CSA 2010: The data

speeding 67 in a 65 points thanks illinois

 

A buddy called this weekend and told me that because of a logbook volition in NJ, He now has 52 points against him.

He told me a few weeks ago that He was trying to make it to a truck stop after the place He had delivered to ran him off at closing time but had gotten stopped on a road side before He could make it. The DOT got him for not being current, 15 Min's over the 11 Hr rule and (I think) 15 Min's over the 14 Hr rule. The reason He found out about it was because He was talking to another company last week and they told Him that they could not hire him because of his score. When He asked them what it was he was told 52.There is no reason for this. Everyone makes mistakes but one stupid little mistake should not ruin a 20 year career!

I going to beat a dead horse here but....


Just this one thing should be more than enough reason to shut the trucks down for a week. Forget the high fuel, low rates, disrespect, long waits and so on. With the point system they have come up with, sooner of later where all going to be out of work anyway!

 

65 points, or just points?

 

CSA CHANGES FOR DEC 2012 ANNOUNCED
AUGUST 27TH, 2012

This just in...The FMCSA has announced significant changes to the Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) program that will go into effect December 2012. The changes include seven key Safety Measurement System (SMS) revisions and four additional changes since the beginning of the preview period.

Here are a few highlights the FMCSA's announcements:

HazMat: The definition of a HazMat carrier will be revised and the new HazMat BASIC scores will be private.

Speeding: A speeding violation 1-5 mph over the limit will be removed from CSA scoring

Hours of Service: The Fatigue Driving BASIC will be renamed the Hours of Service Compliance BASIC and FMCSA will equally weight paper and electronic logbook violations.

 

Yeah, what is that all about? I got a fix it ticket, faxed it in and a few days later a qualcomm message telling me to acknowledge with a certain code number they sent me in the message that I should compose a certain macro and enter this code so the carrier knows that I know that the carrier knows that I got a fix it ticket.

Yes I pulled up my psp report, my crash is right up there on the first line. Remember this was a crash where an SUV was running along side my truck then he plowed into my fuel tank and forward drive axle. NO inspection, no drug test, no ticket to me. I drove the truck from the scene but later had the carrier get a wrecker to tow it to a shop. Somehow FMCSA found out about this and put in on my file. I think this explains why in the last 3 years I've been inspected 9 times and have 9 violations. I think the inspecting officer sees the crash and thinks to himself-"I just have to find something on this driver." Then the next inspecting officer, not wanting to seem incompetent also 'has' to find something.

There are about 1000 ways to get a violation on an inspection. Do all violations carry points? I have heard for example overweight violation on an inspection will carry no points to the driver or carrier. Are there other violations like that that don't carry points? I had one for 'Improper Markings', blue company name decals on my blue truck-- supposed to be contrasting colors-- points?

 

Where at in Illinois?

They usually do not bother till 5 over.

 

Can we stop using the word points? It doesn't exist in their system. Each violation has a "severity weight". This severity weight is plugged into a formula that includes time weight, number of inspections, to get your score depending on the BASIC. They simply do not "add up points" or anything like that.

 

When interstate transport is done with drones; DOT could have the right to throw the constitution out the window.
Until then, I'll weigh what I wish. I'll eat what I wish. I'll drive where I wish and pray where I wish.
Truckers are not some risky class of... drone. We are Americans with the right to be fat, if we wish. Sleep apnea ?? Toothpicks, shoes and socks. You don't get any of it without trucks.
CSA needs fought like a war

 

Ok, not literally "like a war" (this day and age, I better clarify that)
Point is, although there have been other Totalitarian type initiatives and policies implemented in other areas of industry, the legal precedence this sets exceeds even the worst I've heard about.
Drivers could lose sleep over so much Stress induced by the blatant disregard for The Driver.
I parked my truck and quit the Interstate Trucking career while having no offenses or accidents. I got out before my driving record was destroyed by the ethics (or lack of them) by the trucking company.
I'll refrain from naming the company. It was common practice that they dispatch loads with impossible "legal to run" delivery times. I did best I could legally and was able to get out of the industry after one full year.
My approach which worked was to be absolutely meticulous in record-keeping and with regard to vehicle inspection and me placing the vehicle out of service if any "dangerous" conditions were found on the truck.
By dangerous, I mean if any piece of equipment could disrupt continued running of a dispatched load. If a load could not be delivered on time due to malicious dispatching, The Load Would Be Late.
This is the approach which I had to use to keep a clean driving record with no accidents or fines or points or other career ending scenarios from happening. The company however; was the biggest liability in the scenario.

The problems which CSA 2010 should focus on, Are The Companies dispatching "bad loads".
Loads which cannot be delivered on time. Meat loads among other types of loads.
My experience on the road (which was only 1 year) showed me that it is the companies which need reported immediately if dispatching any load which cannot be delivered on time.
Drivers are demanded to make up the difference somewhere and make the deliveries on time regardless of law and safety.
I hope the trucking companies are freaking out over CSA 2010. From the trucking terminals themselves, trucking needs ran realistically with regard to load planning.
Companies dispatching illegal loads (before any violations happen) need thrown in prison. If the Dept of Transportation is to get Safety under control using totalitarian measures-
Start At Dispatch

Drivers just want to drive and Drivers must Drive.
Trucking companies can face Treason charges for demanding a strike and an across the board shutdown and refusal of service.
The drivers try to make possible the impossible (safely let's hope) that these trucking companies are dispatching.
The problems are about 99% company related.

If CSA 2010 can be implemented as it has been designed, fat school teachers and coaches or anyone else in the private sector could become the next "targets" of such legislation or policy making.
CSA 2010 is such a drastic measure in American law.. er Policy, the likes of which are unjust toward the drivers. But as long as product gets delivered - then these kinds drastic measures might work nationwide in other areas.
I think drivers have the responsibility to keep that scenario from happening on a larger scale.
Driver, shut it down if you've been dispatched an illegal to run load. Report your dispatcher to the DOT.

 

I guess saying NO would have been out of the question.....right?