Maryland Commercial Vehicle Safety Regulations

Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators are regulated by Federal and State Regulations. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) deal specifically with the federal Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) safety regulations pertaining to the movement of interstate commerce.

 Maryland Regulations include steps to restrict truck traffic adversely affecting residential communities. 

Current Maryland Truck Route Restrictions

The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) is responsible for the interstate, primary and secondary roads throughout the Maryland Highway System.

The Maryland State Police, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division and the Maryland Transportation Authority Police conduct truck size and weight weight enforcement operations at Truck Weigh and Inspection Stations throughout Maryland.  In most small Municipalities, commercial vehicle safety regulations are not enforced. 

Lacking the resources to enforce laws dealing with Commercial Vehicles is a nation-wide problem.  The Maryland State Police has just two roving crews to cover the entire State conducting Roadside Motor Carrier Safety Inspections. 

Local Police Departments do not have the equipment nor the training to conduct truck safety inspections. Frederick County Sheriff-elect Charles Jenkins recently stated in an email that "as far as commercial truck enforcement, that is primarily a function of the Maryland State Police" and he "would probably not want the Sheriff's Office to get directly involved in commercial truck enforcement."

 

"Small Town & Community Policing Initiative" Partnership

Kudos to the Maryland State Police and Frederick Sheriff's Office in their Small Town and Community Policing Initiative.  The collaboration will result in more Commercial Vehicle safety inspections in Frederick County.  Thank You Major Gary Morton (Frederick Sheriff's Office) and Lt. Hickey (Maryland State Police) and all the level-3 certified Officers.  Well done.