CSA 2010 – Are you ready Truck Driver?
October 23, 2009 by Truckdrivernews · 22 Comments
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 2010? 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.
© 2009, Truck Drivers News. All rights reserved.
Thanks Paul this is great.
Thanks Ray for reminding me about this important update to the industry. I had allowed myself to be distracted, but now am hoping to be back on track.
Jason, You have a talent and don’t become distracted with other issues. As you will be a good addition to the trucking industry even if you never get back into a cab of a truck.
Keep up the good work, I don’t know you well. But from the little I have gotten to know you the more respect I have for you. As you have a a talent for research and writing that is untapped. Would love to see you take some writing courses.
Thanks Kathy, for the comments. I agree, I would love for me to take some writing classes as well, LOL! Thanks for compliment and reminder! I am trying to stay focused, hopefully I can!
look’s like i’m going to have to put nail’s under three tire the company boss didn’t want to change for me, i keep writing it down on pre and post trip , with winter coming up fast i sure dont like riding on bald tire’s.the thing’s is with this new rule’s how do i stop this from going onto my record for his not wanting to change them……
William one of the most serious violations deals with tires. If you get caught with bad tires it will go against you when CSA 2010 hits this year.
I would keep writing it on the pre trip check list date it and have the safety manager sign off on it. You have to start protecting yourselves now. Anything wrong with the truck needs to be written down and signed off by the safety officer or company offical.
Cover your own butt because what goes down on your record for the past 3 years will be used against you.
Kelly Anderson has one of the best CSA 2010 Driver Training workshops for 60 bucks. This is a must for all drivers to get. It is for a year with all new updates as FMCSA continued to change CSA 2010.
Google kelley anderson driver training workshop and you find it.
Joseph, could you please give me Kelly Anderson’s email or contact phone. I would like to find out more about the CSA 2010 workshop.
pull into next open weigh station ask them to inspect tires because company wont change them and the shoul put you o/s until they are repaced; or you could go to work for another company.
if they keep putting laws in the trucking is going to fall over.and the old drives are going to be put to the carve.I dont see how someone can make these laws up when they have never been in or drove a truck .how do they espack a driver to make a living out here.if all they do is make nw=ew laws up just because they had a bad day with a truckdriver that day.
Think this might be helpful for everyone. We’ve posted a complete list of the violations included in CSA 2010 scoring as well as the assigned severity weights for each violation. Just go to our blog at http://www.drivertraction.com/blog to download the .xls.
this has nothing to do with safety its about government control of people and their companies welcome to the NEW WORLD ORDER.
Listen to Red a minute – more simply, would your type rather have more and better trained Patrolmen, or safety Office-ers?
You are right; it is the govenrment first they want to put the owner ops out then control the trucking industrie totaly. Obama is going to control our “free country” into the dirt.
I have to say I agree with Red this is all about control and taging and bagging everyone in anyway they can. We are all criminals now.
But… I also have to say after well over a million miles out here that not all but most truckers driving habbits are a spectacle of stupidity, the ones I am talking about are the ones who pass and cut in so close you have to hit your brakes, the ones who would kill someone before they slow down, the ones who act like there is no such thing as a speed limit speeding through construction zones, school zones, small towns. What I see out here is a bunch of un professional clowns all day everyday. What needs to be done… In my oppinion if they are realy after safety they need to have trucking police in TRUCKS to witness and do something about the fore mentioned. For all you proffesional truckers out there keep up the good work, and for the rest find another, job maybe in the circus or something to that effect.
Thank you John for your comment. I just wanted to add that a lot of states now have programs where state patrol officers ride in big trucks, watching for bad drivers both in trucks and cars.
Hello Truckdriver news, I have heard there is a program of ride alongs in big trucks that target the four wheelers. I hope this program expands and forces more professionalism in the trucking industry because in my opinion it is getting to the point of embarrassment to the professionals out here.
I have only been driving over the road for a little over 12 years now and it is getting worse, I always say don’t ever loose that fear because when you do you loose the respect for that big rig and it will bite you. I have enough respect for myself I don,t want that to happen but more importantly I don’t want to hurt anyone else.
Years ago I used to get in a big hurry and stress about time, this is a time sensitive industry as we all know. I learned at the end of the day it just doesn’t make any difference, what 15- 20 minutes top’s. Bad diet and stress will kill you. The secret to trucking in my view is all in the trip planning.
Im beginning to ramble, bottom line is most truckers are the best people in the world, they are getting run ragged and this is no ones fault but their own and creates unprofessionalism in the industry and it’s down right dangerous.
There are things more important than money and we all have to keep that in mind.
Happy Trucking and keep the shiny side up!
I think these laws are pathetic!!!! We’re tryin to make a living and support our families yet we can’t seem to do that cause all these stupid rules and cops are like dogs trying to fine anyone for anything… instead of catching theives drug dealers and every other kind of criminal out there they’re worried about us and some stupid laws Let us work and make a legit living
I think the new laws are ridiculous. I have a friend who drives a truck locally and my eyes have opened up in a new light since. I can see being responsible for your own actions as a driver but not the condition of the truck. I know that many drivers work for companies who don’t keep their trucks up to standard and you as a truck driver can either get in it and drive or you are out of a job. I know that if the law stops you they are going to find a problem with your truck even if there isn’t one. I think the people who make these rules probably don’t drive a truck. The owners don’t care about their drivers because there is another to take there place. Who ever made up these laws need to do some inside research. Truck drivers don’t want to drive their trucks in bad condition but they are forced to or lose their homes. I also know their are a lot of loop holes that the companies find their way around. I say take a closer look at the companies and fix it.
Just when the economy was starting to pick up, these new CSA laws come into effect to slow the growing economy. These dumbasses need a foot in their ass! All Americans and citizens of this great country should know that truck drivers move almost all the freight that this country needs in places a train or ship cannot go to. This would be about 80% of the country. Some of the drivers affected by the new 2010 CSA laws may lose their jobs even though they are able to do things with a truck that only a true truck driver can do. I’d love to see these dumbasses that sit there and think of these rules try to swing a 53′ container on a tight corner. That would make me laugh. I understand that there is a need for safe driving but these idiots are trying to make truckers robots that conform to what they say and how they say it. This is the terrible thing about America….too many geeks that were picked on when they were little allowed into offices where they can give a little back of what they got. Napoleon complex or whatnot….anyways fellow truckers….keep your heads high and stay safe….not for those assholes but for yourselves and for your loved ones sake.
what about warning tickets do they count againts the driver as well
This 2010 CSA IS bullS###@ its about makeing money off OTR drivers and putting the burden on drivers and not the Companys.The COMPANYS PAY THERE LOBBYIISTS TO change the rules in there favor.These clowns have NO idea how difficult it is driveing a Big Rig, you have to be focused at all times and theres no room for a big mistake.This whole OTR Industry needs Unionization plain and simple.I consider myself an excellent CDL driver with 13 years expereince but Im done with this OTR [email protected]@#.
16 years good record guess what i quit f**k it