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Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Seeks Nominations for Critical Motor Carrier Advisory Groups

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, January 23, 2026
Contact: fmcsa.publicaffairs@dot.gov

USDOT Calls on Industry, Safety, and Medical Experts to Help Shape Future of Transportation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy today announced the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is seeking nominations for qualified individuals to serve on two key federal advisory groups: the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee (MCSAC) and the Medical Review Board (MRB).

These committees provide critical advice and recommendations to FMCSA on motor carrier safety programs, regulations, and policies that help advance the agency’s mission to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses.

Statement from FMCSA

“FMCSA’s safety mission depends on informed, balanced input from stakeholders and subject-matter experts,” said FMCSA Administrator Derek D. Barrs. “The Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee and the Medical Review Board help ensure that our policies are grounded in real-world experience and a shared commitment to safety. We encourage nominations from those who are passionate about improving safety across the commercial motor vehicle industry.”

About the Committees

Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee (MCSAC)

MCSAC advises FMCSA on a wide range of issues related to commercial motor vehicle safety, including motor carrier operations, driver qualifications, hours of service, and emerging safety challenges.

The committee is composed of 20 representatives from safety advocacy groups, industry, labor, law enforcement, and state and local government.

Medical Review Board (MRB)

The MRB provides expert medical advice to FMCSA on matters related to the physical qualification standards for commercial motor vehicle drivers.

The board is made up of five medical professionals with expertise in areas such as occupational medicine, cardiology, neurology, sleep medicine, endocrinology, and mental health.

Nomination Details

FMCSA encourages nominations that reflect a broad range of perspectives and expertise and is committed to ensuring balanced representation across stakeholder groups.

Nominees should demonstrate relevant experience, professional credentials, and a strong interest in advancing commercial motor vehicle safety.

Nominations must be received by February 23 and include:

  • A cover letter
  • Resume or curriculum vitae
  • A description of the nominee’s qualifications and interest in serving on the committee

Additional submission requirements are outlined in the official Federal Register notices at:

  • Solicitation of Nominations for the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee
  • Solicitation for Nominations for the Medical Review Board

Interested parties may also contact FMCSA via email at:

  • mcsac@dot.gov
  • mrb@dot.gov

FMCSA Mission Overview

FMCSA’s primary mission is to prevent crashes, fatalities, and injuries involving large trucks and buses.

FMCSA develops safety and regulatory standards for commercial driver’s licenses; analyzes data and sponsors research; and conducts enforcement and education.

FMCSA partners with nonprofit organizations, local and State governments, and other stakeholders to support innovative commercial driver training, safety inspections, and enhanced compliance and enforcement initiatives.

In addition, FMCSA provides education on household goods consumer protection and conducts enforcement to protect consumer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a DOT roadside inspection?

A DOT roadside inspection is a safety inspection conducted by an authorized enforcement officer. It may include a review of the driver, vehicle, cargo, paperwork, hours-of-service records, ELD data, and safety equipment.

Drivers should be ready to provide a CDL, medical examiner’s certificate if required, ELD records or logs, vehicle registration, insurance, annual inspection documentation, shipping papers, permits, and hazmat paperwork if applicable.

The officer may check driver credentials, logs, ELD transfer ability, vehicle registration, insurance, lights, brakes, tires, cargo securement, emergency equipment, and overall vehicle condition.

Yes. During a roadside inspection, an officer may ask to review or transfer your ELD records. Drivers should know how to operate the ELD, display logs, and transfer records when requested.

Common violations include incomplete logs, ELD transfer issues, expired medical certification, missing registration, brake defects, tire problems, inoperative lights, loose cargo securement, and missing annual inspection documentation.

Yes. Serious driver, vehicle, or cargo violations may result in an out-of-service order. If that happens, the driver, vehicle, or cargo cannot continue until the condition is corrected or resolved.

Review the inspection report carefully, notify your carrier, save supporting documents, and follow company procedures. If the violation appears incorrect, a DataQs review may be appropriate.

Yes. Drivers who receive a roadside inspection report must provide it to the motor carrier within the required timeframe. The carrier is responsible for certifying corrections when violations are listed.

Complete a proper pre-trip inspection, keep documents organized, check lights and tires, verify logs, know how to use your ELD, secure cargo correctly, and report equipment defects immediately.

CDL Consultants helps drivers, owner-operators, and carriers understand DOT inspection requirements, organize compliance documents, identify preventable violations, and build better inspection-readiness practices.

What is DataQs?

DataQs is FMCSA’s online system for requesting and tracking reviews of federal and state data that may be incomplete or incorrect. Drivers, carriers, and representatives can use it to request a data review.

A Request for Data Review, often called an RDR, is the formal request submitted through DataQs asking the appropriate agency to review a record that may be wrong, incomplete, duplicated, or assigned incorrectly.

Yes. Drivers may file DataQs disputes. Motor carriers and authorized representatives may also file requests when they believe FMCSA or state data contains an error.

You should consider filing when there is a factual error, incorrect driver or carrier assignment, wrong vehicle information, duplicate violation, dismissed citation, incorrect violation code, or supporting evidence showing the record should be reviewed.

No. Not every violation should be disputed. A DataQs dispute should be based on factual issues and supporting documents, not just frustration with the violation.

Helpful evidence may include the roadside inspection report, citation, court disposition, repair invoice, maintenance record, ELD record, dispatch record, photos, registration documents, or proof of assignment.

Keep it clear, factual, and professional. Explain what is wrong, why it is wrong, what evidence supports your position, and what correction you are requesting.

No. DataQs does not automatically remove violations. It sends the request for review, and the reviewing agency decides whether a correction is appropriate.

Read the response carefully. A denial may mean more evidence is needed, the explanation was unclear, or the reviewing agency did not agree that the record was incorrect.

CDL Consultants helps drivers and motor carriers review DOT inspection reports, determine whether a violation may be disputable, organize evidence, and prepare stronger DataQs submissions.

What does it mean to be placed out of service?

Being placed out of service means an enforcement officer found a serious driver, vehicle, or cargo issue that must be corrected or resolved before operation can continue.

No. You cannot continue operating until the out-of-service condition has been corrected or legally resolved.

Read the inspection report carefully. Confirm whether the order applies to the driver, vehicle, cargo, or a combination. Then notify your carrier or safety department immediately.

If only the driver is out of service and the vehicle itself is not, another qualified driver may be able to move the vehicle depending on the circumstances.

If the vehicle is placed out of service, it cannot legally continue operating until the listed defect or condition is corrected.

No one should pressure a driver to violate an out-of-service order. If dispatch tells you to continue, escalate the issue to safety, compliance, or management and document the communication.

Keep the inspection report, repair invoice, mechanic notes, photos, tow receipts, roadside service receipts, ELD screenshots, dispatch messages, and any safety department instructions.

Yes. Drivers must provide the roadside inspection report to their motor carrier. The carrier may also need to certify corrections and keep required records.

Yes, if the violation contains a factual error, incomplete information, duplicate data, or incorrect assignment. A DataQs request may be appropriate when supported by evidence.

CDL Consultants helps drivers, owner-operators, and motor carriers understand the order, review documentation, organize records, and determine whether follow-up action such as DataQs may be appropriate.

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