GSIS

The FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) TACT (Ticketing Agressive Cars and Trucks) Program

The FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) has a major impact on safety standards for all commercial vehicles that travel the highways of the United States.  A goal of the FMCSA is to remove high risk carriers and drivers both at entry level and through education and maintenance programs. 

Key FMCSA programs include:

·         Border and International safety

·         The Commercial Driver's License program

·         Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR)

·         Hazardous Material Regulations (HMR)

·         Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP)

·         Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks (TACT)

 

The TACT program began in 2004 with the key state of Washington for the pilot program.  Its mission was to promote safe driving behaviors by educating car, bus and truck drivers on how to share the road safely.  Also to reduce CMV related accidents and crashes involving injuries and fatalities.

The hierarchy of the TACT program begins at the top with the FMCSA headquarters' outreach programs to divisional and regional areas.  From there it filters down to lead state coordinators and steering committees who communicate, enforce and evaluate programs like TACT to various state agencies such as:

·        Department of Transportation

·         Sheriff and Police Departments

·         Federal Highway Administration

·         State Trucking Associations

·         Government Highway Safety Representatives

 

The State Peer Exchange Network (T-Spen) helps to support and share the results and lessons of TACT and bring federal state and local resources together on the same page to educate the public. In 2004, there were five states participating; in 2009 13 states; and by 2011, 19 states and 3 individual US cities and counties were on board.  Improvements to the administration of TACT have included streamlining evaluations, grant funding and more outreach communication programs. 

In 2013 so far, the FMCSA has shut down 15 passenger carriers and carried out 13,500 roadside inspections and ticketed 1,500 drivers and vehicles for violations. The violations include unsafe lane changes, tailgating, failing to signal or yield right of way, speeding and any combinations of violations of 2 or more that is considered "aggressive behavior."