st. louis metropolitan police department m.c.s.a.p. unit (motor carrier safety assistance program)

St. Louis Metropolitan St. Louis Metropolitan Police DepartmentPolice Department

M.C.S.A.P. UnitM.C.S.A.P. Unit

(Motor Carrier Safety Assistance (Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program)Program)

Role of the MCSAP UnitRole of the MCSAP Unit

Reduce commercial vehicle accidents in Reduce commercial vehicle accidents in the city of Saint Louis through the the city of Saint Louis through the enforcement of Commercial Vehicle enforcement of Commercial Vehicle Federal RegulationsFederal Regulations

Conduct random inspections of all Conduct random inspections of all commercial vehicles in the city of Saint commercial vehicles in the city of Saint LouisLouis

Report all findings to the Highway PatrolReport all findings to the Highway Patrol

What is MCSAP?What is MCSAP?

The Motor Carrier Safety Assistance The Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) is a federally funded Program (MCSAP) is a federally funded grant program to assist states with the grant program to assist states with the overall goal of reducing CMV involved overall goal of reducing CMV involved accidents and hazardous material accidents and hazardous material incidents through consistent, uniform and incidents through consistent, uniform and effective CMV safety programs.effective CMV safety programs.

The MCSAP Unit consists of a supervisor The MCSAP Unit consists of a supervisor and five fully trained inspectors, capable of and five fully trained inspectors, capable of inspecting commercial vehicles (including inspecting commercial vehicles (including those carrying hazardous materials) and those carrying hazardous materials) and passenger buses.passenger buses.

The MCSAP grant provides the funds The MCSAP grant provides the funds necessary to conduct safety inspections. necessary to conduct safety inspections. Funding includes salaries, uniforms, Funding includes salaries, uniforms, vehicles, equipment and training.vehicles, equipment and training.

Inspection LevelsInspection Levels

MCSAP Officers conduct three types of MCSAP Officers conduct three types of inspections on commercial vehiclesinspections on commercial vehicles

Level 1 Inspection – full inspection of Level 1 Inspection – full inspection of vehicle/drivervehicle/driver

Level 2 Inspection – walk-aroundLevel 2 Inspection – walk-around Level 3 Inspection – Driver onlyLevel 3 Inspection – Driver only

Level 1 InspectionLevel 1 Inspection

Level I InspectionLevel I Inspection

This is a full inspection of both the vehicle This is a full inspection of both the vehicle and driver. and driver.

Vehicle inspection includes a full Vehicle inspection includes a full inspection of the braking system, lighting inspection of the braking system, lighting system, steering components, suspension, system, steering components, suspension, frame, tires, fuel system, exhaust, load frame, tires, fuel system, exhaust, load (including any haz-mat,) connections (including any haz-mat,) connections between truck and trailer and any required between truck and trailer and any required equipment needed inside the cab.equipment needed inside the cab.

Level I Inspection (cont’d)Level I Inspection (cont’d)

All violations found during the vehicle All violations found during the vehicle inspection are documented by the officer inspection are documented by the officer on a Driver/Vehicle Examination Form.on a Driver/Vehicle Examination Form.

Some violations will cause the vehicle to Some violations will cause the vehicle to be placed out-of-service.be placed out-of-service.

A vehicle that passes a Level I Inspection A vehicle that passes a Level I Inspection will receive a CVSA sticker deeming them will receive a CVSA sticker deeming them as safe and exempt from inspection for a as safe and exempt from inspection for a period of 3-months.period of 3-months.

Level I Inspection (cont’d)Level I Inspection (cont’d)

Driver/Vehicle inspection forms are Driver/Vehicle inspection forms are prepared electronically on the computer prepared electronically on the computer and can be printed out for the driver.and can be printed out for the driver.

The report is later uploaded to the The report is later uploaded to the Missouri State Highway Patrol and entered Missouri State Highway Patrol and entered into a Federal database accessible to all into a Federal database accessible to all law enforcement.law enforcement.

