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January 24, 2001 11:40 AM, EST

The General Accounting Office issued a report criticizing the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for failing to collect data on accident causes on the same day the agency announced a new truck crash-causation study.

GAO’s report evaluated each cabinet department of the executive branch and major independent agencies. It was intended to help the new Congress and administration make a “transition to a more results-oriented and accountable federal government,” GAO said. The report concluded that lax management, caused partly by staff cutbacks, has prevented federal agencies from performing their missions effectively.

In addition to criticizing FMCSA for not getting more information about crash causes, GAO noted that the trucking safety agency published an hours-of-service proposal that was unpopular with industry groups.

The Jan. 17 report complimented the Department of Transportation for successfully launching FMCSA last year and developing an overall strategy to improve commercial vehicle safety. But it said delays in appointing an administrator and four associate administrators had hampered the new agency.

For the full story, see the Jan. 22 print edition of Transport Topics. .