American Transportation Research Survey Finds Drivers Still Don't Understand CSA

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Among the findings, nearly 78% of drivers incorrectly believe that a trucking company inherits past violations from new hires. Job security concerns still exist, with nearly two-thirds of drivers somewhat or extremely concerned that they will lose their jobs as a result of CSA.

A quarter or the drivers expected their take-home pay would be reduced as a result of CSA. However, 54% expressed no such concern, and 21% actually expected their pay to increase.

Some of the most common CSA myths and misperceptions identified by the ATRI survey:

87% falsely believed that traffic tickets/convictions are part of FMCSA's SMS calculations. The data kept by a state (i.e. tickets, citations, written warnings, convictions) and the data that are kept in the SMS (i.e. violations from RI and crash reports) are separate.

78% of drivers incorrectly believed that a trucking company inherits past violations from new hires. Carriers do not inherit any of a newly hired driver's past violations; only those inspections that a driver receives while driving under a carrier's authority can be applied to a carrier's SMS record.

72% falsely believed that FMCSA can revoke a commercial driver's license (CDL) as a result of CSA. CSA does not give FMCSA the authority to remove drivers from their jobs and cannot be used to rate drivers or to revoke a CDL; only state agencies responsible for issuing licenses, CDL or otherwise, have the authority to suspend them.

68.6% of drivers falsely believed that CSA takes into account a driver's personal vehicle driving record. Tickets or warnings that CMV drivers receive while operating their personal vehicles do not count in the SMS.

58.5% of drivers falsely believed that the federal motor carrier safety regulations have changed as a result of CSA. CSA has not changed any of FMCSA's regulations, although FMCSA is advocating for a future rule change to alter the carrier safety rating process for determining whether or not a carrier is unfit.

In addition, 99% could not correctly identify which five carrier BASIC scores are publicly available, and 98% did not know that FMCSA enforcement staff are the only group of people who can access official driver scores.

ATRI currently has a similar motor carrier survey under way. To see it or a copy of the full CSA Driver Survey Report, visit www.atri-online.org.