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Finding the Dirt on Unsafe Trucking Companies
By: Steven M. Gursten - Michigan Auto Lawmichiganautolaw.com
michiganautolaw.com/auto-lawyers-blog/ (800) 777-0028
This resource will only be available and current through July 2010.
If you have any questions related to a truck company or driver associated with your accident, or require legal guidance from a truck accident attorney, please contact Michigan Auto Law at:
(800) 777-0028
Special Note:
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Safe Stat web site is a free, valuable resource for truck accident attorneys and Michigan drivers.
By simply logging on, someone investigating a truck crash can access the Department of Transportation’s “snapshot” assessment of a particular trucking company’s regulatory compliance. Keep in mind, the data changes and is updated as time passes.
What is Safe Stat?
Log onto http://safersys.org/
This is the FMCSA Safety & Fitness Electronic Records System Web page
Scroll down to “FMSCA Searches”
Click on “SafeStat Online”
Where Do I Start?
Single Carrier Search Enter the truck company’s carrier name and/or USDOT ID #
Click “Search”
A list of truck companies will appear
Click on the carrier you are researching.
Welcome to Safe Stat
Overview Tab (Carrier Information)
Summary of Safety Evaluation Areas (SEAs) this is the most important area on the page
SafeStat Score
Safety Evaluation Areas (SEAs) are ranked on a Scale of 1 to 100
Higher Score = Non Compliant safety history
75 + = Very Deficient carrier, subject to increased inspections
Example: driver safety value of 53.74 & vehicle safety value of 33.62 is still not acceptable
Overview Tab (Carrier Information)
There are 4 categories of safety evaluation:
• Accident Safety Evaluation Area (ACSEA)• Driver Safety Evaluation Area (DRSEA)• Vehicle Safety Evaluation Area (VHSEA) • Safety Management Evaluation Area (SMSEA)
4 Categories of Safety Evaluation
6 Important Tabs at Top of Page:1. Overview2. Accident3. Driver4. Vehicle5. Safety6. History
Next will be a summary of what to look for under each of these categories.
6 Important Tabs
Detailed Accident Information: Accident Safety Evaluation Area tab leads to detailed accident information for the carrier (past 30 months)
Injuries & Fatalities:Initial page shows # of vehicles involved in crashes that resulted in injuries or fatalities
Itemized Vehicle Crash History: “View Detail Data” icon on bottom right-hand leads to itemized vehicle crash history
Accident Safety Evaluation Area tab
Detailed Crash History details include crash date, location, whether any injuries or fatalities resulted, VIN and license plate
Click on Accident - > new screen provides more detail: police department that responded, police report number, road conditions, type of roadway, citations, etc.
ACSEA of 75+ are red flag! Save this accident information & look for trends.
Look for Your Case Detailed information for your accident/case may appear on this page
Accident Safety Evaluation Area tab
Driver Safety Evaluation Tab
3 Categorical Displays: 1. Compliance Review Results2. Driver Inspection Results3. Moving Violation Results
“View Detail Data” icon provides details for carriers with a DRSEA (Driver Safety Evaluation Area) score of 75 +
Remember:Score of 75 + = very deficient carrier, subject to increased inspections
Compliance Review Results
Select Data Detail box leads to:
All Driver Inspections
Out of Service (OOS) Inspections,including inspections resulting in driver being pulled from service & related violations (i.e. out of hours violations, positive blood alcohol levels, etc.)
Driver Inspection Results
View Data Details provides list of all moving violations the carrier has had over the past 30 months.
Click on each citation for details regarding each violation
PRINT EACH CASE to IDENTIFY DRIVERDriver names are not listed, but VIN & license plate numbers can be used to identify drivers responsible for each violation
Moving Violation Results
2 Categorical Displays:
1) Compliance Review Results: “View Detail Data” provides ongoing reviews for carriers with score 75+.
2) Vehicle Inspection Results: See next slide.
Vehicle Safety Evaluation Tab
Vehicle Inspection Results
Vehicle InspectionsEvery vehicle inspection within past 30 months
Out of Service (OOS) InspectionsEvery vehicle inspection resulting in vehicle being pulled out of service
Carriers with Score of 75+ Click on each record for more detail. Check to see if the truck involved in your accident had out of service violations
Vehicle Safety Evaluation Tab - Details
2) Compliance Review Results Hazmat: Same as above – for hazardous materials carriers specifically.
3) Closed Enforcements: Past
fines levied against the carrier for failure to properly enforce and oversee safety laws over last 6 years. This is valuable insight into the safety history of the carrier.
Safety Management (SEA) Tab
3 Categorical Displays:1) Compliance Review Results: Violations attributed to carrier’s failure to enforce safety
rules (i.e. failing to require drivers to submit inspection reports). Shows failure of oversight & neglect on the part of the carrier.
History
History gives a very broad review of the carrier’s trends in terms of safety (over past 4 years in each safety category)
History Tab
This resource will only be available and current through July of 2010.
A three-year safety report can and should be ordered by anyone involved in a collision with a truck.
If you have any questions related to a truck company or driver associated with your accident, or require legal guidance from a Truck Accident Attorney, please contact Michigan Auto Law at:
(800) 777-0028
Special Note:
Finding the Dirt on Unsafe Trucking Companies
By: Steven M. Gursten - Michigan Auto Lawmichiganautolaw.com
michiganautolaw.com/auto-lawyers-blog/ (800) 777-0028