Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010 (CSA 2010) is a new initiative by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to improve motor carrier and driver safety. CSA 2010 will change the way FMCSA addresses safety performance and safety ratings by improving the efficiency and effectiveness of FMCSA’s enforcement and compliance program.
Maguire Agency wants to make sure you are aware of the new initiative – use this guide to understand what CSA 2010 is, when it will be implemented, how it works and what steps you should take to prepare.
What is CSA 2010?
Ultimately, the goal of CSA 2010 is to reduce crashes involving commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) throughout the country using a proactive prevention approach. FMCSA, in cooperation with state governments, will do this by reaching out to a larger number of carriers earlier and more frequently to address safety problems before dangerous CMVs – or drivers – get on the road.
Under CSA 2010, the FMCSA will:
- Directly monitor the safety and performance of individual drivers, including their records across multiple employers
- Hold both motor carriers and drivers responsible for safety and performance
- Improve safety investigations and require intervention and corrective action as necessary
- Make more complete safety performance assessments available to the public
When will CSA 2010 be fully implemented?
A CSA 2010 field test has been in operation since February 2008 and will run until mid-2010. Both qualitative and quantitative data will be collected, including feedback and input on the program to refine the model. FMCSA will continue to make motor carriers aware of the changes through the end of 2010. FMCSA will officially implement CSA 2010 in July 2010.
How does CSA 2010 work?
Measurement: Safety Measurement System (SMS) will replace SafeStat. Each month, SMS measures and analyses roadside violations for the previous 2 years to calculate a score in seven different Behavioral Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs) – Unsafe Driving; Fatigued Driving (hours of service); Driver Fitness; Controlled Substances and Alcohol; Vehicle Maintenance; Cargo-related and Crash Indicator. Carrier scores are ranked relative to each other to determine problem entities.
Evaluation: A more thorough and detailed safety evaluation process allows FMCSA to efficiently and effectively address carriers with poor SMS scores. All safety based inspection violations and on-road performance will be used to evaluate performance and determine a carrier’s safety fitness rating. Violations are weighted based on when they occurred and their relationship to crash risk.
Intervention: FMCSA will reach out to carriers early on by issuing a warning letter for those with a deficient BASICs that outlines consequences and gives instructions for addressing the problem. Carriers will have access to their BASICs scores so they can monitor their own progress and challenge the accuracy if necessary. Carriers with deficient BASICs will be the subject of targeted roadside inspections to ensure corrective action is being taken.
What should I do to prepare for CSA 2010?
- Update your records (MCS – 150) and check your inspection and crash reports (http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov)
- Visit the CSA 2010 website: http://csa2010.fmcsa.dot.gov to stay up to date on CSA 2010 news and information
- Ensure compliance by addressing safety problems before evaluation or intervention
- Educate your employees on how their driving affects their personal performance rating as well as the carrier’s safety assessment
Source: Comprehensive Safety Analysis Web site – http://csa2010.fmcsa.dot.gov