Old hands and newbies advice requested!

Well.... I don't know if there is really a "one fits all" answer to this. Speaking strictly on the SafeStat issue, there are a few variables involved. First, how many power units are company owned and how many are owner/operators? Then, are the OOS (Out Of Sevice) percentages primarily O/O's or Company Drivers. Factor in the percentage of O/O trucks that are put OOS as opposed to how many company vehicles are put OOS. So you can see that this can definately be a factor. Why? Because the company might take very good care of their vehicles and the O/O's don't, which brings up the percentage. Or vice-versa. You could also end up going to work for a company that has a TERRIBLE maintenance program, putting dangerous trucks in the hands of company drivers, but the SafeStat score is padded by very concientious O/O's.

All of that being said..... (and knowing what I know now), I wouldn't go to work for (or at least I would strongly scrutinize) a company that has a high SafeStat score. And one of the MAJOR reasons for that is because if you work for one of these companies that has a reputation with the DOT as having questionable vehicles, drivers, or practices, you stand a better chance of getting red-lighted at a scale. DOT has a commonly known practice of running (and knowing) ICC and MC #'s, and "profiling" carriers.

Personally, I am really big on making sure my truck is safe. My truck gets pre-tripped every day before I move (maybe not the 100 point check everyday, but all the "major stuff" gets checked daily), and I usually do a walk-around everytime I stop and / or fuel. I am concerned about the safety of others that I share the road with, but frankly, it is more so about MY safety. Thankfully, there are many others out there just like me.

But the DOT does discriminate and they don't know your personal habits and ethics. If you work for a company that has a reputation for having questionable safety practices and sub-standard maintenance programs, chances are that you will be "picked on".

Bottom line, SafeStat scores will have an effect on your job (and your happiness). You need to go to work for the carrier that you want to work for. But the more you know, the better off you are going to be. Be smart.... you have access to the internet (obviously). Use it! Do your homework before you sign on with a company.

A little long-winded, but hopefully it will give you "my" answer to your question.

 

For those who have a hard time getting a job then the scores are not important! Just having a job these days can mean eating or not eating. As long as you do a proper and thorough PTI you have nothing to worry about unless that carrier won't fix a DOT type problem THEN it's time to worry!

 

If I was just starting out as fresh meat I wouldn't care about any kind of score !!!

I would just want my ### in a seat to get the experience !

But that is just me

 

Do you want a good experience or a bad one?

 

Do that and you'll eliminate 90% of your potential jobs .
But driving with company that has an optional or pass recommendation is risky . Inspectors do a much more thorough inspection than you do an a pretrip and the majority of the time they will find something to write up . With warnings and now equipment violations being counted against the driver with CSA 2010 your career is at risk driving for these companies .
You also have to ask why they have the high scores . High driver SEA's is a sure sign of a carrier pushing drivers to run illegally .
High vehicle SEA's indicates equipment is not well maintained putting you at risk and raising your personal liability risk in case of an accident .

 

good mourning to all: now the first thing you have to remember if you want to get into this business is remember that all trucking companys lie to you in perticular there recruiters so take what they say with a grain of salt, agree with them but check it out for yourself then you wont be surprised and disapointed. drivers are about as bad these days.

wheather it be an owner operator or a company truck LOOK AT THE TRUCKS if they look good and there clean and they have good tires and breaks thats a point in there favor you can usally tell a man or a company by there trucks, if there a slob so is there trucks not good , if they wont clean the truck they wont take care of the truck if they dont have any pride in the truck then chances are they dont have any pride in themselves if they dont have any pride in what they do then there gonna be a problem for you and every one else..

as far as there safty score , where did the score come from ? if it came from the DOT might be somthing to it anywhere else i wouldnt pay to much attention to it .

the biggest thing is the equipment since YOU as the driver are responsible when you drive it for anything that happens while you drive it , if it dosent look wright just walk on by remember if they dont take care of the equipment they sure wont take care of you.

and a lot of companys dont take care of there equipment , why because it cost money for one thing and another is once it leaves the dock the driver is responsible not them they put you at risk , why? because they dont care about you the driver your just a peice of meat so be selective as to who you dreive for as a new driver you cant afford to get off to a bad start if somthing should happen it goes on your record and stays with you a long time .

times are pretty hard out there wright now for a driver in perticular a new driver these people can take advantage of you real easy , just be carefull dont get to eager it can cost you.

now im not trying to discourage anyone you can do it you just have to be carefull there are a lot of crooks out there and were getting more every day but if your carefull you can tell a crook by the way he acts and looks it aint all that hard, if he looks like a bum he is.

ands as far as the companys are concearned if they spend a lot of time singing there own praises telling you they are the best and about all the money your going to make , well that a sure sign that its time to go some where else.

the best of luck to all. southernpride

 

Southernpride there is a lot of truth to what you say, however, one may take what you say to mean if they have nice equipment, they are a good company to work for. And by saying that, someone might think CRE is a great place to work.

 

The Inspection Selection System (ISS-D)

The Inspection Selection System (ISS-D) is a decision-aid for commercial vehicle roadside driver/vehicle safety inspections, which guides safety inspectors in selecting vehicles for inspection.
ISS Inspection Value: The ISS Inspection Value is based on the motor carrier's safety performance data. In the case when there is sufficient motor carrier safety performance data available, the value is assigned from information derived from SafeStat results, which reviews safety performance in areas of crash history, inspection history, driver history, and safety management experience. When a motor carrier has little information on file, the ISS Inspection Value is based on an 'Insufficient Data Algorithm', which determines the inspection value by weighting the carrier size and the number of past inspections. Refer to the Inspection Selection System description, for an explanation of the value's calculation.
ISS Recommendation: The ISS Inspection Value forms the basis for the ISS recommendation. The recommendation ranges from 'Inspect', for motor carriers with poor safety performance in one or more Safety Evaluation Areas (SEAs) and for carriers with little or no safety data, to 'Pass' for carriers with good safety performance data. The three recommendations listed are below.

Recommendation ISS Inspection Value Inspect (inspection warranted) 75-100 Optional (may be worth a look) 50-74 Pass (no inspection required) 1-49
Basis for Recommendation: The Basis for Recommendation describes the method that was used to calculate the ISS Inspection Value. There are two methods for calculating an ISS inspection value:

• The "Safety" method assigns this recommendation based on SafeStat results, which applies to carriers with sufficient safety performance data.
• The "Insufficient Data" method is based on an 'Insufficient Data Algorithm', which applies to carriers that have little or no safety performance data available.

Click here to access the Inspection Selection System description, a system designed to prioritize carriers for roadside inspection. This link defines "How ISS-D works".
http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/SafeStat/CarrierOverview.asp?DOT=303024&WhichForm=start