DOT budget heads to Hill

President Bush has given Congress his budget for the Dept. of Transportation, which includes $344 million for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, compared to the current $269 million. Of that amount, $139 million is slated for federal motor carrier safety programs and $205 million is for the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program

Other highlights of the budget:

• $19 million for increased oversight and inspection programs, including 80 new inspectors along the U.S.-Mexico border.

• $14 million for motor carrier research, a $4-million increase over existing levels. The funds will be used for field-testing new truck safety equipment, testing roadside inspection technologies, developing new driver selection, testing and licensing techniques, and testing simulations.

• $11 million for motor carrier crash data collection and analysis and CDL programs.

• $86 million to improve inspection programs and compliance reviews.