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

I know all that . I worked for Peachtree Truck and Trailer Repair in Suwanee , GA . They had the contract with Trans America and Xtra to repair trailers and containers . I'd work over 60 hours a week riding through the NS and CSX yards grabbing damaged empties and bringing them to the shop . After they were repaired I'd deliver them to UPS , Yellow , and CF . We had O/O's with old single axle Ford daycabs that made some good money .

 

Normalizing, I think that's what they (FMCSA) call it. Apparently carriers will be rated based on their number of units (trucks). How will drivers be normalized? Miles driven, HOS, #of roadside inspections, what else, if anything? Or is there a plan at all for driver normalization? I haven't seen anything yet!

I see a problem here. Maybe I just haven't read enough yet. But, what if the standards, i.e., normalization factors, set by FMCSA are too high or too low? What if the standards are set so high, because some #### carrier(s) has been playing by the safety rules all along, that they (the standards) are virtually unattainable by the less-than-safe carriers? What if too many carriers are judged to be unfit. (I know this couldn't happen right off the bat, data gathering must be done). Who's gonna haul all the freight? On the other hand, what if the standards have to be set too low because because this might happen? Doesn't that defeat the purpose?
If you old hands, newbies, LEOs, SIs, trucking industry gurus on this board could clear up some of these questions for me, I'd really appreciate it.

Signed,
One big 'ol wide-eyed wannabe

 

Like most "scams" or "rip-offs", there are no clear answers. You ever watch a bunch of kids play ball, they make up their rules as they play. CSA2010 remind me of a bunch of kids playing ball, you might be "out" or you might be "safe".

 

http://csa2010.fmcsa.dot.gov/Documents/CSA2010IndustryBriefing.ppt


Try this link, I found this on the FMCSA web site. It is a powerpoint presentation from December 2009. It gives a little more detail than anything else I have found as of yet.

 

Here's another.

http://csa2010.fmcsa.dot.gov/documents/DriverInfoforCarriers.pdf

 

The JB Hunt driver pulling the container insisted on reporting it. There literally was a huge rusty gouge from somewhere else, my "damage" consisted of surface scuffs, no bare metal, no dents. I couldn't argue with him as it was my fault and I pretty much suspected I was going to get "points" against my available 12 from the carrier. After perusing the manual, the point system didn't apply until after 30 days of employment. My lesson learned is you better watch every thing you do, especially if you are new, this industry can afford to cherry pick and kick drivers to the curb for the most minor of boo boo's.

 

This question might have been asked and answered already in this thread or others. I'm too lazy this morning to go through all the posts. What I'm curious about is how DOT inspectors, etc. will go about their business, day in and day out, once interventions spurred by CSA 2010 actually start to hit the road, so to speak. Will their (DOT) focus have to change? Will inspections be less random and more "targeted"? Have some (many?) companies been targets all along? I'm finding, as a wannabe, that this new "initiative" is changing the way I look at companies and the way I'm preparing myself for entering into this field as a driver. I'm convinced, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that, neither driving school nor training with even the best of trainers, is going to be sufficient to make me feel secure about my future in this industry. Maybe I'm making too big a deal of this. What do you think?

 

Yes , certain companies are targeted if they have an "optional" or "inspect" ISS-D recommendation . When going through prepass their truck will show up in red letters when others are green . I've watched DOT sit in the median and not immediately pull out and pull behind a truck they end up stopping . I suspect they enter DOT numbers in the computer in their vehicle . Some Super Coops can get DOT info from license plates as the trucks approach scales .
On the other hand I have known DOT inspectors to target very clean looking trucks to assure an easy inspection .

 

Thanks Rick,
I guess my lazy morning is over. Class is now in session. I looked up ISS-D so and have the following to read, for a start:
Final Report, April 2006 (PDF, 72K)
How the ISS-D Works (PDF, 79K)
Technology and ISS Usage Assessment Results, October 2004 (PDF, 77K)
Visit our Staff Presentations page to view a presentation regarding this project.

I hope my other teachers are asleep or hung over, or something!!!!