The Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced an increase in civil penalties for its agencies, including the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). This annual adjustment, mandated by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act as amended in 2015, ensures fines keep pace with inflation.
The new penalty amounts were determined based on calculations required by the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The formula used involves multiplying the previous penalty amounts by the percentage change between the October 2024 Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the October 2023 CPI-U. This year's adjustment factor is 1.02598, slightly lower than last year's 1.03241.
All updated FMCSA fines can be found in Appendices A and B of 49 CFR part 386, with the new amounts taking effect immediately.
Related Development: President Joe Biden recently signed the Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act into law. This legislation streamlines TSA credentialing processes by eliminating redundant screenings and aligning programs such as the Hazardous Materials Endorsement and the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC).
