Development of Fiscal Year 2027 Commercial Vehicle Safety Plans to Support National Safety Goals

The Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. MCSAP is intended to ensure that the Secretary of Transportation, States, and U.S. Territories work in partnership to establish and maintain programs that improve motor carrier, commercial motor vehicle, and driver safety. The program supports an efficient surface transportation system through targeted investments in safe commercial motor vehicle transportation, activities designed to reduce the number and severity of commercial motor vehicle crashes and resulting fatalities, enforcement of compatible safety laws and standards, and measurement of statewide motor carrier and driver safety performance. For the upcoming funding cycle, FMCSA emphasizes a Focus on Fundamentals approach and the national safety emphasis of reducing fatal commercial motor vehicle crashes. Funding is allocated under the MCSAP statutory funding formula. For planning purposes, FMCSA assumes an estimated federal formula funding level of 494962500 after accounting for a 1.5 percent administrative takedown. Appendix A provides estimated jurisdiction allocations. Estimated federal grants range from 472958 for the Northern Mariana Islands to 51565663 for Texas. The funding table identifies a 5 percent estimated State match for States, while American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands are shown without a State match. MCSAP funds support eligible safety activities including driver and vehicle inspections, traffic enforcement, investigations, new entrant safety audits, hazardous materials safety, international commerce safety programs in qualifying border States, PRISM activities, data collection and quality, public education and awareness, and eligible technology operations and maintenance. MCSAP funds may not be used to build, create, or reserve truck parking spaces. Documented non-CMV traffic enforcement is generally subject to a 10 percent statutory limit unless otherwise justified and approved. Eligible applicants are MCSAP lead agencies representing States as defined for MCSAP purposes, including the States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. States must satisfy the eligibility and program requirements in applicable Federal law and 49 CFR part 350. Full participation in PRISM, or an FMCSA-approved alternative, is required to remain eligible for MCSAP funding. A complete and accepted Commercial Vehicle Safety Plan is also required. Applicants must address applicable national program elements and FY 2027 emphasis areas in their plans. Territories including Puerto Rico are exempt from New Entrant Safety Audit requirements. Border enforcement activities are optional for qualifying border States, but allocated border-related funds may be forfeited if those activities are not included in the CVSP. Application submission is a two-step process using both Grants.gov and the Electronic Commercial Vehicle Safety Plan Tool. All application materials were due to FMCSA by August 1, 2026. Applicants must have a valid System for Award Management registration and Unique Entity Identifier before submitting Grants.gov components. Grants.gov materials include the SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance, SF-424A Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs, SF-424B Assurances for Non-Construction Programs, Grants.gov Lobbying Form, SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities when applicable, Key Contacts Form, Attachment Form, and an indirect cost rate agreement when applicable. The CVSP Tool contains the Commercial Vehicle Safety Plan, State Certification, Annual Certification of Compatibility, and information on new laws and regulations. The indirect cost rate agreement, when applicable, is submitted through both Grants.gov and the CVSP Tool. Title VI program materials are handled separately as directed by FMCSA. FMCSA evaluates CVSP submissions in consideration of the MCSAP National Program Elements and annual national priorities. FY 2027 areas receiving special emphasis include effective and purposeful quality driver and vehicle inspections, work zone safety, human trafficking, enforcement of out-of-service orders, motor carrier investigations, PRISM and the Level-Up initiative, data collection and quality, and truck parking strategy. Plans should use data to establish meaningful goals, measures, strategies, and performance outcomes. FMCSA also calls on lead agencies during their multi-year CVSP period to pursue measurable improvements such as reducing serious commercial motor vehicle crashes around work zones, increasing inspection-related traffic enforcement, increasing detection of prohibited drivers and out-of-service carriers, reducing new entrant inventories and overdue audits, increasing interstate carrier investigations, strengthening hazardous materials activities, and improving DataQs implementation and data quality. The FY 2027 application deadline was August 1, 2026. Applicants unable to meet that deadline for good cause could request a written extension of no more than 30 calendar days from the FMCSA Division Administrator, with copies to the State Programs Division and FMCSA Grants Management Help Desk and with the need for an extension addressed for both the CVSP Tool and Grants.gov. FMCSA may not make a Federal award until the lead agency has complied with all Grants.gov application and CVSP requirements. Following award, recipients must submit quarterly program performance and financial status reports, generally within 30 days after each reporting period, and final reports no later than 120 days after the project or grant period end date. The program is cost reimbursable, and recipients must submit reimbursement vouchers at least quarterly. For application assistance, State MCSAP lead agencies may contact their FMCSA Division Office, the FMCSA Grants Management Help Desk at FMCSA_GrantMgmtHelpDesk@dot.gov or 202-366-0621, or the State Programs Division at StatePrograms@dot.gov or 202-366-6274. CVSP Tool technical support is available at 877-688-2984, option 3. The planning memorandum also identifies annual processes, including annual CVSP updates and annual State training plans, supporting treatment of MCSAP as a recurring funding opportunity. Based on the August 1, 2026 application deadline and the annual CVSP process, the next application cycle is anticipated around August 2027, subject to subsequent FMCSA instructions.

Ensure all required materials are submitted through both Grants.gov and the CVSP Tool because FMCSA may not make an award until both sets of requirements are satisfied. Build the CVSP around applicable National Program Elements and FY 2027 emphasis areas, use jurisdiction-specific safety data to support goals and strategies, provide measurable objectives and performance measures, maintain accurate and complete safety data, and ensure proposed activities and budget items comply with MCSAP eligibility and cost requirements.