Six Most Common CSA Violations

The Truck

Violation: Lighting

28% of all roadside vehicle violations last year, out of 2.4 million inspections, dealt with lights or reflective materials.
Light violations are a severity point assessment of 6 CSA points and a conspicuity of reflective tape violations are 3 CSA points.

Prevention: Pre and Post trip inspections and reporting of lighting defects on the daily vehicle inspection report.  Use Idealease’s Pre-Post Trip training videos.

Violation: Brakes

25% of vehicle violations are for brakes, with over 1 million brake violations last year, each with four CSA points.

Prevention: Training is key. Make sure drivers know what to look for and when to get assistance with their brakes. The only way to find a brake adjustment problem is to carefully measure the stroke, and adjusting a brake that has an automatic adjuster won’t fix the problem (and may make it worse).

Violation: Tires

11% of vehicle violations are for tires (half for tread depth), with a CSA severity of eight points.
Steer tires must have 4/32 inch of tread depth; other tires must have 2/32 inch.

Prevention: Pre and Post Trip inspections that identify tires that are getting close to regulation requirements being reported on the daily vehicle inspection report.  Drivers need to know how and when to check inflation (with a gauge!) and when it’s time for a replacement.

The Driver

Violation: Logs

“Form & Manner” and “Log Not Current” violations make up 25% of all driver violations at the roadside, far and above any other violation. A form/manner violation carries just one CSA point, but a log that isn’t current is worth five.

Prevention: Review hours of service regulations with all drivers upon orientation and throughout the year during driver meetings.
Monitor hours of service documentation for violations.
Implement a progressive disciplinary policy for violators with termination as the ultimate action taken.
Consider implementing electronic logging devices.

Violation: Medical issues

12% of driver violations are related to medical issues, often a failure to have a valid medical certificate. These carry a low CSA point value of one or two, although driving while physically ill is a 10-point violation.

Prevention: Track the expiration of your drivers’ medical cards and make sure they get updated, placed in drivers’ files, carried in the vehicle and turned in to the state licensing agency. Make sure drivers know exactly what’s required of them, and have consequences in place for those who fail to comply.
Some of these violations may go away once we have the National Registry of Medical Examiners, and once interstate CDL drivers no longer have to carry their medical cards (in Feb. 2015).

Violation: English ability

This violation has been surging in recent years, currently at 9% of all driver violations and carrying four CSA points.
Compliance is complicated because there is no yes/no standard. Key for a roadside inspection is being able to fill out paperwork, speak with officers and answer their questions, all in English.

Prevention: Your hiring practices should filter out drivers who simply cannot meet the standard. Use training and practice to help drivers know how to respond to typical questions about their logs, their trips and cargo, their insurance, registration, license and their vehicle.

Originally Posted to Idealease Safety Bulletin