CSA and the BASICS
 
  Just what is CSA?
  Simply put the purpose of the CSA initiative is to develop more
  effective and efficient methods for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
  Administration (FMCSA), to achieve its mission of reducing commercial
  motor vehicle (CMV) crashes, fatalities and injuries.

  KEY FEATURES OF CSA
  • Increase contact with carriers and drivers.
  • Improve performance measurements for identifying high risk motor
     carrier and driver behaviors.
  • Correct high risk behaviors before they become chronic and habitual.

  In the development of the CSA program, FMCSA sought to
  incorporate several key attributes:
  • FLEXIBILITY - Adapt to Changing Environment. Accommodates changes
     to the transportation environment, such as evolutions in technology and
     changing programmatic responsibilities.
  • EFFICIENCY - Maximize Use of Resources. Improves Federal and State
     enforcement staff productivity, as well as the safety performance of
     members of the motor carrier community.
  • EFFECTIVENESS - Improve Safety
  • PERFORMANCE - Identifies behaviors associated with safety risk;
     focuses compliance, enforcement and remediation efforts on those
     unsafe behaviors.
  • INNOVATION - Leverage Data and Technology. Improves safety
     through the innovative use of technology to track and update
     safety performance data.
  • EQUITABILITY- Be Fair & Unbiased. Assesses and evaluates motor
     carrier safety and enforces Federal laws and safety regulations to
     ensure consistent treatment of similarly situated members of the
     motor carrier community.

  As CSA is implemented in pilot states and is rolled out to all
  carriers, there is no grace period. Your company's new BASIC scores
  will be calculated retroactively using the most recent 24 months of
  violation and crash history. Because the scoring is retroactive, you
  need to begin preparations and make changes now.Your most recent
  6 months of history are weighted the heaviest, so make an impact by
  starting now.

  Ninth State Joins CSA Pilot Program
  In November, Delaware became the 9th state to join the CSA
  Operational Model (OM) Test. The OM Test now includes 92,094 motor
  carriers and the results show:
  • Safety Investigators are conducting 20% more investigations per
     investigator.
  • Approximately 50% of investigations have resulted in a follow-on
     intervention such as a Cooperative Safety Plan, Notice of Violation
     or Notice of Claim.
  • More than 4,000 warning letters have been sent to motor carriers
     and about half of those carriers have followed up to learn more about
     their safety performance.

  CSA is slated to be rolled out nationally mid-2010 with states coming on
  board gradually throughout the latter half of next year as enforcement
  personnel are trained. Motor carrier and driver safety performance will
  be rated in 7 different Behavioral Analysis Safety Improvement Categories
  (BASICs) in the CSA 2010 Safety Measurement System (SMS).
 
  The Seven BASICs are:
     1. Unsafe Driving
     2. Fatigued Driving
     3. Driver Fitness
     4. Drugs/Alcohol
     5. Vehicle Maintenance
     6. Cargo Related
     7. Crash Indicator
 
  NATC has been involved in the test period of CSA from the
  ground level and as such has gained enormous experience in the
  complex workings of the CSA program. Let NATC use this
  experience and expertise to your advantage in complying with
  CSA. Please contact NATC at (609)-426-0555 and let
  NATC help you be CSA compliant.