What Else is New?
So what else is new? The DOT is getting closer to implementing their CSA 2010 system. I guess I should revamp the website, and start pushing CSA 2010 products like JJ Keller is… but I guess I don’t see it as a game changing development. The rules have not changed. CSA 2010 will not change the rules. Presently, DOT uses Safestat to rank the carriers. CSA 2010 will rank the carriers instead of Safestat. CSA 2010 will have a driver component to it. You will be able to see how many times a driver has been placed Out of Service prior to hiring him. This will have new information on it, but presently, you run MVRs on drivers which tells you how many times a driver has been in accidents, and been stopped for moving violations.
So, I guess I’m not seeing where it’s THAT different. I know, that makes me a heretic, go figure. Right now, you have a Safestat score. Shippers and insurance companies can see the Safestat score. They can choose to do business or not do business with you, based on the Safestat score. The CSA 2010 score is going to be just another score. If you have poor Safestat scores, and you have shippers, and you have an insurance company, you’re probably still going to have shippers and insurance under the new system. If you’re a driver who has some tickets or some Out of Services on his record… you’ll still be able to find a job. Especially when the economy takes off 4-5 years from now. Notice I said 4-5 years from now… if you think things are taking off sooner than that, you’re probably an a economist working for the Obama Administration.
The one thing that will change, and probably within months are the hours of service rules. The FMCSA held all of their listening sessions, pulled the rulemaking which had been written prior to the listening sessions out of the drawer, and sent it to the White House for approval. The only way it won’t be approved is if it’s not restrictive enough. Now we just wait to see how bad it’s going to be.
