{"id":11688,"date":"2020-02-26T14:33:43","date_gmt":"2020-02-26T12:33:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.become.co\/blog\/?p=11688"},"modified":"2020-02-26T14:37:08","modified_gmt":"2020-02-26T12:37:08","slug":"csa-score","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.become.co\/blog\/csa-score\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Understand and Improve Your CSA Score"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n

Do motor vehicle regulations drive you up the wall?<\/span><\/p>\n\n

The fact is, the rules of the road are there to protect us all – and thank goodness they exist! There are enough <\/span>challenges in the trucking industry<\/span><\/a>, it\u2019s best to avoid throwing safety violations into the mix.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

That said, there are different ways that vehicular laws are enforced, including the CSA score.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Are you unfamiliar with the CSA score? Then you\u2019ve made the right pit-stop!<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Learn what the CSA score is, how to check it, why it\u2019s important for your business, and much, much more – below.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

What is a CSA score?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n

A CSA score is a percentile rank used by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association (FMCSA) to help identify drivers and motor carrier businesses that pose a high risk, and who may require intervention.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

The main goal of the <\/span>FMCSA<\/span><\/a> is to \u201cprevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.\u201d Clearly, that\u2019s a big benefit for everybody who travels by motor vehicle – whether they\u2019re a carrier or not. In its mission to ensure motor carrier safety, the FMCSA uses many tools – including the CSA score system.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

You\u2019ve now got the answer to the question \u201cwhat is a CSA score?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Do you still have questions? Good! Because we\u2019ve got answers.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Q: What does CSA stand for?<\/b><\/p>\n

A: CSA is an acronym that stands for Compliance, Safety, and Accountability.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Q: How is a CSA score calculated?<\/b><\/p>\n

A: A CSA score is based on roadside inspections and crash reports from the preceding two years, as well as data that may have been gathered during investigations into a business\u2019s level of risk. That data is collected by the Safety Measurement System (SMS), which runs an analysis on a monthly basis. The higher the CSA score, the higher the risk posed by the business.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

There\u2019s much more to learn about the CSA score system. Keep reading for more insight!<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Who gets a CSA score?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n

First off, it is worth pointing out that individual drivers do not receive a CSA score – only the carriers for which they work. A CSA score is associated with a carrier business\u2019s Department of Transportation (DOT) number. That means that if a driver is charged with a violation, it impacts the carrier\u2019s CSA score. If you think that sounds a little unfair for the business owner, you\u2019re not alone.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Don\u2019t worry though – drivers aren\u2019t allowed to operate vehicles recklessly without the threat of consequences. To balance the liability, drivers have individual Pre-employment Screening Program (PSP) records which are kept by the FMCSA. Those PSP records are essentially summaries of drivers\u2019 history pertaining to crashes and roadside inspection results. So, if a driver does operate vehicles irresponsibly, their record will reflect that behavior. No free rides here!<\/span><\/p>\n\n

What does a CSA score mean for your business?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n

Keeping track of your carrier business\u2019s CSA score is important for many reasons, not only for the sake of giving the FMCSA a window into your business\u2019s level of risk. If you\u2019re curious about what <\/span>the future of the trucking industry<\/span><\/a> has to hold, let\u2019s just say it\u2019ll look brighter if your CSA score is strong.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Top 5 reasons why your CSA score is important for your business:<\/b><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Maintaining safety ratings<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Attracting customers<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Attracting new employees<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Avoiding legal consequences<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Keeping insurance premium low<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    Reason #1 – Safety ratings<\/span><\/h3>\n

    The primary reason it\u2019s important is that your CSA score has a direct impact on your business\u2019s safety rating. A strong or poor safety rating can mean the difference between a successful business and one that fails. The reputation of your carrier business may depend on your CSA score!<\/span><\/p>\n\n

    Reason #2 – Attracting customers<\/span><\/h3>\n

    When customers search for a carrier to transport their goods, they\u2019ll look at the safety ratings of the companies they consider. A poor CSA score means a poor safety rating, which can understandably turn customers away from your business. Once again, your CSA score can impact your business\u2019s reputation, which can have a real effect on your cash flow.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

