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The Comprehensive Safety analysis (CSA) is coming soon to a state near you! To better understand the CSA
and its implications, you the driver must become well acquainted in how it works.

An overview of the seven (7) grading areas known as BASIC - Behavior Analysis Safety Information
Categories is:

1. Unsafe Driving
2. Fatigued Driving
3. Driver Fitness
4. Drug and Alcohol
5. Vehicle Maintenence
6. Cargo Loading/ Securement
7. Crash History

Violations are weighed for both CARRIERS and DRIVERS:

Carrier:

</= 6 months - 3 points
6 - 12 months - 2 points
12 - 24 months - 1 point

Driver:

</= 12 months - 3 points
12 - 24 months - 2 points
24 - 36 months - 1 point

To ensure that there is no confusion...points are assessed by CSA are not on your state drivers license, they are
on a scale to determine further action for review by the FMCSA. Points assessed, times the severity equals total
points for infractions of the rules.

Please understand that truly "Random Inspections" only comprise about 4% of the total inspections performed.
The other 96% of the inspections comes from observed traffic enforcement issues or obvious defects in the
faulty equipment. One of the largest contributors to inspections is drivers not complying with the rules! Under
the established rules, out of a maximum of 40 possible violations, 36 are assigned to drivers. Among the
violations this Basic (#4) includes:

Multiple licenses;
Failing to comply with Imminent Hazard OOS Order;
Failing to notify carrier of conviction within 30 days;
Driving while disqualified;
Driving a CMV without transferring valid motor vehicle operator's license/permit;
Unqualified driver;
Interstate driver under 21 years of age;
Non-English speaking driver;
Driver lacking training/experience;
No road test/certificate/class license; and

Driving a CMV while disqualified.

There are specifically 36 violations attributable to driver responsibility. Say you are driving and come into a
port of entry. Your logs are current. You hear the "Driver pull around back and bring in your paperwork".
Now what - a random inspection? Maybe, maybe not...your company has been audited by an official and a
few things are found during the audit that triggers stepped up inspections.

You are inspected and have been placed out of service due to an improper driver qualification file. Why has
this happened? The company said you were good to go and gave you a load. Months ago during orientation
you went through several classes and instructional training exercises. You remember getting a ticket last fall
and thought you paid it. Now you are sitting at a POE and am being told that according to records, you have
an incomplete DQ file. Calling up your company, you find out that you have to fax in an updated form to
complete your DQ file. The annual review form is sent to you and you complete it.1+6=7x3(severity weight)
=21 points possible. DOT uses multiple infractions of the same type per inspection as one incident. On your
record, you now have 7x3= 21 points. Your company has also been assessed points also. All of this headache
for not taking the time to notify and update a single form. Oh, and by the way, you are also issued a warning
citation...another reason to update the annual review. (Don't forget to log line 4 On-duty not driving during the
inspection and time taken to correct the defects. Remember to turn in the roadside inspection report, too.)

Relevant inspections are Level 1, 2, 3 or 6. Level 4 or 5 inspections are not as important. Having stated that,
All inspections now count - including a clean one. The CSA is supposed to be able to screen and update
inspections on a monthly basis. The minimum inspection value will never be a "0". If there isn't enough
information on a carrier, or if 12 months of clean inspections results in any one BASIC, the carrier will have
insufficient data on their record, which really isn't a bad thing to have.

As a reminder, drivers will acquire a safety history that stays with you for a rolling 36-month period. Do it right
the first time and NOT become a "High Profile" driver with the FMCSA. Your work ethics will follow you
around - good or bad, and that will reflect on the carrier you work with too! Becoming a truly road professional
requires you the driver to think outside the box as your actions do affect others.