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 a carrier improve in the Controlled Substances/Alcohol Behavior Analysis
and Safety Improvement Category (BASIC)?
Answer
The Controlled Substances/Alcohol BASIC includes operation of commercial motor vehicles
by drivers who are impaired due to alcohol, illegal drugs, and misuse of prescription
or over-the-counter medications. Example violations include use or possession of
controlled substances or alcohol (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation Parts
382 and
392). The following Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
resources can assist motor carriers in ways by which to improve the Controlled Substances/Alcohol
BASIC measure:
FMCSA created a tool, the Safety Management Cycle (SMC). The SMC helps carriers determine their organizational breakdowns that are causing the carriers' safety violations The SMC has its own webpage located here: https://csa.fmcsa.dot.gov/About/SMC_Overview.aspx. Carriers can download an overview of the SMC here: https://csa.fmcsa.dot.gov/Documents/FMC_CSA_12_002_SMC_Overview.pdf and download a list of safety improvement practices that help resolve typical carrier process breakdowns related to the Controlled Substance and Alcohol BASIC here: https://csa.fmcsa.dot.gov/Documents/FMC_CSA_12_022_Sub_Alc_SMC.pdf.
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