The reason for CSA

So should we eliminate the FMCSA and get rid of laws that require carriers must have operating authority?

I suppose we should also not require CDL's or skills testing either....
This is a "Free" country.....Anybody who wants to...Should be able to get a "beater" and run loads for a $.50/m.....No inspections...No taxes.....Run as long and as hard as they want to.....Lifetime supply of "White Crosses" with every purchase of a Shaker COE.....Right?

 

I don't think ANYONE is suggesting this...(see above).

What we are saying is there is no need for CSA.

Let's look at the evidence:

Crash fatality data has decreased from the 1990's through the 2000's despite the fact that there are more trucks on the road than ever. This evidence also suggest that the reason is better equipment and equipment maintenance programs(all pre-CSA). In essense, what was in place was working as the evidence suggests.

 

Perhaps CSA is efficient in detecting Noncompliance such improper logging......Unsafe procedures such as insufficient securement....Non-accountability such as carriers forcing their drivers to drive fatigued....

CSA works for me because I have a proven record and when I go through a coop....DOT sees that on their readout when they punch in my numbers....So I get the "Green" and DOT can concentrate more on that next truck coming in that has been pulled in the past for broken lights...Bald tires....Driver fails to keep accurate logs..and so on....

 

FMCSA declares New Jersey truck company an Imminent Hazard to public safety

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has declared New Jersey-based J&A Transportation, Inc. an imminent hazard to public safety, and ordered the commercial truck company to shut down its operations.
FMCSA placed J&A Transportation out-of-service after numerous roadside inspections which found multiple hours-of-service, driver and vehicle maintenance violations. The order also applies to J&A Transportation, Inc.'s principals and drivers.
"Safety is our top priority at the U.S. Department of Transportation," said Secretary Ray LaHood. "Commercial truck companies whose disregard of the law places the traveling public at risk will not be allowed to operate on our nation's highways."
FMCSA ordered the shutdown of J&A Transportation after safety investigators found that the truck company continued to operate without an active USDOT number and valid operating authority. Investigators also discovered that the company operated vehicles that had serious mechanical defects, and were not regularly inspected and repaired. Additionally, the company's drivers had serious hours-of-service and driver qualification violations that substantially increased the likelihood of serious injury or death to the traveling public.
"FMCSA takes seriously its responsibility to remove unscrupulous truck companies off the road. Companies that disregard safety will be shut down," said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro.
A copy of the imminent hazard out-of-service order can be viewed at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/documents/about/news/2012/J-A-IH-OOS-Order.pdf.

Just how then did the investigation begin? what caused DOT to dig into this company?

Isnt it possible that CSA collected the red flag data from the numerous violations related to equipment and driver HOS violations?? Isnt it possible that the CSA program in this instance worked as it was supposed to? Did DOT just randomly choose this company to investigate?

 

Did you forget:
tractor unable to maintain air pressure with service brakes applied and engine idle

inspection repair and maintenance: vehicle must be started by hotwiring ignition


Seems like a really big deal there.

 

In other words, the FMCSA had not authorized them to be in operation....but that didn't stop them. The FMCSA cannot revoke an authority it never gave, so in reality this "carrier" is no less authorized to operate now than they were before they were ordered to stop....so I fail to see where an order to shut down their operations would have any effect.

 

VI. FAILURE TO COMPLY
Failure to comply with the provisions of this Operations Out-of-Service ORDER may subject you to an action by the United States Attorney in the United States District Court for equitable relief and punitive damages. You may be assessed civil penalties of up to $16,000 per day for each day it continues the proscribed interstate or intrastate operations after the effective date and time of this ORDER. (49 C.P.R. Part 386, App. A,§ IV g)). If violations are determined to be knowing and willful, criminal penalties may be imposed, including a fine of up to $25,000 and a prison term of one year, or both. (49 U.S.C. § 521(b)(6)(A)).

 

more govt.more regs.....i feel so much safer already

 

Again, they didn't seem to be affected when their authority was revoked...kept right on trucking. So, the government tells 'em to stop again...you really think they are going to listen? Got to HAVE $16K/day before the government can take it from you...what are they going to do, tell him to stop AGAIN if he doesn't pay? Lock 'em up...then the taxpayers can support them for a year. They'll likely be back in operation again the day they are released...with 1/3 of their CSA 2010 points gone. Hell, lock 'em up long enough and they'll have a cleaner CSA score than even the most legitimate of companies.

If somebody is bound and determined to run a truck, there isn't much that'll stop them as long as they can find paying freight to put on that truck and are able to hide the assets gained by moving that freight. Sometimes they are smarter than the government....usually they aren't. Doesn't keep 'em from trying, though. I just feel as thought there are better uses for the taxpayers' money instead of chasing after people just trying to make a living.

 

Your kidding right? They had an invalid DOT number. DOT wouldn't even have to pull them on the scale or inspect them for that, I'd say no valid DOT number would send up a plethora of red flags to get the company investigated.

The kicker IS that all of these enforcement tools were in place before CSA even existed.