Safety is of the utmost importance for any trucking company. Not only do you have responsibility for your employees and your cargo, but you also need to ensure that you are in compliance with all government regulations. Two of the most significant aspects of running a safe trucking operation are safety ratings and offsite audits. Here’s what you need to know about both.
Safety Ratings
The federal government requires all trucking companies to have a safety rating from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These ratings are based on a number of factors, including inspection data, crash data, and on-site reviews. There are three different types of safety ratings: Satisfactory, Conditional, and Unsatisfactory.
A satisfactory rating is the best possible rating and indicates that a trucking company is operating safely and in compliance with all federal regulations. A conditional rating means that there are some areas for improvement, but overall the company is performing satisfactorily. An unsatisfactory rating is the worst possible rating and indicates that the company is not operating safely or in compliance with federal regulations.
Offsite Audits
In addition to safety ratings, trucking companies are also required to undergo regular off-site audits. These audits are conducted by FMCSA-licensed auditors and cover topics such as vehicle maintenance, driver qualifications, hours of service, and more. Offsite audits can be announced or unannounced, but either way, it’s critical to be prepared.
When it comes to avoiding audits and maintaining your safety rating, one of the key things you can do is stay off these FMCSA priority lists.
Based on past audits, reviews, performance, and ratings calculated by the agency’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) scoring program, FMCSA priority lists identify carriers that pose varying levels of safety risks.
Based on their failure to meet BASIC thresholds, carriers can be assigned a “High Risk,” a “Moderate Risk,” a “Risk,” a “Monitor” or a “Warning Level.” High Risk is designated by two consecutive months exceeding the 90th percentile for several BASICs at the same time. These carriers are subject to immediate action and will be investigated within 90 days of assignment to the prioritization list.
Safety Rating VS CSA Score: What is the difference?
• A CSA score is generated through the FMCSA Safety Measurement System (SMS) and is related to roadside inspections, pullovers, and accidents.
• A safety rating is issued following a comprehensive DOT compliance audit that is conducted by a DOT federal agent.
Preparing for Offsite Audits
Offsite audits are performed within just a few weeks of notification, giving motor carriers less time to prepare. Once they’re contacted for a review, they won’t have a lot of time to make updates. In fact, all paperwork must be handed over to the auditor within 48 hours. Due to the fact that offsite audits are conducted via telephone and email communications, all documents must be submitted electronically. A typical FMCSA safety audit will look at six aspects of a carrier’s operations:
- Driver qualification files
- Drug and alcohol testing records
- Hours of service (HOS) records
- Vehicle inspections
- Vehicle permits and registration
- Insurance
Safety ratings and offsite audits are two of the most significant aspects of running a safe and compliant trucking company. If you are not already doing so, be sure to check FMCSA periodically for updates on the latest regulations and requirements. And if you ever receive an audit notice, make sure you take it seriously and do everything you can to ensure that your company passes with flying colors.
You are expecting a DOT audit and do you need some pre-audit help?
We can help you organize your driver qualification files, and maintenance records and audit your driver’s hours of service records to check for compliance issues.
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