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FMCSA Part 350

Part 350 — Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program and High Priority Program

Part 350 is the FMCSA rulebook for MCSAP and High Priority Program funding. It mainly governs how States and eligible entities receive federal financial assistance to improve motor carrier, commercial motor vehicle, and driver safety through enforcement, inspections, safety programs, compatibility reviews, and high-priority safety projects.

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Part 350 Dictionary

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What is Part 350?

The FMCSA program-funding rule behind MCSAP, High Priority Program, and State CMV enforcement activity.

Who It Applies To

Mainly applies to States, territories, local governments, Tribes, FMCSA, and eligible safety-program entities.

MCSAP

MCSAP funds State and federal CMV safety activity like inspections, investigations, and enforcement programs.

CVSP Plans

A CVSP is the State’s plan for using safety funding, inspections, data, and enforcement resources.

State Enforcement

Part 350 supports enforcement, but violations usually cite active safety rules like Parts 391, 393, 395, or 396.

Compatibility Review

Compatibility review keeps State CMV safety rules aligned with federal safety standards.

High Priority Program

The High Priority Program funds targeted CMV safety projects, awareness, data quality, and enforcement support.

Carrier Impact

Part 350 indirectly affects carriers through inspections, data, safety initiatives, and audit risk.

Misunderstandings

Part 350 is not a driver checklist; it is the funding/program structure behind CMV enforcement.

Carrier Checklist

A practical checklist for inspections, defects, SMS, DataQs, DQ files, maintenance, HOS, and corrective action.

Real-World Risk

MCSAP and High Priority activity can drive focused inspections, SMS impacts, and corrective-action needs.

Need help turning inspection data into a safety plan?

DispatchHQ helps carriers review roadside inspections, SMS trends, DataQ opportunities, DVIR defects, maintenance records, HOS issues, driver coaching needs, and corrective-action files so enforcement data becomes a safety improvement system instead of just a penalty record.

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Source reference: Official eCFR — 49 CFR Part 350 . This page is a plain-English educational guide and is not legal advice.