The Department of Transportation (DOT) is a part of the U.S. federal government regulating national transportation programs and activities. It facilitates the development and maintenance of the nation’s public infrastructure. Essentially, DOT strives to provide every U.S. citizen with a safe, accessible, and efficient transportation system. Created in 1965, DOT plans builds, regulates, and maintains roadways and railways, among other public transit. It is led by the secretary of transportation and agencies of various subdivisions, each with specific roles and responsibilities in the national transportation system.
Some of the commonly known agencies include the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety and Administration), FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).To ensure the utmost motorists’ responsibility and road safety, the Department of Transportation has crafted various guidelines and regulations for employees holding road-safety sensitive positions. Employers are also supposed to check their road safety-sensitive employers or alcohol and drug use to ensure that they remain sober always when on the road. They can also impose more regulations and requirements over and beyond those specified by the DOT.