Abstract

This study, sponsored by the International Registration Plan (IRP), Inc. in partnership with the Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC), examined systemic challenges and opportunities to strengthen two critical safety oversight mechanisms in U.S. commercial vehicle operations—the Motor Carrier Responsible for Safety (MCRS) and the Expanded Performance and Registration Information Systems Management (PRISM) program. The research traced the evolution of federal and state data systems used to identify and monitor carriers, emphasizing the modernization role of the IRP Data Repository (IDR). The IDR now provides a secure, centralized platform for daily vehicle registration data and financial transactions, facilitating the exchange of carrier and safety information among jurisdictions. However, inconsistencies in how the MCRS is defined and recorded across states have led to mismatches between registration data and the carriers actually responsible for safety, which creates enforcement, safety, and compliance challenges.

Through stakeholder engagement and technical analysis, the study identified variation among state practices, data discrepancies across systems, and barriers to implementation of Expanded PRISM requirements for lighter commercial vehicles (10,001–26,000 lbs.). The research recommends a coordinated approach that includes standardized lease documentation, targeted training for carriers and state officials, enhanced data validation through IDR automation, and improved interoperability between IRP, FMCSA, and state systems. These actions would promote uniformity, strengthen the linkage between carrier responsibility and safety oversight, and improve the accuracy and timeliness of information available to enforcement agencies.

Report Date

9-2025

Report Number

KTC-26-13

Digital Object Identifier

https://doi.org/10.13023/ktc.rr.2026.13

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