If you’re in the trucking business, you’ve likely heard that CSA scores matter. They’re important—and not just because the DOT is watching.
High CSA scores can do more than trigger an audit. They can cost you freight, increase your insurance premiums, and make shippers hesitate to work with you. It’s not just a number; it’s your reputation on the line.
So, how do you get control of your CSA scores and keep the FMCSA off your back? Let’s break it down and show you exactly what affects your score and what you can start doing to improve it.
Your CSA score is based on seven categories (called BASICs—Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories):
Your score gets hit every time there’s a violation, whether it’s during a roadside inspection, a crash report, or a DOT audit. The more recent and serious the issue, the harder it hits your score.
Here’s what smart fleets are doing to stay compliant and keep scores low:
1. Make Pre-Trip Inspections a Non-Negotiable
Most maintenance violations are totally preventable. A cracked lens, a loose hose, and worn tires are all issues your drivers can catch with a flashlight and five extra minutes. Make pre- and post-trip inspections part of the culture, not just a checkbox.
2. Teach ELD the Right Way
Many Hours of Service violations don’t happen because drivers are reckless. In most cases, they simply don’t know how to use the ELD properly. Train your team on how to certify logs, fix malfunctions, and pull up supporting documents if an inspector asks.
3. Stop Using Sticky Notes and Start Tracking Maintenance Digitally
If you’re still relying on memory or handwritten notes to keep up with maintenance, you’re asking for trouble. Use software that reminds you about oil changes, brake jobs, and unresolved DVIRs before they become violations or worse, a breakdown.
4. Hire Drivers Who Take Safety Seriously
You’re only as good as your drivers. That’s why hiring qualified, compliant, and safety-minded professionals is a must. Always verify CDLs, medical cards, Clearinghouse status, and MVRs. And make safety training a regular thing, not a one-time event.
5. Add Dash Cams and Telematics
Modern safety technology can catch risky habits such as speeding or hard braking before they turn into tickets or crashes. Systems like S.A.F.E. (Strategic Automated Fleet Engine) can score driver behavior in real time and help you step in early.
6. Check Logs and Inspection Reports Every Week
Don’t wait for the DOT to tell you what’s wrong. Set aside time weekly to review:
Clean it up fast and retrain when needed.
7. Hold Trucks and Drivers with Unresolved Issues
A truck with bad brakes or a driver with an expired CDL shouldn’t be on the road. Create a “do not dispatch” rule for unresolved issues. S.A.F.E. helps flag these so your dispatch team doesn’t send someone out who shouldn’t be moving freight.
That depends on how serious your issues are, but here’s the good news: you can start seeing improvement in as little as 90 days. Because CSA scoring is time-weighted, every clean inspection helps, and newer violations carry more weight than older ones.
Fix the root causes, keep violations from piling up, and your numbers will move in the right direction.
You don’t need to be perfect, but you do need to be proactive. The DOT isn’t looking for flawless fleets; they’re looking for organized, safety-focused, and responsive fleets.
Train your people. Maintain your equipment. Stay on top of the data.
And if you want help spotting problems before they become violations, S.A.F.E. is built for that. Before the DOT gets involved, let us show you how to reduce your CSA score effectively.