7 min readAbstract
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) uses the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program to monitor and enforce safety standards for motor carriers. This article explains how the CSA program works, including the Safety Measurement System (SMS) and the seven BASICs, to help fleets stay compliant and maintain strong safety records.
Overview
The CSA program is the FMCSA’s system for improving commercial vehicle safety and reducing crashes. It tracks safety data to identify high-risk carriers and drivers and holds them accountable. Knowing how your company performs under CSA is important for protecting your reputation, controlling insurance costs, and staying in business.
- Identify high-risk carriers: The CSA system analyzes safety data to find carriers with poor safety performance and targets them for interventions.
- Improve safety and compliance: CSA data helps carriers spot and fix safety issues before they lead to crashes or violations.
- Comprehensive data collection: The program uses inspection records, crash reports, and investigation results from the past 24 months to score safety performance.7
- Impacts business operations: Poor CSA scores can raise insurance costs and make it harder to win new business, so it’s important to stay proactive.
Understanding compliance, safety, accountability
The CSA program helps keep roads safe by holding motor carriers and drivers accountable for following federal safety rules. It applies to carriers that transport cargo or passengers across state lines.
CSA score is a common term, but the correct name is BASIC percentile. These percentiles measure safety performance across seven key categories. We’ll use BASIC percentiles throughout this article for clarity.
At the core of the CSA program is the Safety Measurement System (SMS). It uses inspection, crash, and investigation data to monitor safety and identify carriers with high risk. The FMCSA uses this data to decide where to focus enforcement, such as sending warning letters or conducting investigations.
Performance is tracked over 24 months and grouped into Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs). Each carrier is ranked against similar carriers in each category and assigned a percentile from 0 to 100, with lower percentiles meaning better performance::
- BASIC percentiles: These are monthly scores that show how a carrier compares to others. They help the FMCSA decide which carriers to prioritize for review. These scores are not official safety ratings.
- Official safety rating: After an onsite investigation, the FMCSA may assign a formal rating: satisfactory, conditional, or unsatisfactory.
The seven BASICs
The SMS organizes data into seven BASICs. These categories track unsafe behaviors linked to crash risk. Violations carry severity weights, and recent violations are weighted more heavily.
Unsafe driving: Dangerous or careless operation of a commercial motor vehicle
- Common violations: Speeding, reckless driving, improper lane changes, distracted driving, not wearing a seat belt
- Regulations: 49 CFR Parts 392 and 397
Crash indicator: A carrier’s crash history, including frequency and severity
| Note: This BASIC is not publicly visible. Only the motor carrier and enforcement officials can view it. |
HOS compliance: Violations of Hours of Service (HOS) regulations
- Common violations: Exceeding drive time limits, missing log details, not taking required rest breaks
- Regulations: 49 CFR Parts 392 and 395
Vehicle maintenance: Proper inspection and repair of commercial vehicles
- Common violations: Faulty brakes, lights, or tires; failure to fix issues noted on DVIRs
- Regulations: 49 CFR Parts 392, 393, and 396
Controlled substances/alcohol: Operation of a vehicle while under the influence
- Common violations: Use or possession of alcohol or drugs while on duty
- Regulations: 49 CFR Parts 382 and 392
Hazardous materials (HM) compliance: Safe transportation of hazardous materials
- Common violations: Incorrect placards, leaking containers, or improper packaging
| Note: This BASIC is not publicly visible. Only the motor carrier and enforcement officials can view it. |
Driver fitness: Driver qualifications and licensing
- Common violations: Driving without a valid CDL, expired medical certificate, or missing qualification records
- Regulations: 49 CFR Parts 383 and 391
FAQs
What is a good BASIC percentile?
A good BASIC percentile is a low one. Scores range from 0 to 100, with 0 being the best and 100 the worst. A lower percentile means your performance is better than most of your peers.
How is a BASIC percentile different from a safety rating?
BASIC percentiles are monthly performance measures based on violations in the BASICs. They help the FMCSA decide which carriers may need intervention.
Safety ratings are only assigned after a formal FMCSA investigation and do not update monthly.
Do individual drivers have BASIC percentiles?
No, BASIC percentiles are assigned to motor carriers, not individual drivers. However, a driver’s violations still impact the motor carrier’s overall score.
Which BASICs are not available to the public?
The Crash Indicator and HM Compliance BASICs are private. Only the motor carrier and enforcement personnel can view this data.
How long do violations affect my BASIC percentiles?
Violations stay on a carrier’s record for 24 months. Recent violations carry more weight:
- Months 1–6: 3× multiplier
- Months 7–12: 2× multiplier
- Months 13–24: 1× multiplier
Troubleshooting
- Compliance: High HOS Compliance BASIC Score
- Compliance: High Vehicle Maintenance BASIC Score
- Compliance: Disputing an Incorrect Violation via DataQs
- Compliance: Understanding an Unsafe Driving Violation
- Compliance: Driver Fitness File Requirements