Frequently Asked Questions
The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are questions and answers about Compliance,
Safety, Accountability (CSA) that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
(FMCSA) compiled to assist the public. As questions come in through the website,
FMCSA adds them to the database along with their answers. If you do not see your
question or topic addressed, please
contact us
by submitting a feedback form. We will respond to you directly and consider your
question for inclusion in the FAQs.
The FAQ area has recently been enhanced. Users can now search FAQs by stakeholder
group, topics (displayed on the left side of the page), or by entering a keyword
below. Choosing “Show All” will display the entire collection of FAQs.
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How can commercial motor vehicle carriers successfully navigate Compliance, Safety,
Accountability (CSA)?
Answer
Check, update, and review your records:
- Ensure that your motor carrier census form (MCS-150) is up-to-date and accurate.
- Monitor and review your Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Category (BASIC)
percentile ranks as well as inspection and crash data in the
Safety Measurement System (SMS) and the
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Portal.
- Maintain copies of inspection reports and evidence related to any observed violations,
and request a review of any potentially incorrect data using
DataQs.
Ensure compliance:
- Review your inspection and violation history for the past two years. Identify patterns,
trends, and areas that need improvement and begin to address them now.
- Examine your business processes to determine how they may be contributing to any
safety compliance deficiencies.
- Take steps to increase your drivers' awareness that inspections are more important
than ever, that all violations count, not just out-of-service violations, and that
their performance directly impacts their driving records and the safety assessment
of their employing carrier.
Visit the CSA Website:
- FMCSA regularly updates materials on the CSA
Website. There, you will find explanations, answers to questions, tips, and
guidance.
- You can sign up for the email subscription service or RSS feed to receive the most
up-to-date information.
- You can also submit questions and review Frequently Asked Questions.
- Be sure to review the materials about SMS and the new BASICs, understanding the
new SMS is an important step in preparing for CSA.
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