CSA 2010 is Here, Compliance Safety Systems Say Scorecards Don't Matter?

    MIDLOTHIAN, TX, December 02, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- With CSA 2010 launching this week, David Saunders, President and CEO of Compliance Safety Systems, a 30-year veteran of the transportation industry and current member of the ATA CSA 2010 Task Force, shared some important insight on how some carriers may have it all wrong with "scorecards".

Let's analyze this whole "Scorecard Phenomena" for a moment:

I have multiple conversations with my customers about this very subject, I always ask:

Me: "Why are you so driven by the need to have a Scorecard?"

Carrier: "That is simple, so my company and my staff have the tools needed to show me where I am and where I am going, improving or not improving, so I can react accordingly."

Me: "But what are you to do, once you know the score?"

Carrier: "Again, it will help show me where I need to improve in my business."

Me: "But you have always had that information available through Safe Stat, why now?"

Carrier: "Because all of our Roadside inspection data counts against us and the driver now, instead of just citations. Therefore the awareness to address the equipment and the driver are more important than ever."

Me: "But aren't you concerned about what public opinion will say, for instance that it took the Federal Government enacting a program called CSA to get your attention?"

Carrier: "I have always taken safety seriously; it didn't take the government to tell me where I am as a business owner in order to address equipment and driver issues."

Me: "I know, but public opinion always drives public policy and so now the courts and the public have decided that just knowing about the equipment and driver issues are not enough, so each inspection now counts....but you as a motor carrier, a plaintiff attorney, lender, investor or insurance company who will soon have full access to the FMCSA reporting system, so again why do you have a separate scorecard program"? Shouldn't you be concerned that a subpoena can be issued for your colorful graphs and pie charts so an attorney can not only display the FMCSA data, but now in colorful array put together a Scorecard that will display to the juror panel how awful you look, and how you're not able to keep the trucks repaired and the driver under control?"

Carrier: "Of course I am, but I have to defend my business and prepare for any lawsuits that may arise."

Me: "Yes I know, but do you have to hand it to them in a colorful fashion?"

I have those same conversations with roadside troopers and compliance review officers:

Me: "So what do you think about a carrier that is trying to show their intent to manage their fleets with tools such as "Scorecard Programs?"

Law Enforcement: "Fix the truck, add an EOBR, and you fix the Score."

Me: "But is that really the intent of enforcement, to always have a perfect truck and a perfect driver?"

Law Enforcement: "Of course not, but they chose to be in the Trucking profession, just as the Driver chose to serve the public by delivering the very shirt I am wearing or the food I will eat later, but the public is counting on all of us being responsible. No one is holding a gun to our heads saying you must be in this profession or else, so if you're a motor carrier you should know the risks."

Me: "But what about a Driver that survives an accident and is standing there in disbelief that this has happened to them, what do you normally say?"

Law Enforcement: "Well my heart goes out to that person because I am certain that the driver didn't intend to hurt anyone when they begin to drive, but I am not going to ask him for his 3x5 wallet size scorecard, I am going to ask how many hours he was up and if he pre-tripped the equipment before accepting the dispatch assignment."

So what's the bottom line?

We live in a non-tolerant society that screams for justice regardless of human error, and there are always certain "Plaintiff Attorneys" that are eager and willing to serve in the "justification cause".

So while you are trying to fulfill your dreams and aspirations of owning or driving a Truck, understand that the growing demands in the 21st century of the motoring public and public in general is that you "chose" to be in that profession, so with that carries a higher standard of conduct by which you will be judged in the court of law and public opinion.

So I urge my customers and the industry to concentrate on the "image of their company", the issue isn't really about enforcement and their guidelines or CSA for that matter, but rather the issue is that they are doing everything they can to keep their equipment repaired and their drivers accountable by not giving in to the demands of a customer that threatens to find someone else to haul their products.

To the trucking exec's I leave you with this thought, "Don't jeopardize your integrity by accepting unreasonable expectations from your customers".

To the drivers I urge them to not endanger themselves or the motoring public by accepting a piece of equipment that you know is not safe to operate, just because you're trying to make a living.

Last but not least, Compliance Safety Systems is excited to announce the launch of its new website and CSA 2010 services. CSS and David Saunders have worked very hard to meet the compliance needs of the transportation industry and its 4,000 customer's for nearly a decade and the additions of this site and these CSA services only add value to what everyone has come to expect.

Compliance Safety Systems is dedicated to provide customers with the latest in CSA 2010, drug testing, and employment verifications Compliance and Safety technology.

http://www.compliancesafetysystems.com

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