CSA 2010 – Are you ready Truck Driver?

As if we didn’t already have enough regulations working against Truck Drivers today. CSA 2010 is going to change the way company’s hire drivers. You, the driver are going to play a BIG part in this new program. You, won’t be able to just go down the road as a company driver without having to worry if YOUR truck is compliant to the rules. Of course this not only going to affect the driver, but the carrier is going to be graded as well.

If you plan to continue your career as a Truck Driver, then you better get to know CSA 2010, and you better know it well. Because after this goes into affect, the carrier is NOT the only one who will have a score on their record. You, the driver will NOW be scored just as the carrier used to be, and the drivers score will reflect how long you will be in the trucking industry.

What is CSA 2010? CSA 2010, is a new, high-impact Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) safety program to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes. It introduces a new enforcement and compliance model that allows FMCSA and its state partners to contact a larger number of carriers earlier in order to address safety problems before crashes occur. When the program is fully rolled out by the end of 2010, we will have a new nationwide system that will make the roads safer for motor carriers and the public alike!

What are the BASICs and how are they used in CSA 2ዊ? The Behavioral Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories, or BASICs, are seven categories of safety behaviors measured in the Safety Measurement System (SMS). The BASICs represent behaviors that can lead to crashes: unsafe driving, fatigue (hours-of-service), driver fitness, controlled substances and alcohol, vehicle maintenance, and cargo related; and crash history. The Carrier SMS uses a motor carrier’s data from roadside inspections, including all safety-based violations, State reported crashes, and the Federal motor carrier census to score and rank carriers in each BASIC.

For more information and a detailed look at BASIC you can download this PDF and read it here

Safestat is being replaced with a Safety Management System or (SMS) for short. A few of the states are already testing this now, within a few months more states will be added. As of August 2010 this system is to in in place on a full blown proportion.

The just of the (SMS) is you better start doing a pre-trip and REPORTING the unsafe equipment to YOUR company to be fixed, or you will be eligible for license suspension. DOT inspection will become much more important to you. Inspection results, good or bad, will be part of your record. Violations that are found now count against you, not just the carrier. This is going to change the attitude of many drivers regarding checking our their vehicles before driving, or ultimately they can find their license suspended.

Here are the BASIC’s of CSA 2010

• Unsafe Driving — Dangerous or careless operation of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). Data includes driver traffic violations and convictions for speeding, reckless driving, improper lane change, inattention, and other unsafe driving behavior.
• Driver Fitness — Operation of a CMV by drivers who are unfit to operate a CMV due to lack of training, experience, or medical qualification. Data includes (1) inspection violations for failure to have a valid and appropriate commercial driver’s license or medical or training documentation, (2) crash reports citing a lack of experience or medical reason as a cause or contributory factor, and (3) violations from an off-site investigation or an on-site investigation for failure to maintain proper driver qualification files, or use of unqualified drivers.
• Controlled Substances and Alcohol — Operation of a CMV while impaired due to alcohol, illegal drugs, and misuse of prescription medications or over-the-counter medications. Data includes (1) roadside violations involving controlled substances or alcohol, (2) crash reports citing driver impairment or intoxication as a cause, (3) positive drug or alcohol test results on drivers, and (4) lack of appropriate testing or other deficiencies in motor carrier controlled substances and alcohol testing programs.
• Fatigued Driving — Driving a CMV when fatigued. This is distinguished from incidents where unconsciousness or an inability to react is brought about by the use of alcohol, drugs, or other controlled substances. Data includes (1) hours-of-service violations discovered during an off-site investigation, on-site investigation, roadside inspection, or post-crash inspection, and (2) crash reports with driver fatigue as a contributing factor.
• Vehicle Maintenance — CMV failure due to improper or inadequate maintenance. Data includes (1) roadside violations for brakes, lights, and other mechanical defects, (2) crash reports citing a mechanical failure as a contributing factor, and (3) violations from an off-site investigation or an on-site investigation associated with pre-trip inspections, maintenance records, and repair records.
• Crash Indicator— Histories or patterns of high crash involvement, including frequency and severity. Data includes law enforcement crash reports and crashes reported by the carrier and discovered during on-site investigations.
• Improper Loading/Cargo Securement — Shifting loads, spilled or dropped cargo, and unsafe handling of hazardous materials. Data includes (1) roadside inspection violations pertaining to load securement, cargo retention, and hazardous material handling, and (2) crash reports citing shifting loads, or spilled/dropped cargo as a cause or contributing factor.

You better read up on this it is going to put some big changes in the trucking industry, and it is coming soon!

Here is the CSA 2010 webiste for more information.

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