The Federal Motor and Carrier Safety Administration has set some standards to hold carriers accountable for quality. They developed the Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) scores. This is a crucial method in which they ensure the quality of carriers.
These scores scale from 0 to 100 and are based on seven factors:
- Driver fitness
- Crash indicator
- Rash/ careless driving
- Substance/alcohol abuse
- Vehicle maintenance
- Hours of service compliance
- Hazardous materials compliance
So, the lower your score, the better it is for your company. This is the best way to avoid being under FMCSA’s radar. Here are some tips through which you can improve your carrier compliance scores.
Tips To Improve Your Carrier Compliance:
The following tips will help improve your carrier compliance.
Master ELD Use:
Hours of service are an essential aspect of carrier compliance. FMCSA might hold this compliance against you, but you can use these devices and remain compliant.
Here are some ways to do this:
- Train your drivers to master ELD usage.
- Provide info cards or pamphlets to drivers on how to operate ELDs.
- Create instruction sheets to prompt use.
Drivers need to log off the system at the end of the day. So, they can ensure better compliance when they are familiar with the machines. They should know how to edit entries for higher accuracy levels.
Regular Maintenance Plans:
To ensure your fleet’s safety and reliability, you need to have a maintenance plan. This factor is also one of the seven factors of the CSA scores. If you don’t have a master maintenance plan, you can keep a daily checklist to maintain this score.
The checklist includes tires, steering, handbrake, trailer brakes, windshield wipers, mirrors, coupling devices, and brakes.
A fleet owner must train his drivers to report any maintenance issues. They should also encourage them to take care of the vehicles they drive. Routine maintenance and daily inspections are beneficial in keeping the scores low.
Analyze Non-compliance Patterns:
Since compliance is your priority, you should analyze any available data to identify non-compliance patterns. Usually, drivers have ways that you can locate through FMCSA’s SMS.
Once you’ve identified these issues, you can train your s=drivers accordingly. You can share this data so they can improve their safety and compliance.
Not only will you be able to solve driver-specific issues, but you will know company-level problems as well. This tip will help you build a proactive approach to strengthen your company’s shipping.
Implement A Transport Management System:
You can improve your carrier’s compliance by introducing a TMS solution. This solution helps you employ strategic changes and manage your shipments effectively. You need a TMS because:
- Enhance the accuracy of your cargo.
- Make your warehouses more efficient.
- Improve logistics so you can manage rapid route adjustments.
You can use a TMS to improve the efficiency of your whole supply chain. This, in turn, improves your overall compliance. You can use the system to monitor performance and consolidate invoices. You can also manage third-party companies for their auditing, freight claims, and more.
Implement Hazardous Material Protocols:
You can avoid extreme fines if you follow the hazardous material protocols religiously.
Analyze Safety Management:
Safety is a priority, and it can help with everything from protecting against regulation issues to reducing accidents. Financially, the proper safety measures can save you money and keep shipments moving smoothly.
FAQs
Q- What is freight dispatcher insurance?
A freight dispatcher usually doesn’t have any insurance. The carrier has to deal with any damage to the shipment. Also, the shipper is the victim in any such situation.
Q- What is a freight carrier’s job?
A freight carrier’s job is to manage cargo on behalf of the shipper. That includes locating freight that needs to be shipped, speaking to brokers, conducting negotiations, and eventually dispatching drivers and setting up their routes.
Conclusion:
Carrier compliance should be a top consideration. If you’re having issues with compliance, these tips can be a great starting point. Just remember to stay on top of any compliance changes in the industry.
Also Read: Freight Carrier: Choose The Right One For Your Shipment?