Which trucking companies have best CSA rating?

ironpony · Jun 12, 2013

Lone Ranger 13 said: ↑

I wonder what the actual accident rates are.
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Just visit the SMS page for the carrier you're interested in...

(Number of accidents/miles driven) x 1,000,000 = accident rate per million miles.

Truthin · Jun 13, 2013

A company's CSA scores are going to impact their drivers, either positively or negatively.

ironpony · Jun 13, 2013

Truthin said: ↑

A company's CSA scores are going to impact their drivers, either positively or negatively.
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Whoa! Now that's really deep!!

BTW Mr. Recruiter, do you really believe that "form and manner" violations have any impact on safety?

Truthin · Jun 13, 2013

ironpony said: ↑

Whoa! Now that's really deep!!

BTW Mr. Recruiter, do you really believe that "form and manner" violations have any impact on safety?
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To answer your question, no I don't, and Im not a recruiter. That being said, I never mentioned anything about form and manner violations.

Truthin · Jun 14, 2013

Truthin said: ↑

Here is an updated ever-popular 'the good, bad, and the ugly' in order of best to worst. The updated CSA scores for May 2013 in the vehicle maintenance and condition category. The lower the better. This does not include the private fleets or LTL, this is truckload only. The good bad and the ugly pertains to vehicle maintenance and quality of equipment, it doesn't reflect all the categories of their CSA scores.

THE BEST:

10.7% Heartland Express

THE GOOD:

10.7% Heartland Express
20.0% Marten (but 64.8 in unsafe driving and 81.7in fitness!)
21.7% Armellini
28.7% Poly Trucking
30.2% Maverick
32.3% Roehl
33.1% Celadon (but 79.5 in fitness)
35.9% Central Refrigerated (but 68.7 in unsafe driving!)
36.1% Con-way
36.7% Covenant (but 67.9 in unsafe driving!)
37.6% Crete Carrier
39.9% Prime
40.8% Calex Express

THE BAD:

43.2% Smith Transport (and 75.7 in unsafe driving and 84.3 in HOS compliance! YIKES!)
43.9% CR England (and 80.4 in unsafe driving!!!)
47.1% Boyd Bros (and HOS compliance 66.4 and fitness 60.9!)
47.7% JB Hunt
47.3% Transport America (and 69.9 in fitness!)
48.8% Stevens Transport
49.8% Landair
51.1% Averitt Express
47.9% Furniture Row (and 82 in fitness!)
51.5% Werner
51.7% Decker
52.6% US Xpress (and 66.4 in unsafe driving!)
53.4% Pam Transport (and 70.8 in drug and alcohol and 69.8 in driver fitness!)
54.9% Knight
55.8% National Freight (and 69 in fitness)

THE UGLY:

57.5% Schneider National
58.7% Quality Carriers
59.4% Swift
59.6% FFE (and 76 in fitness)
61.5% KLLM (unsafe driving 78.9 and HOS compliance 52.4!)
65.5% USA Truck (and 61.1 in HOS, 54.3 in unsafe driving, 57.5 in fitness - wow)
82.8% Dart (wow)
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at least these numbers are factual and not just claims, I will say that. No, I haven't been shy about pointing them out. but also realize that a lot of us don't know how to get at these numbers easily all in one place.

silenteagle · Jun 14, 2013

Truthin said: ↑

at least these numbers are factual and not just claims, I will say that. No, I haven't been shy about pointing them out. but also realize that a lot of us don't know how to get at these numbers easily all in one place.
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Couple of observations:
1. Where is TransAm Trucking????
2. Is Prime the only company that trains newbies that made it in the good?

geargrinder · Jun 15, 2013

Truthin said: ↑

A lot of people don't appreciate how all this ties together. This stuff doesn't just happen. Heartland doesn't hire students, requires at least a year of over the road experience accident free, focuses heavily on their drivers with more longevity with the company and tries to build that longevity up, invests heavily in new trucks and in new trailers, and is downright animals about inspecting and repairing their equipment at the shops. People want to tear down this or that and want it all but don't always understand that decisions have consequences. Don't want to spend any time at the shop but want the best CSA score. Don't want to spend any time at the shop but don't want the equipment to break down. This is how the Heartland model was explained to me once.

1. Win top shelf customers that demand and pay well for great service. Don't haul loads that don't pay well.

2. Demand great service to satisfy these customers so you can keep them and win more good lanes. By great service I mean 99+% on-time and not missing loads.

3. The more good lanes, the more opportunities to get drivers home often.

4. The customers that pay the best are the medium haul companies that deliver within 300-500 miles. The medium haul lanes keep drivers closer to home. The medium haul lanes pay the best because they are the most service sensitive and are delivering to the local regional DC's and stores. The loads that go 1,000 miles complete with rail and usually don't pay as well, and are not as sensitive to get there right away.

5. Stay debt-free and invest in new equipment that you can keep under warranty and trade in after a few years.

6. Pay the highest rate to drivers and attract and keep the best of the best drivers. The more experience the better. Hire drivers that already know the trucking industry and don't try to promise something different to them than what it is. Hire drivers that like being drivers already. New drivers are great and everyone has to start somewhere, but there are plenty of companies out there that go after the brand new drivers. Heartland isn't one of them.

7. With the best drivers that are service and safety oriented, you can give that great service to the customers that pay the best rates.

You can't get/keep the best paying customers without the best drivers that take care of the customers. You can't get the best drivers without rewarding them with great pay and other benefits. You can't be the highest pay unless you have those customers that pay the best. It all goes full circle. Heartland is crazy about on-time service, safety, well maintained equipment, best CSA scores ...for a reason.

With Heartland my experience has been that service is expected, you will spend some time in shops and not like it, you will have some short trips mixed in with medium and long trips, but you will make 48 cents (running system) or 52 cents in the northeast, you will get 2000 to 2900 miles on average, you will make $50,000 to $80,000, with the best CSA scores it helps the driver. I hear people complain at some companies about not getting paid extra for this or for that, but the only thing that matters about my pay is how much I made for the year in total. Companies pay in different ways and it breaks down differently for each company, but the amount on the W2 at the end of the year for the job that you did is really all that matters when it comes to pay.

I'm not saying Heartland is for everyone. It depends on your fit. But understanding the big picture and what it really takes to be successful in this business goes a long way and I have learned a lot about this business in my 18 years with Heartland.
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Recruiter.

geargrinder · Jun 15, 2013

Truthin said: ↑

They been good to me. No company is perfect but it has worked for me for many years. If you disagree with anything said here I would be interested to know what. My point is their CSA score is the best for a reason they are a well run company.
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What gets me about Heartland is the fact they don't give a flying turd about the driver. This is evidenced by a ridiculous idle policy and no auxiliary means of heating/cooling. Its policy on inverters (not permitted) isn't very driver friendly either. I have no problem with its inspection lines.

Ralph4159 · Jun 15, 2013

Truthin said: ↑

Here is an updated ever-popular 'the good, bad, and the ugly' in order of best to worst.
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Thanks. I really appreciate you posting these periodic updates in list form. As someone else said, it is a pain to look up each company individually, so your list is very much appreciated.

mennen123421 · Jun 15, 2013

I don't think Schneider has a low CSA score.

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