reducing your csa scores
DESCRIPTION
Learn all about the FMCSA CSA (Compliance, Safety, Accountability). This presentation begins by explaining the what and why of CSA. You will also learn how the system works, how scores are calculated and how scores lead to increase scrutiny from DOT and FMCSA investigators. Finally, you will learn how to improve your scores and specific techniques for changing attitudes and behavior.TRANSCRIPT
Get Serious About Reducing Your CSA Scores
Presenter: Chris Vernon
Agenda
Introduction• What Is CSA (Compliance, Safety, Accountability)• Why Do We Have It• Why Does It Matter To YouHow Does CSA Work• Measurement-SMS (Safety Measurement System)• Evaluation• Intervention
Agenda
How To Use The System• Logging In• Main Portal• SMS (Safety Measurement System)Solving The Problem• Driver Attitude• Driver Behavior• Company Attitude• Company Behavior
What Is CSA?
• An FMCSA initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes.
• It 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.
Why Such A Push For Safety
• Commercial Vehicle Statistics for 2011:– 4,000 fatalities nationwide – 400,000 injuries nationwide– 22 fatalities in Utah
How Do CSA Scores Affect You• Decreased Load Rates• Increased Insurance
Rates• Lowers Credibility
• FMCSA Intervention– Early Contact
• Extra inspections• Warning letter
– Investigation• Offsite Investigation• Onsite Focused• Onsite Comprehensive
– Follow-on• Corrective Action Plan• Safety Rating Downgrade• Notice of Claim (Fines)• Out-of-Service Order
How Does CSA Work
Three Step Process• Measurement• Evaluation• Intervention
Measurement
Step OneSafety Data Collection
– Roadside Inspections– Traffic Citations (Can be entered into the system
even if a ticket is not issued)– Crash Data
Violations Classified Into 1 of 7 BASICs
7 BASICs1. Unsafe Driving-Speeding, reckless driving, etc.2. Hours-of-Service Compliance-Logbook violations, driving while
ill, etc.3. Driver Fitness-No CDL, no/expired medical card, etc.4. Controlled Substances/Alcohol-Use or possession of
controlled substances/alcohol, etc.5. Vehicle Maintenance-Breaks, lights, mechanical defects6. Hazardous Materials Compliance-Release of HM, no placards,
etc.7. Crash Indicator-Pattern of high crash involvement, etc.
Measurement
Step TwoEach BASIC is given a numerical value score
This is the formula for HOS, Driver Fitness and Vehicle Maintenance
Time Time/Weight FactorLess than 6 months 36 months – less than 1 year 21 year – less than 2 years 12 years and older Dropped from SMS
MeasurementStep FourPlaced In A Group Of Your Peers, Given Percentile Ranking
Evaluation
Evaluation
Evaluation
BASIC General HM PassengerUnsafe Driving, HOS Compliance,Crash Indicator
65% 60% 50%
Driver Fitness, Controlled Substances/Alcohol, Vehicle Maintenance
80% 75% 65%
HM Compliance 80% 80% 80%
Thresholds
InterventionEarly Contact• Warning Letter• Extra Roadside Inspections
– ISS (Inspection Selection System) • Every Motor Carrier has an ISS score. Enforcement officials
and systems like PrePass use your ISS score to determine if your truck and driver are selected for an inspection.
Intervention• Investigation
– Offsite Investigation– Onsite Focused– Onsite Comprehensive
Intervention• Follow-On
– Cooperative Safety Plan– Notice of Violation, requires a Corrective Action
Plan– Notice of Claim, Involves Civil Penalties– Operations Out-of-Service Order
Logging Into The FMCSA Portal
First Time users can request an account for the FMCSA Portal at: https://portal.fmcsa.dot.gov/login
Solving The Problem
We Tend To Treat The Symptoms, Not Cure The Problem
Solving The Problem
What is the CSA equivalent of the symptom?• Behavior
What is the CSA equivalent of the problem?• Attitude
A Paradigm Shift
Paradigm (n): a theory or a group of ideas about how something should be done, made, or thought about.
-Merriam-Webster
What Do You See?
Attitudes Have To Change
“All the significant breakthroughs were Break-Withs old ways of thinking.”
-Thomas Kuhn
Driver Attitude
There are two things that significantly impact a driver’s attitude:
1. Their perception of how they are viewed by the company
2. WIIFM1. PSP (Pre-Employment Screening Program)2. Compensation3. Spiffs
Driver Perception/AttitudeIt Requires A Partnership
Partnership: (n) a relationship resembling a legal partnership and usually involving close cooperation between parties having specified and joint rights and responsibilities
-Merriam-Webster
Driver Perception/Attitude
“Our Driver’s Are Our Greatest Asset”• Do you just give the phrase lip service• Do you really mean it?• How do you show it?
– Happy Birthdays– Random Treats– Get Well Cards/Condolences– It’s The Small Stuff
Driver Behavior
What tool at your disposal can have the greatest impact on overall driver behavior?
PSP (Pre-Employment Screening Program)
“Past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior”
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”-Benjamin Franklin
Negative Reinforcement, Examples• Withhold pay• New drivers go through
probationary period• Verbal/Written
warnings• Unpaid time off• Assign unfavorable
routes• Fewer miles
• Termination
Positive Reinforcement, Examples• Note on a dipstick• Gift cards for clean
inspections• Monthly mileage bonus
for no violations• Written/verbal
appreciation• Something that includes
the significant other
• Visible token that gives bragging rights, i.e. hat
• Point system with catalog of items
• Paid time off• Driver of the month• Driver of the year• Competition to see who
can go the longest without a violation
Company Attitude
• CSA score management requires a proactive approach
• Drivers are not your enemy
Company Behavior
Best Practices • Use PSP, Companies who use PSP see a 15%
reduction in crashes and a 17% drop in driver-related out-of-service orders.
• Don’t hire bad drivers, The Pareto Principle (80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes)
• Fix driver turnover (Most driver turnover happens in the first 6 months)
• Major cause of early turnover comes from misaligned expectations
PSP
http://www.psp.fmcsa.dot.gov/Pages/default.aspx
More Best Practices
• Create a positive, CSA conscious culture• Check your CSA scores regularly, investigate
EVERY inspection/violation• Reward or punish every driver on every
inspection• If it was not your violation fight it, DataQs
DataQs
https://dataqs.fmcsa.dot.gov/
Questions?Contact Info
[email protected]@ProgressiveReporting.comwww.ProgressiveReporting.com