CSA 2010 MYTHS

MYTH:  CSA will mean I have to comply with new rules
FACT:  CSA scores motor carriers and drivers on compliance with EXISTING safety regulations, which are categorized into the seven “BASICS” of CSA 2010

MYTH:  Drivers will have to prove they’re “fit” enough to drive and can be taken off the road for being overweight
FACT:  There are no new fitness standards or inspection requirements under CSA.  “Driver Fitness” is one of the BASICS on which carriers and drivers will be scored, but it has little to do with being physically fit

MYTH:  CSA has been scrapped
FACT:  The Department of Transportation has temporarily delayed portions of the program into 2011, but CSA has NOT been scrapped

MYTH:  Thousands of drivers will be taken off the road under CSA
FACT:  Drivers with poor CSA BASIC scores could potentially face a Notice of Violation (a formal warning letter) or a Notice of Claim (a fine) during the course of a motor carrier audit and ignoring a Notice could result in removal from service

MYTH:  If my CSA 2010 score is too high, my CDL could be suspended
FACT:  The CSA scoring system has nothing to do with your license 

MYTH:  CSA will no longer score drivers
FACT:  There have been recent changes to CSA 2010, but it will continue to score drivers on the seven BASICS, based on data from the past 36 months

MYTH:  Drivers will have a “fresh start” when CSA is rolled out
FACT:  Carrier and driver scores will be based on existing inspection, crash and investigation data, as reported in the past 24 months for carriers and 36 months for drivers.  No one gets a clean slate!

MYTH:  All roadside warnings/citations of any kind in any vehicle will affect my CSA 2010 scores
FACT:  The CSA 2010 scoring system relies on commercial motor vehicle crashes and violations noted at the time of roadside inspections done by qualified officers.  Other types of violations will not affect your CSA scores