The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) was established in 1966 to ensure safe, reliable, and accessible transportation. It oversees road, air, and transportation system safety and security. USDOT is made up of key agencies like the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Aviation Administration that regulate transportation. It also has sub-agencies like the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that focus on commercial vehicle safety. USDOT develops policies, enforces transportation laws and regulations, and provides grants to improve safety.

1. What Does the Department
of Transportation Do?
A brief look into the key roles and obligations of the USDOT

2. USDOT BEGINNING
The Department of Transportation
(USDOT or DOT) is an executive branch
of the United States government,
established in 1966 under the U.S.
Transportation Act.
It was created by President
Eisenhower. The department was
established to ensure, "A fast,
reliable, economical, safe and
accessible transportation system
meets critical national interests and
improves the quality of our lives.“
It is responsible for ensuring that
roads are safe and secure, air travel
is safe and secure, and that the
transportation system we use on a
daily basis is dependable and safe.

3. INDEPENDENT AGENCY
The Department of Transportation (DOT) is part of the
Department of Commerce. USDOT is an independent agency
within the Department of Commerce and is accountable to
Congress for its policies and programs. The agency is charged with
the responsibility of promoting "the national interest," which
includes the protection of American workers. The transportation
of goods, the movement of persons, and the distribution of goods
and services are all part of the job of DOT. USDOT maintains a fleet
of over 400 million vehicles to protect the country's highways,
bridges, airports, and railways.

4. PRIMARY ROLE
A major part of the Department of Transportation's
role is to implement policies and regulations
concerning transportation. Its job is to enforce the
laws against transportation safety and security and
the prevention of fraud in transportation.

5. KEY AGENCIES
There are several key entities that operate within the Department of
Transportation:
• Federal Highway Administration
• Federal Aviation Administration
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Federal Transit Administration
• Federal Railroad Administration
• Maritime Administration (Federal Register, n.d.).

6. FMCSA
There are also numerous sub-agencies that also work under the
direction of the DOT, one of those is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA). The agency was established in 2000 and
pursuant to the following Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act
1999. Previously a section of the Federal Highway Administration, the
FMCSA’s key role and guiding factor is to assist in the prevention of
commercial motor vehicle related accidents, injuries, and fatalities.

7. FMCSA
https://safetyauditprep.com
A majority of the activities surrounding the Administration help to
ensure continued safety within motor carrier operations by
implementing stronger enforcement procedures for safety and DOT
regulations, a tougher stance and focus on high-risk carriers as well as
commercial motor vehicle drivers. Other areas involve improvements
for safety information systems, commercial motor vehicle technology,
operating standards, commercial motor vehicle equipment, and
continued growth of safety awareness. In order to achieve these
actions, through FMCSA regulations, the administration works closely
with State, Federal, and local community and enforcement agencies,
motor carrier industry, labor safety, interest groups, as well as many
others (Agencies – Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, n.d.).

8. MANAGEMENT
DOT does not have a permanent
secretary. There are four-Associate
Secretaries responsible for directing
DOT's programs and activities. The
most senior of these officials is the
Under Secretary of Transportation
for Policy, who is responsible for the
planning, coordination, and
supervision of USDOT policies. Two
other members of the Under-
Secretary’s staff are the Assistant
Secretary for Transportation
Security and the Under Secretary of
Management.
https://safetyauditprep.com

9. SAFETY MANAGEMENT
The Office of Safety Measures is responsible for developing and improving
safety measures in the transportation industry and providing training and
technical assistance to its employees. The Safety Management System is
responsible for maintaining the records of DOT safety & compliance
vehicles and ensuring their operation. DOT also provides grants to state
and local governments for transportation safety programs, and services. In
addition to these duties, there are a number of positions within USDOT
that regulate the transportation industry, such as the Chief Operating
Officer, the Assistant Secretary for Hazardous Materials Safety, the Director
of Airports, and Marine Safety, and the Assistant Secretary of Public
Transportation.
https://safetyauditprep.com

10. TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY
As a result of these positions, many U.S. citizens become familiar with the
Department of Transportation. As an executive branch of the U.S. government, the
Department of Transportation performs many important tasks in the protection of
the country, such as providing transportation safety for American workers and
consumers, while ensuring that the transportation industry remains a viable
enterprise.
References
Agencies – Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/federal-motor-carrier-safety-
administration
Federal Register. (n.d.). Transportation Department. Retrieved from
https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/transportation-department
https://safetyauditprep.com

11. DOT COMPLIANCE
https://safetyauditprep.com

12. https://safetyauditprep.com
THANK YOU