In a pair of recent moves, the federal government made it easier to get a job in the trucking industry or keep the job you already have.

First, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) made it easier to challenge the contents of your safety record. The change is particularly good news for those drivers who are charged with an offense but either never convicted of anything or are convicted of a lesser offense. Then, the agency announced that it would publish fact sheets to take some of the mystery out of the FMCSA scoring process.

Key FMCSA scores consist of both a Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) for new drivers and a Behavioral Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASIC) evaluation for current truck drivers.

The BASIC score is essentially a thumbnail version of your driving record as it pertains to hauling commercial loads. The test uses seven different categories to determine a score, and an attorney practicing in Bakersfield can keep your score accurate in almost all these categories:

Even a few points can mean the difference between staying home and making money on the road.