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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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  1. How can drivers prepare for Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)? Answer

    As a driver, you can take the following six actions to help successfully navigate CSA:

    1. Make sure you understand and follow the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) safety rules and regulations. As a driver, you share safety responsibilities with your employing motor carrier in several areas. For example, you must make sure that your vehicle is in safe operating condition, that you are well-rested and sober when you drive, that you drive within speed limits, and that you follow Hours-of-Service rules. You can find web-based driving tips for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operators using CMV Web-Based Driving Tips.
    2. Become knowledgeable about the new Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs), and how FMCSA will use them to assess safety. You can learn about the BASICs and the new Safety Measurement System (SMS) at the CSA Website.
    3. Review your Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) record at http://www.psp.fmcsa.dot.gov and make sure that the information is accurate. If you find any data that is inaccurate, you can have it reviewed through FMCSA's DataQs program.
    4. Keep copies of your inspection reports and review them to see where you can improve. You should know that CSA considers all roadside safety violations—not just out-of-service violations. Therefore, under CSA, all roadside inspection results are more important than ever to you, and your current and future employers.
    5. Learn about your employer's safety record. Safety information on motor carriers is publicly available online through the SMS.
    6. Visit the CSA Website. FMCSA continually updates the CSA Website with new information and materials. Here, you can find explanations, answers to questions, articles, factsheets, briefings, and more. You can also sign up for the email subscription service and RSS feed to get the most up-to-date information, and submit questions about the new program. Check out the CSA and drivers page.
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