government affairs
safet y initiative
The “BASICs” of CSA
CSA targets unsafe carriers and drivers through use
of seven Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement
Categories (BASICs).
The Compliance, Safety
& Accountability (CSA) safety
initiative is the brain child of leaders
within the Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Administration (FMCSA), a
division of the U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT). CSA was
intended to find a way to achieve
broader reductions in commercial
vehicle crashes, but is having intended
and unintended consequences with
the shipping industry and with the
companies that repair those trucks.
CSA targets unsafe carriers and drivers
through use of seven Behavior Analysis
and Safety Improvement Categories
(BASICs). The seven categories include:
8 | AFTERMARKET INSIDER | VOLUME 81
1. Unsafe Driving – speeding, improper
lane change, distracted driving, etc.
2. Hours-of Service – penalties for
non-compliance with required
record keeping for time on duty.
3. Driver Fitness – Does the driver have
a commercial driver’s license (CDL)?
Does the driver meet all health
criteria to operate the vehicle?
4. Controlled Substances/Alcohol –
impairment due to use of alcohol or
the abuse of illegal or legal drugs.
5. Vehicle Maintenance – failure to
maintain a commercial vehicle
and/or prevent shifting loads.
6. Hazardous Materials Compliance –
unsafe or non-compliant transport
of hazardous materials.
7. Crash Indicator – Is there a
pattern of crash involvement?
Drivers and carriers are then
placed into “peer groups” of
similar-sized companies and given
percentage scores. In the case of
CSA, a high score is a bad thing.
Since being rolled out in 2010, CSA
has had a major impact on the trucking
industry and those that use it to ship
their goods. Even if you don’t actually
own or repair a truck, the program may
be having an impact on your business.
http://csa.fmcsa.dot.gov/default.aspx
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Aftermarket Insider Issue 81