Who oversees large truck safety in the United States?
Two agencies of the U.S. Department of Transportation and the states oversee large truck safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) sets standards for new truck equipment and has some jurisdiction over equipment standards for trucks currently on the road. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) oversees the safety of commercial vehicles in interstate commerce, and this agency’s regulations cover equipment, licensing, hours of service, and vehicle inspections and maintenance. The rules pertaining to licensure, vehicle maintenance and hours of service are primarily enforced by the states. States regulate intrastate trucks.
