Motor Carrier Safety Selection Standard Act of 2024

This bill establishes a national standard for entities that contract with motor carriers to transport goods, defining a process to verify carrier safety and requiring the Department of Transportation to update safety fitness rules. It aims to create a uniform selection standard for negligent selection claims.

Sec. 2, Motor carrier selection standard of care: Defines 'covered entity' as shippers, brokers, freight forwarders, ocean transportation intermediaries, indirect air carriers, customs brokers, and motor carriers, but excludes individual shippers. A 'covered motor carrier' is one subject to federal safety and financial regulations. For negligent selection claims, a covered entity is considered reasonable if, within 45 days before shipment, it verifies the carrier is registered, has minimum insurance, and is confirmed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to meet safety standards. This standard expires when a new regulation takes effect.

Sec. 2(c), Public confirmation: The FMCSA must provide a public statement confirming whether a motor carrier meets all operating requirements or fails to meet one or more.

Sec. 2(d), Safety fitness rule: The Secretary of Transportation must issue final regulations within one year to revise the methodology for motor carrier safety fitness determinations, considering all available data, and include a procedure for determining unfitness. The regulations must include the verification requirements from subsection (b)(1) and public confirmation from subsection (c).

Sec. 2(e), Exemption for individual shippers: An individual shipper is automatically considered reasonable in selecting a covered motor carrier for negligent selection claims, without needing to meet the verification requirements.

Sec. 2(f), Savings clause: This bill does not preempt or supersede any state law related to motor carrier selection.