    \n

    Side note:<\/b> If your concern isn\u2019t about attracting more customers, but dealing with customers that are slow to pay, then consider <\/span>freight factoring<\/span><\/a> as a way to access the funds tied up in unpaid invoices.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

    Reason #3 – Attracting employees<\/span><\/h3>\n

    Customers aren\u2019t the only ones looking at your CSA score. Potential employees will also consider your business\u2019s CSA score when seeking employment opportunities. If your CSA score is weak, it\u2019s an indicator that your business has many violations on record. That can turn out to be especially problematic if you\u2019re looking to beat the <\/span>labor shortage<\/span><\/a> and hire new drivers, since they may want to avoid joining a trucking company that has a bad track record.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

    Reason #4 – Legal consequences<\/span><\/h3>\n

    A poor CSA score will draw more attention from the FMCSA, and could eventually mean that your trucking business will face interventions, inspections, and even audits. Those consequences are nothing to scoff at. They\u2019ll not only soak up valuable time that would otherwise be put towards operating your business but can also take a heavy toll on your business\u2019s cash flow.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

    Reason #5 – Insurance premiums<\/span><\/h3>\n

    Do you like keeping your business\u2019s expenses low? Yeah, we do too. A good CSA score can keep insurance premiums low. And while paying for an insurance policy is a necessary expense for any business, it\u2019s even truer for trucking companies. A bad CSA score is one clear indication that your business is a risky one to insure, and will lead to higher insurance premiums compared to businesses with better CSA scores.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

    Alright, so we know a CSA score is important. That\u2019s clear. But if you don\u2019t know how they\u2019re measured, then how can you keep your CSA score strong? We\u2019re glad you asked…<\/span><\/p>\n\n

    \"how<\/p>\n\n

    Which factors are considered when assigning a CSA score<\/span>?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n

    There are 7 factors that are considered when the FMCSA assigns a CSA score (listed with explanations below).<\/span><\/p>\n\n

    Those factors are referred to as BASICs (Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories). With data regarding the BASICs categories, the FMCSA then ranks the carrier with a percentile ranking between 0 and 100. The higher a CSA score is, the worse the business\u2019s violation record.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

    If you\u2019re wondering \u201cwhat is a CSA score based on?\u201d, we\u2019ve got the answer for that also…<\/span><\/p>\n\n

    The CSA BASICs categories:<\/b><\/p>\n\n

      \n
    1. Unsafe driving<\/b>
      <\/span>This category considers violations related to:
      <\/span>
      a. Texting
      <\/span>b. Speeding
      <\/span>c. Using a hand-held cell phone
      <\/span>d. Reckless driving
      <\/span>e. Improper lane change
      <\/span>f. Inattention<\/span>

      <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        \n
      1. \u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        \n

        Side note: <\/b>While technology is helpful in so many ways (including finding the right <\/span>business loans<\/span><\/a>), it can be highly distracting for drivers. Don\u2019t text and drive!<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

          \n
        1. Crash indicator<\/b>
          <\/span>This category considers the last two years\u2019 records of crashes reported by the State in order to identify carriers with patterns of frequent crash involvement. Crashes are reportable if they result in injury, fatality, or require that a vehicle be transported away from the scene of the crash.<\/span>

          <\/span><\/li>\n
        2. Hours of Service compliance<\/b>
          <\/span>HOS compliance is detailed in its own right, but basically (no pun intended) requires that drivers be awake, alert, and have the ability to respond to activity on the road quickly.<\/span>

          <\/span><\/li>\n
        3. Vehicle maintenance<\/b>
          <\/span>This category takes into consideration a carrier business\u2019s frequency of inspections, and whether there are records of vehicle defects or repairs. If you find yourself spending a lot of money on repairs, consider <\/span>          commercial vehicle loans<\/span><\/a> to help cover those expenses (or even replace the vehicle altogether!).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n
          \n

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          With no cost to apply and no hard credit check, business owners searching for funds now have the ideal solution.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n