CSA (formerly CSA 2010) is officially live � and the changes keep rolling in. Last December, I reported on a lawsuit filed against the FMCSA that aimed to prevent the public release of carriers� CSA 2010 safety performance data. The three plaintiffs � the National Association of Small Trucking Companies, the Expedite Alliance of North America and the Air & Expedite Motor Carriers Association � filed the suit because they believed shippers and brokers were unfairly using the Safety Measurement System (SMS) data when choosing carriers to truck freight.   

On March 9, FMCSA settled the lawsuit and agreed to modify two aspects of publically available SMS information by March 25. The settlement requires the following changes:

1.     For carriers with a BASIC score exceeding the FMCSA�s thresholds, the current orange �Alert� symbol will be replaced by a yellow triangle enclosing an exclamation point.

2.     New language will replace the SMS disclaimer, essentially saying the SMS data should not be construed as a safety rating. The revised details read as follows:

"The data in the Safety Measurement System (SMS) is performance data used by the Agency and enforcement community. A [gold triangle] symbol, based on that data, indicates that FMCSA may prioritize a motor carrier for further monitoring. The [gold triangle] symbol is not intended to imply any federal safety rating of the carrier pursuant to 49 USC 31144. Readers should not draw conclusions about a carrier�s overall safety condition simply based on the data displayed in this system. Unless a motor carrier in the SMS has received an UNSATISFACTORY safety rating pursuant to 49 CFR Part 385, or has otherwise been ordered to discontinue operations by the FMCSA, it is authorized to operate on the nation�s roadways. Motor carrier safety ratings are available at http://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov and motor carrier licensing and insurance status are available at http://li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov/"

Whether these changes will affect the ways shippers and brokers use public data remains to be seen. But, as always, Getloaded will keep you up-to-date on any developments as they occur.