The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is making progress on improving its CSA safety enforcement program, but it needs to step up the pace, says the Transportation Department Inspector General in a new report.
According to Heavy Duty Trucking, the report says that while the agency has strengthened its controls over the quality of data that goes into the system, it still needs to improve the DataQs process it uses to correct errors in that data.
Another issue, according to the report, is that the agency has not fully implemented its enforcement program. Just 10 states are using the full suite of enforcement interventions. The rest are waiting for the agency to deliver and train their staffs on the use of the software that helps manage the interventions.
Included in the recommendations:
• Issue a current guidance on DataQs.
• Start deactivating carriers’ DOT registration numbers if they do not submit proper census data.
• Develop a comprehensive plan to implement CSA enforcement interventions in the states that do not already use them.
• Document the sources of Carrier Safety Measurement Systems data and describe the system’s validation procedures.
• Implement a process for managing Carrier Safety Measurement System documentation, including a central file for validation records and test results.
• Implement a management policy that includes documentation of system changes.
According to HDT, The agency reviewed the report and agreed with the recommendations, the IG said.
