While it acknowledges there are several shortcomings in the CSA program, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration says it will continue to enforce elements of the program that have come under criticism.
According to a report by Heavy Duty Trucking, the agency posted a notice in reaction to a recent analysis of CSA done by the American Transportation Research Institute.
ATRI found s that two scoring measures within CSA program — Driver Fitness and Controlled Substances and Alcohol — are not correctly highlighting a carrier’s crash risk.
HDT reports that the ATRI analysis found a strong correlation between score and risk in three other Behavior Analysis Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs) — Unsafe Driving, Fatigued Driving and Vehicle Maintenance – but exceeding the score threshold in Driver Fitness specifically does not in and of itself indicate high crash risk.
However, in a statement, FMCSA defended the system.
“FMCSA will continue to address motor carriers with patterns of noncompliance in the Driver Fitness BASIC and, in doing so, will hold carriers accountable for drivers being properly licensed and meeting medical qualification standards.”
The agency said this response is based on a preliminary review of the ATRI study, and it plans to conduct an in-depth review.
To read the full HDT report, click here.
Meanwhile, in a new white paper, the American Trucking Associations says anti-trucking industry interest groups wildly exaggerate the role of “fatigue” in crashes.
“While every crash on our nation’s highways is a tragedy – particularly those that involve serious injuries or fatalities – the first step toward reducing crashes is being honest about what causes them,” says ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. “We have often been told by self-appointed ‘experts’ that fatigue is the leading cause of truck-involved crashes, and this report clearly demonstrates that it is not true.”
To read ATA’s report, click here.
by: Canadian Trucking Alliance
