In last Friday’s blog post, we announced the start of weekly coverage on CSA 2010 to ensure you are ready for the full program rollout in November. When CSA 2010 launches, SafeStat will be replaced by Safety Measurement System (SMS), which includes seven Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs) criteria enforced on drivers during inspections. Starting next week, I’ll go through the BASICs and detail step-by-step what you need to look out for to ensure full compliance with the law.

Before diving into the regulation details, I want to share new clarification on CSA 2010 released on April 20 by FMCSA:

1. Lack of BASICs compliance can result in negative points during roadside inspections.
2. Points will not be attached to the driver’s CDL, they are assigned to the carrier.
3. If a driver leaves a carrier, any negative points they accumulated while there will remain with their prior carrier.
4. Carriers will be rated through CSA 2010, but drivers will not be rated beyond current FMCSA regulations.
5. CSA 2010 does not give the FMCSA any authority or processes to revoke CDLs.
6. Carriers will be held accountable for drivers’ errors, including speeding.
7. Drivers will only be held accountable for the errors they can control, such as speeding or fatigued driving.
8. The BASICs are weighted and negative points are given in relationship to the crash risk the violation imposes.
9. Roadside inspectors will be able to see a carrier’s BASIC information and scores, but not the driver’s specific information.
10. Inspectors will use these scores as a tool to determine whether or not to inspect your vehicle, and at what level to do so.

Over the next several weeks, we’ll discuss the repercussions of these changes in greater detail. But for now, I’d like to know your thoughts.

How do you think this new ratings system will affect your job?
Will carriers change how they hire drivers?
If so, how have you begun preparing for the changes?