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It was a momentous week for trucking. The National Motor Carrier Administration is on the brink of being a reality, thanks to overwhelming support of the House of Representatives. The House passed the enabling bill by a 415-5 vote Oct. 14.

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The bandwagon for the creation of a distinct federal office for truck and bus safety has picked up so much steam that even Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater has come around to support the new agency, reversing his department’s official opposition. Most importantly, Slater’s turnaround would seem to ensure that the Clinton White House will not impede the modal administration’s birth.

All that remains now is for the Senate to approve the plan, and indications are that nothing is likely to derail the agency’s creation, which could be realized as early as the end of October.

In addition to establishing a long-overdue federal agency dedicated to overseeing motor carrier safety, the legislation passed by the House contains a basket of initiatives designed to improve the level of safety. The bill:

• Doubles the amount of money the federal government provides to the states to conduct roadside inspections.
• Increases by 70% the staffing level of the new agency over the Office of Motor Carrier and Highway Safety.
• Closes some loopholes in the commercial driver license system.
• Increases the scrutiny of trucks crossing into the United States from Mexico and insures that they operate only in the designated commercial zones along the common border.

The modal administration will put trucking on par with aviation, rail and maritime at DOT, and that should bring new vigor to the job of making trucking, and America’s highways, safer.

The House version of the bill includes provisions for the appointment of an ombudsman to resolve any policy disputes that develop within the truck and bus agency, and to speed up its rulemaking. One of the most frequent criticisms of FHWA is how long it takes to get a rule proposed and reviewed. Hours-of-service reform is an example.

Thus, barring any unforeseen roadblocks, the mode that accounts for 82% of the nation’s total freight transportation bill should soon have its own safety administration — at last. It’s been a long time coming. And it’s almost time to break open the champagne (non-alcoholic if you’re planning to drive anywhere soon).