ADS Logistics Supply Chain Management Blog

CSA 2010 Now CSA 2011

A report came out late last month about the delayed implementation of the CSA 2010. The new safety ranking system that began to be implemented in April 2010 and was scheduled to be fully installed by this July is now being delayed until the spring or possibly summer of 2011. The announcement was presented by Anne Ferro, Administrator for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to the House of Representatives as well as two other committees specializing in highway transportation. The six-part report explains the CSA 2010, its goals, how it will improve off of SafeStat, how it will be tested, and how it will be implemented.

Before the CSA 2010 could be implemented, it had to be tested. The test came in the form of a nine-state field test in which the CSA and SafeStat, the system the CSA would replace, will be compared side by side. The test started in only four states: Colorado, Georgia, Missouri, and New Jersey. Each state was divided into two groups; one group was assessed by the CSA 2010 and the other by SafeStat. In the spring and fall of 2009, the Agency added five more States to the test – Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, and Montana. However, for these five states the CSA 2010 interventions were applied to all motor carriers instead of just half. Ferro states that:
“Since the test began, the Agency has sent out more than 5,500 warning letters to motor carriers in the test, and the letter has proven effective. Approximately fifty percent of all carriers receiving a warning letter have logged onto the FMCSA website to review information on their deficient BASIC.  In addition, FMCSA has received letters of response from some of these carriers in which they thank the Agency for bringing to their attention information on the deficient BASIC, and describe their corrective action to address the safety problem.”

CSA 2010 is effective according to other investigations as well. Off-site investigations proved to be 25 percent more efficient, while on-site focused investigations were 45 percent more efficient, and on-site comprehensive investigations were 30 percent more efficient.

The nine-state field test is the main reason why the full implementation of the CSA 2010 will be delayed. FMCSA is using feedback from its partners, stakeholders, the public, the nine-state field test, and written letters to the CSA 2010 public docket, to fully optimize the new policy for all parties. “FMCSA will roll out CSA 2010 in the fall of 2010 instead of the summer of 2010 as earlier reported.  This relatively minor movement in our rollout timeline will enable the Agency to be more responsive to the feedback, as well as the lessons learned from our field test.” In the fall and winter of 2010, the FMCSA will be taking 3 major steps towards the complete installation of CSA 2010. First, SafeStat will be replaced with the Safety Measurement System (SMS). Second, warning letters will be sent to carriers nationwide. Third, a revised nationwide Inspection Selection System for roadside inspectors that is based on SMS rather than SafeStat will be implemented. An Operational Model test concluded in June and consequently the nine test states will soon complete all CSA 2010 interventions. CSA implementation will then continue into 2011 for the remaining 41 states.