S 8659: Enacts the "motor carrier safety compliance requirement act"; requires companies contracting with motor carriers to verify compliance with safety regulations, maintain proper oversight, and ensure adherence to established safety practices.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 8659  IN SENATE January 7, 2026 ___________ Introduced by Sen. STEC -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation AN ACT to amend the transportation law, in relation to establishing mandatory safety compliance requirements for companies contracting with motor carriers The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as 2 the "motor carrier safety compliance requirement act." 3 § 2. Legislative intent and purpose. It is the intent of the legisla- 4 ture to enhance the safety of transportation services in New York state 5 by requiring companies contracting with motor carriers to verify compli- 6 ance with safety regulations, maintain proper oversight, and ensure 7 adherence to established safety practices. 8 § 3. The transportation law is amended by adding a new section 160 to 9 read as follows: 10 § 160. Safety compliance requirements. 1. For the purposes of this 11 section: (a) "contracting company" means any contract or common carrier 12 of passengers or property by motor vehicle, as defined by section two of 13 this chapter. 14 (b) "Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)" means the 15 federal agency responsible for regulating and ensuring the safety of 16 motor carriers operating in the United States. 17 2. (a) Companies engaging motor carriers for transportation services 18 shall conduct a thorough vetting process to ensure the motor carrier: 19 (i) Possesses a valid safety rating from the FMCSA; and 20 (ii) Complies with all applicable federal and state safety regu- 21 lations. 22 (b) The vetting process shall include an assessment of the motor 23 carrier's: 24 (i) Safety management controls; 25 (ii) Driver monitoring systems (DMS); and 26 (iii) Fatigue management programs. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD08746-01-5 
 S. 8659 2 1 3. (a) Motor carriers shall provide prospective contracting companies 2 with documentation of their safety policies and procedures, including 3 but not limited to: 4 (i) Driver monitoring systems; and 5 (ii) Fatigue management policies and practices. 6 (b) Documentation shall include: 7 (i) Records of compliance with FMCSA regulations; and 8 (ii) Records of corrective actions taken to address any safety defi- 9 ciencies. 10 4. Motor carriers shall submit an annual report to each contracting 11 company, including the following: 12 (a) Safety ratings from the FMCSA; 13 (b) Records of incidents, crashes, and interventions implemented to 14 improve safety; and 15 (c) An updated overview of the motor carrier's driver monitoring 16 systems and any changes or improvements made within the reporting peri- 17 od. 18 5. (a) Companies that fail to conduct the required vetting or knowing- 19 ly engage non-compliant motor carriers may be held liable for damages 20 resulting from accidents or incidents caused by the motor carrier's 21 unsafe practices. 22 (b) The department may establish penalties for contracting companies 23 that fail to adhere to the vetting and reporting requirements, which may 24 include fines, suspension of operating privileges, or other appropriate 25 measures. 26 6. The department, in collaboration with industry stakeholders, shall 27 develop and provide resources and training materials to assist companies 28 in understanding the importance of motor carrier safety compliance and 29 the vetting process required by this section. 30 § 4. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall 31 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or 32 repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of 33 this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed 34 on or before such effective date.