By December 2010, CSA 2010 will affect all commercial vehicle fleets in the U.S. It has been progressively rolled out throughout 2010 and is designed to target unsafe fleets, intervening where appropriate to improve safety standards.
Fleets that will be affected by CSA 2010 are those with vehicles that:
- Weigh more than 10,000lbs and travel interstate (across state borders)
- Deliver HAZMAT (hazardous materials)
CSA is an initiative by the FMCSA and introduces a new enforcement and compliance model that allows FMCSA and its State Partners to contact a larger number of carriers earlier in order to address safety problems before crashes occur.
There are three main areas that constitute CSA 2010:
- Measurement – Based on the BASICs safety criteria, fleets will be constantly monitored for violations of any safety category.
- Evaluation – Using measurements taken, scores can be allocated to fleets and compared with other fleets in a peer group to achieve a relative safety rating. This can then be used to determine if intervention is required.
- Intervention – A poor safety rating may then lead to intervention measures, which differ in severity but ultimately are designed to raise safety standards or prevent the carrier from operating.
I’m a fleet manager – how does CSA affect me?
If you run a reliable, safe fleet of vehicles that comply with current DOT requirements, you will probably not notice any changes. Many of the requirements of the new compliance model are based on existing standards.
Your fleet will continue to be monitored by the Safety Measurement System rolled out with CSA 2010 every month as part of every fleet’s ongoing evaluation but if you maintain high safety standards and fleet compliance you most likely will never hear from FMCSA inspectors conducting intervention operations.
If you struggle to keep your drivers and vehicles in compliance with FMCSA requirements then now is a perfect time to review your systems to see if there’s an easier way to stay on top of compliance issues.
GPS fleet tracking making CSA 2010 compliance easier
There are seven safety categories in total that CSA 2010 will be monitoring. Here are a few that fleet managers can stay on top of using GPS fleet tracking.
- Unsafe Driving – The FMCSA will be keeping a close eye on fleets with drivers who drive in a dangerous or careless manner. Speeding, reckless driving and other unsafe driving habits can be monitored by fleet managers in real-time using Telogis Fleet GPS tracking.
- Fatigued Driving (Hours-of-Service) – Any non-compliance with the Hours-of-Service (HOS) regulations is regarded seriously. Telogis Mobile can automatically log driver hours and send managers instant HOS violation alerts.
- Vehicle Maintenance - Any CMV not maintained properly will count against a fleet’s overall safety score, particularly in the event of a crash. Telogis Fleet can be used to setup preventative maintenance schedules based on actual usage so you can stay ahead of necessary repairs and keep your vehicles in optimum condition.
- Cargo-Related – Any cargo-related hazards such as overloading or unsafe handling of hazardous materials can be another strike against a fleet’s good reputation. Telogis Mobile can be used to make sure drivers are completing pre-trip safety inspections and checking loads are being transported safely.
The added advantage of using GPS tracking is that it’s a reliable, accurate method of monitoring your fleet on an ongoing basis. Once installed, you can have peace of mind, knowing that your fleet is continually being tracked to make sure it stays safe and you stay compliant with CSA 2010.
