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A federal court will hear arguments in September on whether the federal government followed the law in implementing and publicizing the new Compliance, Safety, Accountability program for trucking and bus company safety rankings.

Reading the July 15 article titled “Carriers Say Wheel Covers Cut Fuel Costs By Making Vehicles More Aerodynamic” raised a flag with my safety sense. Working for a fleet safety firm, we conduct fleet inspections and compliance review audits for carriers looking to improve/maintain their safety performance and scores for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability program.

Independent studies have confirmed that anomalies and flaws exist in the relationship between crash likelihood and a trucking company’s BASIC scores as calculated under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability program.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said it would propose changes to the public face of its Compliance, Safety, Accountability program later this year in an attempt to make clearer that the rankings are not necessarily safety scores.

 Despite what may be a less than favorable public image, virtually every significant truck safety innovation over the past 30 years originated within the trucking industry.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said last week it activated previously announced changes to its Compliance, Safety, Accountability program, including the adoption of a controversial proposal to step up hazardous materials compliance, and the elimination of a perceived enforcement bias against flatbed carriers.

We’re thankful that the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Transportation has agreed to audit the federal government’s new Compliance, Safety, Accountability program.

The Department of Transportation’s Inspector General has agreed to conduct an in-depth audit of the government’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability program and to include a look at the relationship between carrier safety scores and crash risks.

A House transportation subcommittee has asked the Department of Transportation’s Inspector General to do an in-depth audit of the government’s safety program, including a look at the relationship between motor carrier safety scores and crash risk.