CSA Score
FMCSA's Compliance, Safety, Accountability score measuring motor carrier safety performance across seven behavioral categories.
What It Is
The CSA (Compliance, Safety, Accountability) score is FMCSA's safety measurement system that quantifies motor carrier performance across seven Behavioral Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs): Unsafe Driving, Hours-of-Service Compliance, Driver Fitness, Controlled Substances/Alcohol, Vehicle Maintenance, Hazardous Materials Compliance, and Crash Indicator.
Each BASIC is scored on a percentile basis from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating worse performance relative to peer carriers. FMCSA intervention thresholds are set at specific percentiles (typically 65th percentile for most BASICs, lower for hazmat and passenger carriers). Carriers exceeding these thresholds face warnings, investigations, and potential operating authority actions.
CSA scores are calculated using roadside inspection data, crash reports, and investigation results from the previous 24 months. More recent data is weighted more heavily. The scores are publicly available through the FMCSA's Safety Measurement System (SMS) website, making them accessible to shippers, brokers, and insurers.
Why It Matters for Brokers
CSA scores have become a primary underwriting tool for commercial auto insurers writing motor carrier business. High CSA scores (poor performance) lead to higher premiums, restricted coverage, or outright declination. Brokers who understand how to interpret CSA scores can help clients develop safety improvement plans that lower scores and reduce insurance costs. Presenting a client's CSA improvement trend to underwriters can be more persuasive than the raw numbers alone.
Real-World Example
A 30-truck carrier has an Unsafe Driving BASIC score of 78 (above the 65th percentile intervention threshold). Their commercial auto renewal comes in at $18,500 per truck—45% higher than the previous year's $12,750. The broker helps the carrier implement a driver training program and in-cab cameras. Over 12 months, the Unsafe Driving score drops to 52. At the next renewal, the per-truck premium drops to $14,100, saving $132,000 annually across the fleet.
Common Mistakes
- 1Not pulling CSA scores before submitting a motor carrier account to market, leading to surprises when underwriters decline or surcharge based on scores the broker was unaware of.
- 2Treating CSA scores as static rather than presenting the trend—a carrier with an improving score trajectory may get better rates even if the current score is elevated.
- 3Ignoring Vehicle Maintenance BASIC scores, which are often the easiest to improve through regular DOT inspections and preventive maintenance programs.
How brokerageaudit.com Handles This
brokerageaudit.com's Submission Intake automatically pulls CSA scores via FMCSA's SMS API when a DOT number is entered. The platform displays all seven BASIC scores with trend arrows showing 6-month and 12-month trajectories. The system highlights any BASICs above intervention thresholds and includes score data in submission packages to underwriters.