The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is the agency responsible for developing and enforcing safety standards and regulations for commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in the United States. The FMCSA’s mission is to reduce motor-carrier-related crashes, injuries, and fatalities. In 2010, the FMCSA launched the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program to support this mission. The CSA program uses data-driven methodologies to assign CSA scores. But what are CSA scores, and why do they matter if you’re a trucker?
What Are CSA Scores Used For?
The FMCSA assigns CSA scores to carriers to capture and reflect the driving habits of its group of drivers. CSA scores are calculated using set standards and are represented as a percentile between 0 and 100. Safety violations are assigned points, so the lower the CSA score, the better. The actions of individual drivers affect CSA scores, but CSA scores are assigned to carriers, not drivers. A CSA score, therefore, represents the safety and driving habits of a group of drivers.
Safety violations that can add points to a carrier’s CSA score fall into categories, including the following:
- Unsafe driving
- Crash indicator
- Alcohol and controlled substances
- Vehicle maintenance
- Hours-of-service compliance
- Hazardous material compliance
- Driver fitness
Each category accounts for a specific aspect of safety compliance, with each carrying its own set of violation types, score severity weights, and time parameters.
Only violations that have occurred in the last 24 months affect a carrier’s CSA score, and CSA scores are monitored and updated monthly to reflect up-to-date and ongoing safety compliance behavior demonstrated by drivers and fleets. CSA scores are updated with data from roadside inspections (which include driver and vehicle violations), crash reports, and investigation results. But what are CSA scores used for, and how do they actually affect drivers and carriers?
Importance of CSA Scores
CSA scores are used to identify high-risk drivers, fleets, and carriers, offering insights into how well an individual or a company is adhering to the FMCSA’s safety regulations. There are benefits to good CSA scores, and consequences of poor CSA scores.
Benefits of Good CSA Scores
Carriers with good CSA scores enjoy real benefits, including lower annual insurance premiums, fewer Department of Transportation (DOT) audits and roadside inspections, a stronger industry reputation, customer preference, and easier high-quality driver recruitment efforts.
Consequences of Bad CSA Scores
A bad CSA score can trigger a range of problems for carriers. It may result in higher annual insurance premiums, as well as a higher risk of more frequent audits and inspections from law enforcement. If a carrier’s CSA score gets too high, it may trigger a compliance review, or the carrier may be issued an Out-of-Service Order.
Tips for Improving CSA Scores
Carriers can improve their CSA scores by implementing strategies that support a safety-first culture. A bonus program that encourages safe driving practices sends a clear message that safe driving habits will be rewarded. On the other end of the spectrum, make it clear to your team that aggressive driving is forbidden and will not be tolerated. Putting strict drug and alcohol policies in place is another simple way to promote safe driving habits.
Of course, excellent CSA scores start with great drivers. Building in a rigorous pre-screening process can help ensure you find the best candidates for the job. After making good hires, you can support your drivers with consistent training and education, the use of safety technologies, and a clear proactive commitment to safety culture. Remember that prioritizing a good CSA score is about more than attracting customers and avoiding penalties. It’s about fostering an environment where the importance of safety is embedded in every action and at every level with one primary goal: keeping everyone safe.
At BLC Transportation, we consider helping our drivers complete their routes safely integral to our success. That’s why we hire skilled drivers, pay well, provide top-of-the-line equipment, and nourish a culture of safety that naturally leads to low CSA scores.
We have opportunities for both company drivers and lease-purchase drivers. With our lease-purchase program, you can make 90 percent of the line haul while driving new trucks that provide comfort, fuel efficiency, and reliability. Plus, we offer bonuses and incentives, a health insurance subsidy, a friendly passenger/pet policy, assistance with registering for an LLC, and more. Join our team today!