Safety agency expands Web services

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has expanded the services available on its do-it-yourself Web site.

Financial institutions can now enter certificates of insurance, notices of cancellation, surety bonds, trust fund agreements and other evidence of security for motor carriers on the Internet at diy.dot.gov, the FMCSA announced Wednesday.

The FMCSA Web site already allows commercial truck and bus operators to use the Internet to apply for registration and to pay fines for violations of federal motor carrier safety regulations.

All motor carriers must maintain or file, with FMCSA, evidence of insurance in the required amounts. About 130,000 motor carriers' insurance policies are submitted to the agency by their financial institutions on paper forms. Another 300,000 motor carriers' insurance policies are submitted through the use of computer software that allows financial institutions and insurance companies to input the information directly to an electronic database.

The new Internet filing system will replace the electronic database system.

FMCSA also announced last month that it would participate in a pilot program in Buffalo, N.Y., for electronic collection of trade data at border crossings, which could speed border crossings and ensure safety and security.