CSA 2010: How will the Driver Rating System affect you?

As many as the DOT man decides to give. You can argue with them if you want, won't change a thing.

 

The school are really only to teach you the basic skills and information you need t get your cdl... and not all schools are doing a good job at that. There is so much information on CSA 2010 that the schools really don't need to teach it or devote much time to it.
In my opinion, I think students would be better off spending the time that would be spent in class learning CSA 2010 in the truck backing, cornering, shifting.

The new driver who doesn't take the time on their own to learn CSA 2010 or other things that are of benefit to them as a driver are the ones that aren't going to make it anyway.

The schools can't teach you every thing, and trainers may not teach all you need to know either, if you want to be a success you have to be an active paricipant and get it yourself. Being able to do that is crucial to your success as a driver.

 

Dave, Actually if its a tire that has been documented then the blame is on the company. These new regs apply to the driver and the companies together. If you've documented any equipment defects, then it goes against the company. Also remember that the safety rating goes for the driver and the company. If a company gets a unfit rating, then they are out. The way to keep your rating clean is to document any equipment defect. Then all you have to worry about is logs, load securement and your driving. By the way when the 2010 regs first came onboard a few months ago, OOIDA estimated that 30-40% of truckers/ companies would be removed from the road, being DOT will be going back to 2008.

 

Lavender -

I completely agree with you.
I have to wonder haw many drivers - especially brand new students will get them selves screwed over because they are to lazy to read and research the information that is available to them.

 

Lav and Wcc,
You've both reinforced my decision to continue reading about CSA 2010. I've read the first 60 pages (of 97) on just the methodology. B O R I N G! But, I'll muddle on. Truth is, what I'm finding out is that FMCSRs haven't changed, just the enforcement technique. Seems the point of CSA 2010 is to get to the problem before the problem explodes into a really nasty problem. As a wannabe I find that kind of proactive stance encouraging. I've read post after post after post about substandard drivers and substandard equipment. If implementing CSA 2010 puts the heat on where heat needs to be and the end result is improved safety and professionalism, what's the big deal? Another question: If a driver has been running legally, running safely, and taking care of business with respect to paperwork - then what does that driver have to fear? I'm serious here, I'd like to hear the complaints from solid professionals!
Again, thanks Lav and Wcc for keeping me focused in the right direction,
Oldnew.....

 

Tell y'all a little story, then I'll make my point.

Three weeks ago I was headed south on the I-5 into Los Angeles. I had plenty of time to kill, as well as an almost new (07/09) trailer, and a new (under 10K miles) International truck. So... I stopped in at the infamous Wheeler Ridge scale and asked if anyone could give me a level I inspection. The CHP officer told me to pull into bay #1, and said "If I find anything wrong, I'll put you out-of-service!" and my reply was "I don't think that will be a problem!"

CHP went over the truck with the proverbial fine-toothed comb. They checked things I've never seen DOT look for before - do the windshield nozzles squirt, where are the triangles, is the fire extinguisher charged, do I have a current Emergency Response Guidebook - stem to stern, top to bottom and all points in between.

And I passed with flying colors!

The last item the CHP looked at was my triangles - and I had to get out of the truck and open the sidebox to show them to him. He's done with the inspection at this point, and I see him getting a CVSA sticker ready to apply. I walk over to the passenger side, and wipe the windshield clean with a rag so the sticker will adhere properly.

In the next bay over is a Western Star running for Gulick out of Portland, Oregon. He's at the point in the inspection where he has to apply his brakes and hold them (the pressure loss check), and when he does, you can hear an airleak.

My CHP inspector walks over to the Gulick truck, and quickly sees that Gulick has a broken air line - broken where the line goes into the glad hand. CHP tells him that is an OOS violation, and he asks if he can fix it. CHP replies that he can, and he hops out of the truck with a roll of duct tape!

CHP stops him before he goes gonzo with the tape, and tells him the only acceptable repair is to disassemble the fitting, cut off the cracked portion of hose, and reassemble the fitting so it doesn't leak air.

I can't finish this story, because that is where I was done with my inspection, and left for Los Angeles.

Now think about this for a minute -- going over the Grapevine, and down the other side into Castaic (and possibly on down into Los Angeles) with an air line that leaks air when the service brake is applied. Anybody see the potential for disaster that was averted by this inspection?

My point is this --

If you drive like a professional, if you do a thorough pre-trip inspection, take care of the equipment, make sure that if you have problems that they're documented and you're on your way for repair - then you shouldn't have a problem with CSA2010. If you don't... well then, we'll miss seeing you at the truck stop.

I think CSA 2010 will be a good thing for the industry and also for drivers. Not all companies and drivers are going to be affected in a positive way, I'm sure there are going to be a lot of drivers that find themselves gainfully unemployed as a result of CSA 2010. Companies that have bad BASIC scores are going to be monitored more carefully. Drivers that have bad BASIC scores are going to be warned, re-trained, and if need be - disqualified from operating a CMV.

Insurance companies will give discounts to companies that maintain good BASIC scores, companies with good scores will have less problems with the DOT, and the best way to keep BASIC scores low is to have a good maintenance plan, and hire good drivers.

Drivers that have good BASIC scores are IMHO going to be able to write their own ticket - they'll be like free agents in baseball -- these are my numbers, this is what I've proven I can do, how much are you going to pay me to work for you?

I could be wrong, but I think this is going to eventually going to work out nicely for the vast majority of drivers!

 

Yes, the instructors at Roadmaster briefly told us what it is and how it will affect us.

KH

 

That's all well and good for you. Now imagine if your company has 100 local dump trucks running around in a different division that you have nothing to do with. Good luck.

 

I just finished school and the first time I heard of this was on this site. After reading what I can about it I'm not sure how to feel about it..

From what I understand, it (csa 2010) puts the 'blame' on the driver just as much as the carrier. If a driver gets too many 'points' it reflects badly on the carrier. Said carrier then fires driver for 'minor' violations that may or may not be the drivers fault. If a carrier won't fix their own equipment or doesn't do it properly.. then the driver suffers!! This I see a HUGE problem in that the driver should be responsible for his/her equipment (which I agree there's too many drivers who need to not be driving their pieces of crap), but on the flip-side.. a driver can only do so much if a carrier is unwilling to fix their own piece of crap.

Now, I do believe there are DOT officers and other enforcement officers who have families and genuinly care about people and making roads safer.. In saying that.. I also see this as a major tool for enforcement officers to abuse. DOT is much more about making money for their state than making roads safer (from what I understand.. which isn't much at this point ).

Certainly, there's going to be bad drivers/carriers that will eat the dirt. I just hope we don't lose too many good drivers to help us newbies out there.

I can only hope for the best since I'm just getting into this bussiness.. but we should all expect the worse

God Bless and be safe!!

 

For me it won't make a bit of difference....
I'm a carrier.....
I have to make it my biz to know the regs backwards...forwards...inside out.....

CSA 2010 is a great thing.....if you drivers are bright and keep your noses clean...you have nothing to worry about......

The only ones who should worry are the dirt-bags......