Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/14162
LogBook CSA testimony focuses on evaluations Trucking representatives told U.S. House members the Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010 is good in some regards, but they have concerns about how its data are used in safety evaluations. Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit members heard testimony on implement- ing the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s agency’s program. The agency’s rollout of CSA 2010 is expected to be complete by December. CSA will replace the FMCSA’s Motor Carrier Safety Status Measurement System, or SafeStat, with the Carrier Safety Measurement System, which is part of the agency’s CSA initiative. Agency Administrator Anne Ferro said the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute is independent- ly evaluating test results, which it will report in December. The subcommittee memo issued to House members stated FMCSA has indicated it is studying an American Trucking Associations recommendation to assess state police records to determine crash accountability, or which party is at fault, before including the crash in SMS. It is considering changing this aspect of the system before a nationwide rollout. The agency has argued its data analysis shows carriers involved in numerous crashes are more likely to be involved in future crashes, irrespective of fault. Todd Spencer, executive vice president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, said FMCSA’s enforcement pri- orities traditionally have focused primarily on targeting truck driv- ers at roadside inspections. “Under CSA 2010, the agency is shifting its main focus from the driver to other stakeholders in the industry and recognizing that drivers often are not the principal decision makers in the shipment of goods,” Spencer said. ATA is concerned how CSA 2010 measures carrier exposure for evaluating each carrier’s rela- tive performance in several catego- ries, said Keith Klein, Transport America CEO and executive vice president, who spoke on behalf of the association. Under CSA 2010’s current methodology, FMCSA uses a count of carrier trucks to measure risk exposure rather than the total number of miles these vehicles traveled. — Jill Dunn 70 OVERDRIVE AUGUST 2010 Mercer_OVD0810_PG.indd 1 7/14/10 11:04 AM trucking opportunities Visit www.overdrive.hotims.com and enter 220