Goverment offices in United States

In the United States, there are a number of regulations relating to travel and hospitality and the Department of Transportation (DOT) is the U.S. government agency to which Congress has assigned many functions which were formerly performed by the Civil Aeronautics Board. The functions of the Civil Aeronautics Board were transferred to the DOT by the Public Law 98-443 (October 4, 1984) the Sunset Act.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) deals with all modes of travel safety including aviation, highway, sea, and rail. The NTSB is charged with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States as well as all other significant accidents by rail, highway, and sea. Also the NTSB investigates all airline crashes in which a US manufactured aircraft is involved. From this investigation the NTSB determines the probable cause of the accident.

As a preventative measure for the protection of private transportation services, in 1987, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued charter service rules to prevent public intrusion into private markets, and to make it possible for the private sector to utilize public transit resources to meet market needs. FTA seeks to ensure that the special needs of the community for transportation are met by either the public or private providers.

Previously a division of the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) main function is to prevent commercial motor vehicle fatalities and injuries. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration ensures enforcement of safety regulations, especially for high risk carriers and commercial motor vehicle drivers; and to improve safety information systems and commercial motor vehicle technologies; develop commercial motor vehicle equipment and operating standards; and the promotion of safety awareness.