CSA which stands for Compliance, Safety, Accountability, previously named CSA 2010 rates carriers on 7 different criteria (called Basics) relating to their operation in the SMS (Safety Management System). 5 of the 7 basic scores are public information. The five public Basic categories are Unsafe Driving, Fatigued Driving (Hours of Service), Driver Fitness, Controlled Substances and Alcohol, and Vehicle Maintenance. The 2 non public categories can only be accessed by carriers with their personalized pin number.
This system, which replaced Safestat is meant to be a more proactive approach by flagging deficiencies so that intervention can occur sooner rather than later. Your carrier violations are rated by severity of the violation and weighted by time. The more recently you received the violation, the higher the score for that violation. The violations remain part of your score for 24 months.
My experience with the system is although not perfect, it does bring out deficiencies that carriers must address about their operation. Some carriers might be reluctant to admit that since for years there was no issue or little awareness of their operation and now they are being told it needs to be fixed. But the truth is, when you review scores, most deficiencies that are high, show trends of something that should be addressed. For example, sure we may miss a bulb that is out here or there and may not seem like a big deal, but excessive violations of this type may be a good indication that pre trips and post trips are not being completed on a regular basis. So when looking at scores, besides the details, we must look at the big picture and see what is driving those numbers. It is makes our roadways safer, I am all for it.
What is your experience with CSA? What do you think of CSA? Friend or foe?
No comments:
Post a Comment