Understanding the CSA Severity Points & Time-Weight Multiples Is Crucial
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) created the Compliance, Safety, & Accountability (CSA) program along with the Safety Measurement System (SMS) to enhance road safety by holding commercial drivers and fleets accountable.
Understanding the CSA program is crucial for Truckee, Nevada County commercial drivers to protect their careers and avoid severe penalties.
What Is the CSA Program?
The CSA program is an initiative aimed at reducing accidents and ensuring compliance with safety regulations.
Through inspections and crash data, the FMCSA evaluates the safety performance of both drivers and carriers using the SMS.
The system tracks seven Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs): unsafe driving, fatigued driving, driver fitness, controlled substances, vehicle maintenance, hazardous materials, and crash indicators.
Repeated violations within these categories can lead to serious consequences, including CSA severity points and time-weight multiples.
How Are Traffic Violations Reported to the FMCSA?
When a commercial driver is ticketed or found responsible for an accident, the DMV investigating officers send the information to the FMCSA.
Each violation is assigned a point value from 1 to 10 based on its risk level. The accumulation of these points can significantly affect both drivers and carriers.
If CSA severity points add up, the FMCSA may intervene, which can include warning letters, roadside inspections, or even formal enforcement actions.
How Long Do CSA Severity Points Stay on a Driver's Record?
CSA severity points remain on a driver’s record for three years and on a fleet’s DOT record for two years.
Violations are subject to Time-Weight Multiples, where recent offenses are penalized more heavily.
For example, violations within six months are multiplied by three, between six months and one year by two, and older than a year by their original severity score.
This time-weighted system can make recent violations particularly damaging to a commercial driver’s or carrier’s CSA score and thus, their SMS percentile.
Why You Need a Skilled CA Traffic Attorney
Accumulating CSA severity points and Time-Weight Multiples can be overwhelming for commercial drivers.
A traffic ticket conviction can significantly impact your CSA score and career. It’s critical to consult with a knowledgeable California traffic attorney to avoid these consequences.
A seasoned attorney can thoroughly review your case and represent you in court, potentially challenging the accuracy of an accident report, traffic violation, logbook error, or roadside inspection result.
A favorable outcome could mean fewer CSA severity points or even a dismissal, helping to protect your record and career.
Impact on Your Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) Record
While CSA severity points primarily affect the fleet, they will also appear on a driver’s Pre-employment Screening Program (PSP) record.
This can influence future employment opportunities. FMCSA regulations require fleet recruiters to consider the commercial driver’s PDP before hiring.
A clean PSP is important for drivers seeking better positions with larger fleets, making it all the more essential to contest traffic violations. A clean driving record is a powerful bargaining chip during pay and benefit negotiations.
Conclusion
Understanding the CSA program, including CSA severity points and Time-Weight Multiples, is key to protecting your driving record and career.
Consulting an experienced traffic attorney can help you effectively contest violations, reduce points, and secure your professional future.
Contact Bigger & Harman to Possibly Avoid CSA Severity Points & Time-Weight Multiples by Challenging a CDL Ticket in Truckee Traffic Court
If you need help with a traffic ticket in Truckee Courthouse from a roadside inspection at Truckee Weigh Station or in Nevada County, call Bigger & Harman, APC, at (661) 349-9300— Se habla Español 349-9755.
Use our convenient and handy online contact form or email attorney@biggerharmanlaw.com.
Download our e-book, Protecting Your Commercial Driver License.
References:
The DMV Portal CA Commercial Driver Handbook.
The DOT FMCSA 49 CFR Part 383.51, Paragraph 6.2.5, Disqualification of Drivers.