Investigated
Department of Transportation
Components
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Report Number
ST2025028
Report Description

Our Objective(s)To evaluate FMCSA Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) grant oversight activities. Specifically, we reviewed FMCSAs (1) policies and procedures for monitoring MCSAP grant recipients, (2) annual risk assessments and monitoring plans for MCSAP recipients, and (3) tracking of recipients achievement of safety goals.
Why This AuditThe Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) reported that 5,176 fatalities involving large trucks and buses occurred in 2023. To reduce these incidents, FMCSA provides MCSAP formula grants to State agencies. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) authorized over $2 billion in appropriations for MCSAP grants and up to $400 million in supplemental funds.
What We FoundFMCSAs Division Offices do not always follow the Agencys MCSAP monitoring policies and procedures.

FMCSAs guidelines on Division Offices reviews of grantees MCSAP reimbursement requests are insufficient and outdated.

Report Type
Audit
Agency Wide
Yes
Number of Recommendations
5
Questioned Costs
$0
Funds for Better Use
$0
Report updated under NDAA 5274
No
External Link
https://www.oig.dot.gov/library-item/46780

Open Recommendations

This report has 5 open recommendations.
Recommendation Number Significant Recommendation Recommended Questioned Costs Recommended Funds for Better Use Additional Details
1 Yes $0 $0

Issue guidelines that clearly and comprehensively address MCSAP oversight responsibilities, to include: (a) reimbursement request review steps and documentation in support of these steps, (b) expectations for program and process reviews as well as onsite monitoring, and (c) documentation and supervisory review of quarterly report monitoring.

2 Yes $0 $0

Revise annual risk assessment guidelines to: (a) include an assessment of MCSAP-specific risks; (b) place a necessary level of emphasis on Organizational Management factors; (c) clarify how to address risk factors and Division Office flexibility to change the priority level to something other than what the tool suggests; and (d) provide steps to revise the annual risk assessment template, as needed, to reflect risk changes.

3 Yes $0 $0

Develop and implement a process to notify FMCSA's State Programs Division of grantees that receive a medium or high priority level-from the annual risk assessment; document and maintain these risk levels in a centralized location.

4 Yes $0 $0

Revise monitoring plan guidelines to: (a) incorporate supervisory review and approvals of monitoring plans; (b) verify plans are fully completed and include rationale for any activities not completed; and (c) update the monitoring plan template, as needed, to reflect these changes.

5 Yes $0 $0

Revise guidelines: (a) on the impact of Commercial Vehicle Safety Plan (CVSP) goal performance for creating a clear line between the performance of CVSP goals and when to take enforcement action and (b) for CVSP goal performance tracking to urge Division Offices to document oversight of CVSP goals; identify which systems to review and how often to review them; and follow-up with the State grantee when needed.

Department of Transportation OIG

United States