What is the Crash Indicator BASIC?
Apex Encourages Motor Carriers to be Attentive to CSA Scores While CSA Debate Continues
Apex Capital supports the Alliance for Safe, Efficient and Competitive Truck Transportation (ASECTT). ASECTT is a group of shippers, carriers, brokers and allied industry participants calling for a critical analysis of the FMCSA’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program, and a step back from its current use until that analysis is complete.
According to the ASECTT website, ASECTT’s members “are concerned that while CSA’s SMS methodology is a work in progress, portions of it have been released to the public without proper vetting, including but not limited to, the most basic scientific and statistical studies necessary to justify a nexus between the compliance violations measured in each of the so-called 7 BASICs and crash predictability.”
Apex shares ASECTT’s concerns. But while the CSA debate continues, obtaining and maintaining favorable CSA scores will remain important to motor carriers. For that reason, Apex is launching a series of blogs on February 6, 2013 regarding the seven CSA Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs) to encourage clients to be attentive to their CSA scores.
The FMCSA recently released new materials intended to assist motor carriers in identifying and addressing their safety and compliance issues. These materials include seven Safety Management Cycle (SMC) job aids originally created for agency enforcement personnel. There is one job aid for each of six of the BASICs and two for the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC: “Inspection-Repair-Maintenance” and “Cargo-Related.”
Establishing proper policies and procedures is the first step a motor carrier must take to utilize the SMC job aids to enhance CSA scores. This is one of a series of eight releases listing the Policies and Procedures a motor carrier should have in place as indicated by the SMC job aid for a specified BASIC. To learn more about the SMC job aids, and a full SMC analysis performed by FMCSA safety investigators, please visit the resources page on the FMCSA’s CSA website at https://csa.fmcsa.dot.gov.
Crash Indicator BASIC
The SMC job aid for the Crash Indicator BASIC indicates that the following policies and procedures should be in place:
- Drivers should adhere to all safe-driving-related Federal, State, and local laws and ordinances, including the wearing of seat-belts.
- Drivers should report and submit copies of all roadside inspections, moving violation citations, and crash involvements to management within 24 hours.
- Drivers should practice and apply safe, defensive driving techniques and skills.
- Drivers should not allow passengers onboard vehicles without management approval.
Vehicle defects that impact safety and/or compliance should be reported, repaired, and certified before the vehicle is operated.
Other CSA Series Posts:
Hazardous Materials (HM) Compliance BASIC
Controlled Substances/Alcohol BASIC
Hours-of-Service (HOS) Compliance BASIC