CSA Scores Explained in Plain English
Your CSA scores follow you everywhere. Insurance companies use them to set your rates. Brokers use them to decide if they'll work with you. FMCSA uses them to decide who to audit. Here's how the whole system works.
What Are CSA Scores?
CSA stands for Compliance, Safety, Accountability — FMCSA's system for measuring and ranking every motor carrier's safety performance. Think of it as your safety credit score.
FMCSA collects data from roadside inspections, crash reports, and compliance investigations, then ranks every carrier against other carriers of similar size. Your ranking determines whether FMCSA intervenes — and whether insurance companies want to insure you.
The 7 BASICs
FMCSA measures safety across 7 categories called BASICs (Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories). Each BASIC has its own score and intervention threshold.
1. Unsafe Driving
Speeding, reckless driving, improper lane change, failure to use seatbelt, cell phone use, following too closely, failure to obey traffic signals.
2. Hours of Service (HOS) Compliance
ELD violations, driving beyond hours, failing to take required breaks, falsifying logs, operating with expired medical certificate.
3. Vehicle Maintenance
Brake defects, tire issues, lighting problems, cargo securement violations, frame/body damage, exhaust system defects.
4. Controlled Substances / Alcohol
Possession of controlled substances, alcohol use/impairment, failure to implement drug/alcohol testing program, positive drug test results.
5. Hazardous Materials (HM) Compliance
Improper placarding, packaging violations, failure to secure hazmat loads, missing shipping papers, leaking containers.
6. Crash Indicator
Based on DOT-reportable crashes — those involving a fatality, injury requiring medical transport, or a vehicle towed from the scene. Includes all crashes, regardless of fault.
7. Driver Fitness
Operating without proper CDL, expired CDL, failure to have proper endorsements, physically unqualified drivers, improper medical certification.
How CSA Scores Are Calculated
The math is more complex than most people realize. Here's the simplified version:
Violations Get Severity Points
Each violation has a severity weight from 1-10 points. Speeding 6-10 over = 3 points. Speeding 15+ over = 10 points. The more dangerous the violation, the more points.
Time Weight Is Applied
Recent violations count more than old ones. The 24-month data window is split into thirds: last 6 months = full weight (3x), 6-12 months ago = 2x, 12-24 months ago = 1x. This means a violation from last month counts three times as much as one from 18 months ago.
Total Is Compared to Peer Group
Your weighted total is compared to all carriers of similar size (same number of inspections). FMCSA ranks you as a percentile: 0 = best, 100 = worst. This means your score depends on how you compare to other carriers, not just your own violations.
Thresholds Trigger Intervention
If your percentile score exceeds the threshold for that BASIC, you'll get FMCSA's attention. A warning letter at minimum. Potentially an investigation or compliance review.
The 24-Month Window
CSA scores use a rolling 24-month window. Violations fall off after 24 months. But here's the catch: the violation disappears from your CSA score, but the underlying inspection record stays on your FMCSA record for 3 years. Insurance companies can (and do) look at the full 3-year history.
Intervention Thresholds
When your score crosses these lines, FMCSA takes action:
| BASIC | General Carrier | Passenger Carrier | HazMat Carrier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsafe Driving | 65% | 50% | 60% |
| HOS Compliance | 65% | 50% | 60% |
| Vehicle Maintenance | 80% | 75% | 75% |
| Controlled Substances | 65% | 50% | 60% |
| HazMat Compliance | 80% | - | 75% |
| Crash Indicator | 65% | 50% | 60% |
| Driver Fitness | 80% | 75% | 75% |
What Happens When You Cross a Threshold
Warning Letter
FMCSA sends a letter saying you're above the threshold. No immediate consequences, but it's a signal. You're on their radar.
Investigation
FMCSA may conduct a focused investigation or compliance review. They'll look at the specific BASIC(s) where you're above threshold.
Compliance Review / Audit
A full on-site audit of your operation. If you fail, you can receive a conditional or unsatisfactory safety rating — which can shut you down.
How CSA Scores Affect Your Insurance
This is the part most truckers don't realize until renewal time.
