The trucking industry is currently undergoing tighter safety regulations, and the changes are quickly becoming a hot topic.

Originally, full implementation of Comprehensive Safety Analysis (CSA) 2010 was supposed to roll out in July. The date, however, is now pushed back to November 30.

The reason?

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration discovered only half of truckload carriers were prepared for the new regulations.

Though the rollout is delayed, CSA regulations are inevitable, and I want to make sure you aren’t among the drivers caught unprepared for the law. Over the next few weeks I’m going to debunk some of the rumors and share new developments so we’re all on the same page about CSA 2010.

The program addresses many aspects of the transportation industry, but one particular section seems to be causing confusion — and anger — in the industry and our Phorums: the new Safety Measurement System (SMS).

There are a million ways driver safety can be gauged, but CSA 2010 has created seven Behavior Analysis Safety Improvement Categories, or BASICs, that will judge your soundness and ability:

• Unsafe driving
• Fatigued driving (hours of service)
• Driver Fitness
• Controlled substances/alcohol
• Vehicle maintenance
• Cargo-related
• Crash indicator

While some of the regulations are new, many are the same. To help clarify the confusion, I’ll go through each of the seven BASICs and profile the details, so you know exactly what to expect. Just check back here on Fridays, and you’ll find the newest information on CSA 2010 to ensure you’re ready in November.

I’ll also be here to answer any other questions you have. So let me know:

Are you prepared for CSA 2010?

What regulations do you find confusing, ridiculous, frustrating or overdue?

Do you think these regulations will help or hurt the industry?