CSA 2010 uses driver ranking in subdivision categories termed BASIC. Below you will find a table that summarizes publicly accessible profile for each driver. This screenshot was taken from the SAFER website.
The table to the left summarizes the general profile of the CSA BASIC system.
CSA 2010 BASIC system is subdivided into 6 sections rating drivers/company performance and safety, plus an additional factor termed crash indicator. Each of the 6 factors is broken down to ON ROAD violations and INVESTIGATIONS tabs. These indicate both simple on the road violations as well as in-depth investigations by the DOT or pertinent institutions. All of these factors and their outcomes are then used to generate a score for the company/driver.
The individual factors of the BASIC system will be analyzed at the end of this section along with an introduction to understanding the CSA ratings of each category.
CONSEQUENCES OF A POOR BASIC SCORE
A poor score in any of the categories of the BASIC system will bear consequences for both the driver and the company.
As mentioned earlier, the BASIC score will have a dramatic effect on the company's business flow in terms of trust, reliability and safety. Driver fitness will in reflect consequences when applying for a position in a new company. However, the most important resultant of the BASIC score is a DOT audit. A company with a poor BASIC score simply translates to an unsafe workplace requiring an audit. An audit for a company may result in financial penalties and/or mandatory adjustments to the way a company is run. Below we will provide a quick sample of what the DOT may require as an adjustment for a company with a poor BASIC score:
POOR SCORE IN THE UNSAFE DRIVING SECTION
- DOCUMENT SET OF POLICIES CONDUCTING PROCEDURES FOR THE DRIVERS BEFORE AND DURING DRIVING
- DOCUMENT SET OF POLICIES REQUIRING DRIVERS TO SUBMIT COPIES OF ALL ROADSIDE INSPECTIONS, CITATIONS, AND VIOLATIONS
- DEVELOP A POLICY FOR PENALIZING DRIVERS FOR SPEEDING EVEN THOUGH A FEDERAL/STATE CITATION IS NOT ISSUED
- DEVELOP A POLICY PROHIBITING PASSENGERS BEING PRESENT WITHOUT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY
POOR SCORE IN THE VEHICLE MAINTENANCE SECTION
- DEVELOP A SCHEDULE FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND ADHERE TO THE SCHEDULE PENALIZING O/O FOR LACK OF ADHERENCE
- DEVELOP A POLICY OF REPORTING VEHICLE DEFECTS, PENALIZE FOR LACK OF REPORTS
- DEVELOP A POLICY FOR REGULAR VEHICLE INSPECTION PRIOR TO DRIVING AND AFTER DRIVING
Development and deployment of such written and documented policies as well as generating documentation to demonstrate that adherence to all required modifications is in place will take much effort, time, and investment. The purpose of this demonstration is to show you as an owner, owner-operator, or driver the cost (both temporal and financial) of not paying particular attention to your BASIC score. Again, this score is public and you may view it any time in order to check your status.
BASIC score is updated on a monthly basis. A snapshot of company/driver is taken on 3rd or 4th Friday of the month. Following, within 10 days a score is generated. Therefore you should expect your score update no later than 10 days after the last Friday of each month.
TYPES OF VIOLATIONS & VIOLATION SEVERITY
TYPES OF VIOLATIONS
There are different types of violations that weigh into the BASIC score. The most severe of them are termed RED FLAG violations. These will be summarized in the table below.
In addition to these Red Flag Violations, all other violations will be incorporated into the BASIC score. It is important to understand that on one hand Red Flag Violations carry a severe weight into the BASIC score, but on the other hand, no violations should be belittled as speeding warnings that have not been documented or fined will attribute to the BASIC score. In other words, if a driver was speeding and has not received a ticket with monetary fine attached with the violation, the warning will still constitute a weighted impact on the BASIC score. Therefore, a company's BASIC score can change even if a driver of that company has not received an official violation.
DRIVER VIOLATION IMPACT ON COMPANY SCORE
Individual driver violations will contribute to the overall BASIC score of the company. It is important to understand that a driver is working toward a company's BASIC score. Hence proper instructions and preparation should be taken in order to make the driver fully aware of the impact of his actions on the road. The company should be aware of the fact that if a driver who commits a violation, hence impacting the company's BASIC score, is then terminated, the driver's impact on the company's BASIC score will remain for 24 months after termination date.
UNDERSTANDING SAFER SYS "SMS" BASIC RATINGS
We have introduced and explained the idea of the BASIC system rating. We have also portrayed numerous samples above of the BASIC rating indicator found on the SAFER system. We will now provide a short explanation of how to interpret each of the elements correctly.
Note that in the above six factors of the BASIC, the percentage dial along with other elements are slightly different depending on the BASIC factor in question. This is because each factor has its unique qualifications, standards, and thresholds that we will explain now.
2009-12-16