Rate Setting
Insurance underwriters pull your CSA scores when pricing your policy. High scores in Unsafe Driving or Crash Indicator can add 20-50% or more to your premium. Clean scores get you the best available rates.
Carrier Appetite
Some insurance carriers won't write you at all if your CSA scores are above certain thresholds. Progressive, for example, has specific CSA score guidelines for new business. High scores shrink the number of carriers willing to insure you — which means fewer options and higher prices.
Non-Renewal
If your CSA scores deteriorate during your policy term, your carrier may non-renew you at the end of the year. Finding replacement coverage mid-cycle is expensive and stressful.
Broker Access
Many freight brokers check CSA scores before approving carriers. High scores mean fewer load opportunities, which means less revenue — on top of higher insurance costs.
The Real Cost
A single speeding ticket (3 severity points) might seem minor. But if you're a small carrier with few inspections, that one violation can push your Unsafe Driving BASIC above 65%. That means: higher insurance at renewal + FMCSA warning letter + brokers questioning your safety record. One ticket, three consequences.
How to Improve Your CSA Scores
Get More Clean Inspections
This is the single most effective strategy. Every clean inspection (no violations found) dilutes your existing violations because your score is calculated against your total inspection count. Pull into open weigh stations. Volunteer for inspections at truck stops when available. A clean Level 3 inspection is a free CSA improvement.
Challenge Incorrect Violations (DataQs)
If a violation on your record is incorrect, you can challenge it through FMCSA's DataQs system. File a Request for Data Review at dataqs.fmcsa.dot.gov. Common reasons to challenge: violation was assigned to wrong carrier, violation was incorrectly coded, driver was exonerated in court. Success rate varies — only challenge violations you can document as incorrect.
Fix Your Equipment
Vehicle Maintenance violations are the most common and most preventable. Check every pre-trip: lights, tires, brakes, reflective tape, mudflaps, windshield, mirrors. A $20 replacement bulb prevents a violation that costs you thousands in higher insurance premiums.
Slow Down
Speeding violations are the #1 contributor to Unsafe Driving scores. Speeding 15+ over is 10 severity points — the maximum. Drive the speed limit. It's not worth the insurance hit.
Stay Current on HOS
Certify your ELD logs daily. Address unassigned driving time immediately. Take your required 30-minute breaks. Don't push the 11-hour or 14-hour limits. HOS violations are easy to avoid and expensive to get.
Wait It Out
Time is on your side. Violations are time-weighted: after 6 months they drop to 2x weight, after 12 months to 1x, and after 24 months they fall off entirely. If you drive clean for 24 months, your CSA scores will recover regardless of past violations.
How to Check Your CSA Scores
ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/sms (FMCSA Safety Measurement System)
Note: Your full BASIC percentile scores are only visible to YOU (the carrier) and to law enforcement. The public can see your inspection and crash history but NOT your percentile scores. However, insurance companies and brokers access this data through commercial databases.
Common Questions
I'm a new authority — do I have CSA scores?
Not immediately. You need a minimum number of inspections before FMCSA calculates a BASIC score (the minimum varies by BASIC). As a new carrier, you'll start getting scored after your first few inspections. This is why your early inspections matter so much — they're your entire data set.
I wasn't at fault for the crash — does it still count?
Yes. The Crash Indicator BASIC includes ALL DOT-reportable crashes regardless of fault. FMCSA's position is that "preventability" is complex and fault determination varies by state. You can submit a crash for preventability review through DataQs, but the crash data still appears on your record.
Can I see other carriers' CSA scores?
You can see their inspection and crash data, but not their percentile BASIC scores. The percentile scores are visible only to the carrier and to law enforcement. You can look up any carrier's inspection history at ai.fmcsa.dot.gov.
How often do CSA scores update?
FMCSA updates SMS data monthly. New inspection and violation data takes 2-4 weeks to appear in the system after the inspection occurs.
Worried About Your CSA Scores?
We review your CSA data as part of every quote. We'll tell you how your scores affect your rates — and what you can do about it before your next renewal.