New research reveals motor carrier CSA perspectives

Nov. 22, 2011
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) released its report detailing the extent to which the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program has impacted the daily operations of trucking companies

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) released its report detailing the extent to which the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program has impacted the daily operations of trucking companies. ATRI’s report also describes and analyzes motor carrier attitudes toward and comprehension of FMCSA’s new regulatory program, based on survey data collected from 695 motor carriers.

While first year CSA impacts have not been dramatic, carriers that self-reported having one or more BASICs above threshold were markedly more likely to experience negative changes to their shipper and broker utilization. Overall, however, most carriers believed CSA represents an improvement over SafeStat, and that it will remove unsafe carriers and drivers from the industry and improve safety. Carriers also displayed a high level of knowledge on ATRI’s 14-item CSA knowledge test, although knowledge varied with certain carrier traits and attitudes.

This is the second report released by ATRI examining CSA impacts. Earlier this year, ATRI released the results of its commercial driver CSA survey.

“Our plan is to conduct both of these CSA surveys annually,” commented Rebecca Brewster, ATRI president and COO, “and we believe that both surveys will become key annual indicators of CSA impacts and progress over time.”

Later this year ATRI will release its full CSA study, juxtaposing carrier and driver CSA impacts, along with additional CSA statistical analyses.

A copy of the motor carrier and driver survey results are available from ATRI at www.atri-online.org.