How can MVR Monitoring Help Maintain Lower CSA Scores

Motor carriers should be aware of their CSA (Compliance, Safety, Accountability) score for multiple reasons. One, CSA scores are open to the public, allowing companies to have an unfavorable public image. This may result in public scrutiny by the media, competitors, and other organizations. Many attorneys use high CSA scores as evidence of negligence by a motor carrier. Carriers with high scores are also targeted more heavily by FMCSA resulting in frequent DOT inspections. Inspections are costly not only financially, but can also lead to the shutting down of motor vehicle operations completely. Many insurance companies also look at CSA scores when giving out policies. Having a low score can help secure the best policy at the best rate.

Keeping Low CSA Scores

1. Monitoring and Tracking: FMCSA suggests that motor carriers create a program to monitor and track their drivers. Motor Vehicle Record monitoring can assist motor carriers in maintaining a lower CSA score by remaining alert to any changes in a driver’s MVR. These alerts provide a critical “heads up” when a violation could potentially impact a carrier’s CSA score. Since motor carriers cannot use the Pre-Employment Screening (PSP) report for current drivers, driver record monitoring can serve as a predictor for how a carrier’s score might change as a result of the violations, once the carrier establishes a scoring baseline. By monitoring drivers’ licenses, carriers can identify and keep track of drivers with unsafe driving behaviors, an unfit to drive status, DUIs and history of mishandling of hazardous materials. Additionally, MVR monitoring keeps track of the history or patterns of high crash involvement, including frequency and severity. A monitoring system can effectively manage all seven categories of the CSA BASICs allowing motor carrier to lower their CSA score and maintain it. Maintaining a low CSA score is difficult but can be made easy with the right tools.

2. Qualifications and Hiring: One of the best ways to ensure a low CSA score is making sure to first hire safe and qualified drivers. Have you ever hired employees who weren’t qualified for the position? If so, you might have a lack of background knowledge. Improving your background investigation and driver record review process is an important step to having the right drivers.

3. Training: After hiring, proper training is essential to maintaining a low CSA score. Having a quality training program helps create a company culture of safety. It is important that your training is effective by taking a comprehensive look at and assessing your motor carriers training needs. Every training program needs a way for the motor carrier to evaluate their drivers actual understanding of the material. Having a Learning Management System allows administrators to assign new training to new/existing drivers, send automatic email reminders, track drivers’ performance and run customized reports. System allows you to create custom training packages that could include various lessons. Packages can be customized to train high-risk drivers, new employees, yearly reminders, and more.

*We are not lawyers. Consult with your legal counsel to ensure your processes and procedures meet/ or exceed safety standards and compliance regulations. Please read our legal disclaimer.