Government Shutdown: DOT Plan Prioritizes Trucking Safety and Highway Projects

Trucking operations are expected to continue largely unaffected even if Washington experiences a funding lapse, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s newly released shutdown plan. The plan, published on Sept. 30, emphasizes that key safety functions and highway programs remain funded through the Highway Trust Fund and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Trucking Oversight Remains Intact

At FMCSA, all 1,084 employees will remain on duty, with only 21 placed in nonworking status under the Deferred Resignation Program. The plan explains that FMCSA positions are “primarily funded by authorized contract authority and paid out of the Highway Trust Fund,” which shields the agency from immediate budget disruptions.

Programs such as Licensing and Insurance and the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse also collect fees that directly support staffing and operations. DOT stated the agency has “sufficient liquidating cash to operate through a short-term lapse in appropriations.”

Highway Programs Fully Protected

The Federal Highway Administration will continue operating with its entire workforce of 2,268 employees. DOT confirmed the agency has enough funding to reimburse states for ongoing road projects for several months, meaning no furloughs or project suspensions are anticipated.

Hazmat Oversight With Some Reductions

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration will keep inspectors and investigators in the field despite furloughing 190 of its 579 employees. According to DOT, 63 employees will be retained specifically to protect life and property, ensuring that accident investigations, shipper inspections, and enforcement actions addressing imminent hazards continue.

However, PHMSA noted that noncritical activities such as training, rulemaking, and research will be suspended until funding is restored. Emergency permits and approvals will still be processed, and cybersecurity systems will remain operational.

Vehicle Safety Standards Work Uninterrupted

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will remain fully functional with its 574 employees. The agency’s funding comes from prior appropriations, the Highway Trust Fund, and IIJA allocations. DOT noted that NHTSA will shift payroll to alternate sources if needed, preventing any interruption to its work on vehicle safety standards.

Maritime Operations Continue With Adjustments

The Maritime Administration will retain 590 of its 790 employees. Programs like the Ready Reserve Fleet and the Maritime Security Program will continue using carryover funds, ensuring readiness for national defense and commercial shipping needs.

Other Modes Face Heavier Strain

Not all transportation sectors are insulated. The Federal Aviation Administration projects over 11,000 furloughs, though air traffic controllers and inspectors will continue working without pay. The Federal Railroad Administration will maintain accident investigations and inspections, but most research and regulatory functions will pause.

Why It Matters

For trucking and highway operators, DOT’s plan offers reassurance: core regulatory oversight, safety enforcement, and infrastructure funding will continue even in a shutdown. But for aviation, rail, and some maritime functions, reduced staffing underscores the uneven impacts across transportation modes.

Source: Transport Topics