CSA’s continuing evolution

CCJ just wrapped up its 2012 Spring Symposium in Birmingham, where fleet executives and suppliers met to network, share ideas and learn from industry thought leaders. The program also included an address from FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro, who updated the group on the progress of the agency’s Compliance Safety Accountability program, as well as the potential for a long-awaited entry-level driver training rule.

Of the roughly 500,000 carriers nationwide, Ferro says the agency has enough data to analyze roughly 200,000, but added that group represents 80 percent of all power units and 92 percent of all crashes.

Ferro also updated attendees on an upcoming Safety Fitness Determination proposal, noting it could be ready by the end of the year or early next year.
Another element of CSA is how to make it a fair and open system, Ferro said. In reference to the recent move of cargo-related violations out of the Cargo BASIC and into the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC, “There was some concern that we were diluting the Load Securement category, but our accuracy went up 40 percent,” Ferro said.

To read more of Ferro’s remarks, click here.

Jeff Crissey is Fusable's content director for OEM/Aftermarket and is responsible for coordinating special editorial projects and events for the company's Commercial Carrier Journal, Equipment World and Overdrive brands. Prior to this role, Crissey served as editor of CCJ for 10 years. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from Auburn University and has been a member of Fusable's editorial staff for 27 years, where his coverage of industry topics has earned numerous regional and national awards over the years. Before joining Fusable, Crissey was a production assistant at CNN in Atlanta.