A CSA Score, used by the FMCSA, identifies high-risk motor carriers and drivers needing intervention. It is based on driver performance data, including safety-based roadside inspection violations and state-reported crashes while operating commercial vehicles. Violations under a carrier’s DOT number affect that carrier’s score. While the FMCSA can issue interventions and fines for high CSA scores, they cannot suspend a driver’s CDL. Monitoring CSA scores helps pinpoint unsafe carriers.
A good CSA score is low, ranging from 0 to 100. Lower scores indicate fewer violations and safer operations. A score closer to 0 suggests better safety compliance, benefiting drivers and trucking companies.
You can check your score here: csa.fmcsa.dot.gov. When you enter your USDOT number and PIN into the SMS login page, you can locate your score. If you don’t have a PIN, you can request one from USDOT. Delivery of your PIN typically takes 4-7 days.
The CSA Point System is based on an overall performance assessment called BASICs, which stands for Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories. The measure of each BASIC is determined by combining the time and severity of your violations. The BASICs cover more than 900 different violations within 7 categories: Unsafe Driving, Crash Indicator, Hours of Service (HOS) Compliance, Vehicle Maintenance, Controlled Substance/Alcohol, Hazardous Materials Compliance, and Driver Fitness. CSA scores do not include size and weight violations.
The severity of the alleged violation will affect your CSA score based on the 1-10 ranking. The timing of your violation will also affect it, with points multiplied depending on the length of time since your last violation. Violations within six months of a previous violation result in 3x the points; violations within six to 12 months result in 2x the points; and those within 12 to 24 months remain at 1x the points. Two additional points are added to your score if a violation results in an Out-Of-Service Order (OOSO).
Points assigned to you as a driver are recorded on both your individual record and the CSA score of the carrier you work for. Your individual CSA score will include all points from the past 36 months, whereas the carrier’s score will reflect points from the previous 24 months for all drivers in its fleet. However, any points you received before joining the carrier will not impact the carrier’s score.
Most likely, at some point in every driver’s career, they will be pulled over by a police officer or Department of Transportation officer. When you are pulled over, what you do next is just as important as what the officer says you did or did not.
After you have produced the documents requested by the officer, the officer writes the citation, and the officer has left the scene, write down every detail of the incident. Every scene and situation is different, but some things to consider writing down include notes about your immediate surroundings, road markers or signs in the area, weather and traffic conditions, what happened immediately before the officer pulled you over, what the officer said, what documents the officer asked for, and what your responses were. If there are any photos you can take regarding the reason you were pulled over, such as an equipment violation, be sure you do so with a camera that has a time and date stamp.
Remember that most law officers today have dash-mounted cameras and audio recording devices, so it is most likely that everything you do and say is being recorded. Should your case end up in court, your attorney can request a copy of the incident from the officer – and it can work to your advantage if evidence shows you were cooperative and compliant.
Regardless of how minor you think the offense may be, your driving record is your livelihood. Don’t let points cost you your job – consider a trusted legal plan that has helped thousands of drivers protect themselves and their jobs.
An electronic logging device is a piece of electronic hardware installed in a commercial vehicle and attached to the engine to record driving hours and other related data. The driver and/or the carrier can generate reports in specified formats for safety officials to ensure compliance with Hours of Service (HOS) regulations.
ELD devices capture and record data automatically at pre-determined intervals, including whether the engine is running and/or moving, the number of miles driven, the duration of the engine’s operation, the date, time, location, and ID information of the driver, authenticated user, vehicle, and motor carrier.
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