BASICs Scores and How You Can Help
For years, Apex Capital has shared the Alliance for Safe, Efficient and Competitive Truck Transportation’s (ASECTT) concerns about the FMCSA’s SMS methodology. Others are now expressing similar concerns. As reported this week in both Commercial Carrier Journal and Fleet Owner, the American Trucking Associations (ATA) has stated that BASICs scores can be unreliable for the purpose of drawing conclusions about individual carriers, and third parties should be made aware of that.
Crash Risk and BASICs Scores
The strength of correlation between the number of alerts a motor carrier has in a particular BASICs category to crash risk varies depending on the BASICs category. Some researchers have found virtually no correlation between crash rates and scores in any BASICs category. If the FMCSA is going to make BASICs scores available to the public, it should ensure that the scores accurately portray crash indication. Freight brokers, shippers, and insurance companies have access to these inaccurate scores, which can result in a small trucking company being denied a load, experiencing non-renewal of insurance coverage, or being hit with increased insurance premiums.
Your voice matters
Apex Capital wants you to let your congressmen and congresswomen know what you think by accessing the links below.