CSA (Compliance, Safety, Accountability Score)
FMCSA's safety measurement system that quantifies motor carrier and driver safety performance using inspection, crash, and investigation data.
Key Facts
- Seven BASICs categories measure carrier safety performance
- Drug/alcohol violations directly affect multiple BASICs
- Exceeding thresholds triggers FMCSA intervention
- Affects insurance costs and carrier operating authority
The CSA program evaluates motor carriers through seven Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs): Unsafe Driving, HOS Compliance, Driver Fitness, Controlled Substances/Alcohol, Vehicle Maintenance, Hazardous Materials Compliance, and Crash Indicator. Each BASIC has an intervention threshold; exceeding it may trigger warning letters, investigations, or out-of-service orders. Drug/alcohol violations and driver fitness issues directly affect a carrier's CSA score and can result in increased insurance costs and operational restrictions.
Safety Performance Metrics Compared
Key workplace safety metrics used by employers, OSHA, and insurance carriers.
| Type | Formula Basis | What It Measures | Used By | Good Benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TRIR | (Incidents × 200K) ÷ Hours | All recordable incidents | OSHA, clients | < 3.0 (construction) |
| DART | (DART cases × 200K) ÷ Hours | Severe cases (days away/restricted) | Insurance, clients | Below industry avg |
| EMR | 3-yr claims vs expected | Claims experience vs average | Insurance carriers | < 1.0 |
| CSA Score | Inspection/crash/violation data | Carrier safety across 7 BASICs | FMCSA | Below intervention threshold |
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