Congress Passes Transportation Funding

On March 10, Congress passed a funding bill that included transportation funding for fiscal 2022. The bill includes funding for the modal agencies and commercial motor vehicle-related grants at the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) levels, including the new Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Training and Support Grant that was created in IIJA. The bill also includes funding for NHTSA to conduct behavioral research on automated driving systems and for PHMSA to administer the Community Safety Grant.

  • MCSAP Formula – $390.5 million
  • High Priority – $57.6 million
  • CDLPI – $41.8 million
  • CMV Operators – $1.1 million
  • CMV Enforcement Training and Support – $5 million

 

The bill has several policy riders included.

  • Section 130 directs FMCSA to send notice of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 385.308 violations by a form of delivery that records notice of receipt. § 385.308 outlines violations that if committed by a new entrant may trigger an expedited safety audit or compliance review.
  • Section 131 instructs FMCSA to add rear impact guards to Title 49 CFR Appendix G to Subchapter B of Chapter III – Minimum Periodic Inspection Standards (FMCSA redesignated “Appendix G” as “Appendix A” in a final rule published on Oct. 14, 2021).
  • Section 132 prevents the U.S. Department of Transportation from enforcing ELD requirements for motor carriers transporting livestock or insects through Sept. 30, 2022.