Proposed CSA changes open for comment, Q&A sessions begin next week

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Updated Oct 7, 2016
An example from FMCSA’s SMS Preview site of a carrier who’s no longer within the intervention threshold in the Driver Fitness BASIC, as outlined by the blue and yellow lines, which represent the old intervention threshold and the new intervention threshold, respectively.An example from FMCSA’s SMS Preview site of a carrier who’s no longer within the intervention threshold in the Driver Fitness BASIC, as outlined by the blue and yellow lines, which represent the old intervention threshold and the new intervention threshold, respectively.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration published Wednesday in the Federal Register its notice announcing proposed changes to Compliance, Safety, Accountability carrier rating program and is looking for public comment on the changes based on a website that allows fleets and owner-operators to preview the changes.

As CCJ reported earlier this week, the main changes available for preview include lowering intervention thresholds for some SMS categories/BASICs, raising the threshold in one BASIC, and making the Hazmat BASIC public and splitting it into two segments. The preview can be seen at this link.

FMCSA will also host four question and answer sessions in October for the industry and the public to ask questions about the proposed changes. The agency has made available a video outlining the proposed changes and how to use the preview site along with review slides and a transcript of the video. The four online webinar sessions will be held on the following days and times:

  • Wednesday, Oct. 12, 9-10:30 a.m. Central
  • Thursday, Oct. 13, 1-2:30 p.m. Central
  • Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2-3:30 p.m. Central
  • Thursday, Oct. 20, 10-11:30 a.m. Central

Those interested in participating in the sessions can register for them here. The agency is accepting comments for 60 days through Dec. 3, which can be made here, or by searching Docket No. FMCSA-2015-0149 at www.regulations.gov.