It looks like full implementation of CSA 2010 could come a little later than the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration had originally planned.

FMCSA originally was to begin implementing Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010 in July and to have all states fully functional by December.

The American Trucking Associations' member e-mail newsletter. Truckline, reported Thursday that it now appears that although certain phases of CSA 2010 will begin this fall, full implementation will not be completed until spring or perhaps summer of 2011.

However, when asked about this report, FMCSA officials told HDT editors that CSA 2010 still will not be delayed to 2011, that it will still be rolled out later this year -- although that does indicate that there will be some delay. They could not offer more details, they said, because a Federal Register notice of the exact timeline will be coming out soon.

The agency issued this statement: "As part of FMCSA's commitment to launch a comprehensive and effective CSA 2010 program, the agency is in the process of incorporating the feedback received from partners and stakeholders in the CSA 2010 pilot states. In the coming weeks, the agency expects to issue a Federal Register notice that will address the CSA 2010 implementation timeline and data preview for commercial motor carriers."

Phased-In Approach

There have always been two phases planned for CSA 2010. The first phase is scheduled to be rolled out this summer, based in part on what has been learned in a number of states that have been testing a pilot version. A second part must go through the rulemaking process, including a period of public comment.

A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to address some of the details of implementation is key to the full roll-out, and it is likely that it will take beyond this year to get some of those worked out. But it appears that the major portions of CSA 2010 will get under way this year.

FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro, speaking in late February to trucking executives gathered on Capitol Hill for the annual Winter Leadership meeting of American Trucking Associations, also stressed the agency's commitment to CSA 2010. She acknowledged concerns among carriers about the details of the program but said, "I want to assure you that CSA 2010 will come out this year." (See coverage here.)

She said during that speech that FMCSA will give carriers a chance to look at their data before the program is rolled out this summer.

"This is not going to be a program we get right from the get-go. It will certainly impact carriers and it's causing some confusion and concern today. But we are committed as an agency to work together with individual carriers, our division administrators and their staff, our law enforcement partners who have been part of the project development and our CSA 2010 team at headquarters to get it right."

Previewing Information

Truckline reported that FMCSA plans to provide motor carriers with a limited preview of their CSA 2010 data beginning later this month. While this preview will include carriers' safety events (roadside inspections and crashes) and resulting violations, it will NOT reflect carriers' scores in each of the Behavioral Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs), according to Truckline.

ATA also reports that beginning Nov. 30, motor carriers and the general public will be able to view more complete CSA 2010 Carrier Safety Measurement System (CSMS) data, including scores in each of the BASICs. However, as previously indicated, the public will not be able to view the Crash Indicator scores, because of concerns about the quality of the underlying crash data.

On Nov. 30, Truckline reported, FMCSA will begin issuing warning letters to deficient carriers, but will not use the full range of CSA 2010 interventions. Instead, FMCSA will use the CSMS (instead of Safestat) to prioritize motor carriers for standard on-site compliance reviews.


Read more about CSA 2010, from the pages of Heavy Duty Trucking

"New Safety Enforcement System Means Big Changes For Carriers," January 2010 HDT.

"Test Driving CSA 2010," February 2010 HDT