Page 18 - ATR 5 2012 web 2

the current system and help increase
safety performance.
In a 2011 study published by ATRI,
“we belieVe this coNcePt will ProVide a more researchers evaluated the significance
accurate sNaPshot of a carrier’s attitude towards of existing compliance activities on

safety aNd will demoNstrate safety imProVemeNts, positive safety outcomes by studying
2009 FMCSA data comparing carrier
allowiNg iNsPectors to better target their crash data pre- and post-compliance
eNforcemeNt efforts oN those who Need it.” reviews (CRs).
Findings revealed that FMCSA’s
—daVid Palmer, commercial Vehicle safety alliaNce one-size-fits-all approach to evaluating
the safety of motor carriers has dis-
similar impacts for carriers of different
fleet sizes. Specifically, ATRI collected
of the American Trucking Associations investing in new safety technologies five years of compliance and safety
at a congressional subcommittee on could be credited or awarded points to data demonstrating that small carriers
CSA last month. raise their CSA scores. experience greatly reduced crash rates
But FMCSA Administrator Anne “We believe this concept will following detailed compliance reviews,
Ferro testified at a congressional hear- provide a more accurate snapshot of however, these safety returns diminish
ing in September that the data and a carrier’s attitude towards safety and as fleet size increases.
the ratings are valid. “Carriers with will demonstrate safety improvements, The results revealed crash rate
the worst scores have crash rates that allowing inspectors to better target improvements were more significant
double those of the average company,” their enforcement efforts on those who among motor carriers with 20 or fewer
Ferro said. need it,” Palmer said. power units than at larger carriers with
Palmer thinks giving carriers cred- more than 21 power units, reasoning
THE alTErNaTE approaCH it “for employing best practices and that companies have considerably more
A growing number of analysts and demonstrating a commitment to safety control and monitoring capabilities
organizations, led by the Commercial on an ongoing basis is an excellent way over smaller fleets.
Vehicle Safety Alliance, are promoting to facilitate non-regulatory compliance The study concluded that simply
the ‘alternative compliance’ model as by industry and promote proven safety relying on traditional compliance tools
an additional measurement component solutions.” like on-site safety audits, roadside
to the CSA program. Although the Federal Motor inspections, etc. may not affect the
For example, if a trucking com- Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) safety performance or lower the inci-
pany voluntarily invests in products and Hazardous Materials Regulations dence of crashes among large fleets
to lower accidents, could these invest- (HMRs) enact critical monitoring and where the daily monitoring capabilities
ments equate to some type of safety auditing functions that assess motor over the fleet are not as great.
rating or credit? carrier’s compliance, many industry However, investing in certain
David Palmer, the elected presi- stakeholders are concerned that cur- types of technologies could affect out-
dent of the CVSA, testified that FMCSA rent regulatory requirements and comes in larger fleets. These include
should apply the ‘carrot and stick’ evaluation tools (i.e. roadside inspec- the Employer Notification System
approach to fully achieve CSA’s objec- tions, compliance reviews and safety (ENS), electronic on-board record-
tives. audits) do not have the degree of over- ers (EOBRs), fatigue management
“The current model, in our view, sight necessary to touch an adequate programs (FMP), commercial driver
does not do all it can to encourage car- amount of the industry, nor are they drug and alcohol testing using hair,
riers to develop and sustain a robust capable of fully capturing the entire simulator-based training, speed limit-
safety culture,” said Palmer, explaining scope of a company’s safety practices ers/governors, forward collision warn-
that almost one-third of all roadside and operations. ing systems (FCWS), lane departure
safety inspections on tractor trailers In examining the alternative warning systems (LDWS), roll stability
are ‘clean’ meaning that no serious compliance concept, researchers have control systems (RSCS) and tire pres-
violations were discovered. focused on evaluating the effectiveness sure monitoring systems (TPMS).
Another approach Palmer of the current safety and compliance The report concluded that “gov-
explained is an alternative compliance regulatory framework to determine if ernment research and private sector
approach, in which motor carriers that an alternative compliance approach
incorporate certain ‘best practices’ by would be an effective way to augment 

18 arkansas truCking rePort | issue 5 2012