Ability to Upload and Download Information Directly to/from Federal Databases

States should have the ability to both upload and download information about carriers directly to/from federal databases, specifically MCMIS for the purpose of ensuring that data contained in either system is the same and is kept current and up-to-date.

Currently many states interact with motor carriers on a daily basis registering carriers, conducting enforcement actions and even levying monetary penalites for violations. During those interactions, state personnel often collect with the carriers permission and authorization data about a carrier's operations. However, that data in many cases is never shared with FMCSA and as a result MCMIS often contains out-of-date information. In fact, during UCR mailings states have seen return rates as high as 20% because the address information in MCMIS is wrong. If states had teh ability to connect their databases with MCMIS and a system for how and when data could be exchanged with FMCSA established, both the states and federal government could benefit by having more accurate, up-to-date information about motor carriers. In the limited cases where interactions with federal systems are allowed to occur today, states have in most cases been forced to hire contractors and pay exorbinant fees to simply upload data. These are often unnecessary expenses that could be addressed through a one-time expenditure of funds rather than annual maintenance contracts. Furthermore, such data exchange is typically one way, from states to FMCSA. That means states don't know if a carrier has made changes to information at the federal level and causes confusion when they interact with state systems and data they believe has been changed remains incorrect.

FMCSA should develop a system that permits states to exchange data about motor carriers. Specifically, data that is the same as that which is contained on the MCS 150, conviction information, UCR, and the status of a carrier's operations (e.g. interstate V intrastate or no longer in operation) should be included. Since many states deal with carriers on a much more frequent basis such a system to permit this type of exchange of information would greatly improve data quality. Such a system should contain specific requirements for how such interactions may occur, specific technical requirements, timelines on how long it will take to establish the proper connections, and the costs to states to comply.