Level I Inspection (cont’d)Level I Inspection (cont’d)

In addition to the vehicle inspection, the In addition to the vehicle inspection, the officer will also inspect the driver for valid officer will also inspect the driver for valid credentials, required paperwork and their credentials, required paperwork and their log book (if required.)log book (if required.)

Certain violations can place a driver out-Certain violations can place a driver out-of-service, as well. Such violations can of-service, as well. Such violations can include improper driver’s license class for include improper driver’s license class for operating a CMV or a false log book.operating a CMV or a false log book.

Level II InspectionLevel II Inspection

A Level II inspection (otherwise known as A Level II inspection (otherwise known as the “walk-around”) includes the same the “walk-around”) includes the same inspection points as a Level I inspection, inspection points as a Level I inspection, except that the brakes are not inspected.except that the brakes are not inspected.

This type of inspection normally takes This type of inspection normally takes place during inclement weather or when place during inclement weather or when existing conditions would not make it safe existing conditions would not make it safe for the officer to place himself under the for the officer to place himself under the vehicle for this type of inspection.vehicle for this type of inspection.

Level III InspectionLevel III Inspection

A Level III Inspection involves an A Level III Inspection involves an inspection of the driver only.inspection of the driver only.

These inspections take place on an These inspections take place on an interstate, where a higher level of interstate, where a higher level of inspection would not be safe or practical.inspection would not be safe or practical.

Level III inspections are encouraged when Level III inspections are encouraged when stopping over-the-road truckers to help stopping over-the-road truckers to help reduce driver fatigue.reduce driver fatigue.

TrainingTraining

Inspections of Commercial Motor Vehicles Inspections of Commercial Motor Vehicles and their drivers can be conducted only by and their drivers can be conducted only by trained law enforcement personnel. The trained law enforcement personnel. The training is standard throughout North training is standard throughout North America, as the United States, Canada America, as the United States, Canada and Mexico all abide by the same rules.and Mexico all abide by the same rules.

The training is referred to as NAS Part A The training is referred to as NAS Part A (Level III only) and Part B (Level I).(Level III only) and Part B (Level I).

Training (cont’d)Training (cont’d)

In order to become a fully trained In order to become a fully trained inspector, officers attend 2 weeks of the inspector, officers attend 2 weeks of the NAS Part A & B courses. During these NAS Part A & B courses. During these two weeks, officers receive 64 hours of two weeks, officers receive 64 hours of class room training, are given two written class room training, are given two written tests and are required to perform a Level I tests and are required to perform a Level I inspection under the watchful eye of a inspection under the watchful eye of a certified inspector.certified inspector.

Training (cont’d)Training (cont’d)

Once the officer successfully passes both Once the officer successfully passes both classes, they must complete 30 Level I classes, they must complete 30 Level I inspections with a trained officer.inspections with a trained officer.

Beyond that, they must maintain their Beyond that, they must maintain their certification each year by completing a certification each year by completing a minimum of 32 Level I inspections.minimum of 32 Level I inspections.

During 2009, MCSAP officers completed During 2009, MCSAP officers completed nearly 10,000 inspections in St. Louis.nearly 10,000 inspections in St. Louis.

Training (cont’d)Training (cont’d)

Additionally, the MCSAP grant requires officers Additionally, the MCSAP grant requires officers to be trained in Haz-Mat and cargo tank to be trained in Haz-Mat and cargo tank inspections as well.inspections as well.

This is a 2-week course, as well and permits for This is a 2-week course, as well and permits for 64 hours of classroom training and 2 written 64 hours of classroom training and 2 written tests.tests.

Once certified, officers must conduct a minimum Once certified, officers must conduct a minimum of 8 Haz-Mat inspections per year. In 2009, 378 of 8 Haz-Mat inspections per year. In 2009, 378 Haz-Mat inspections were conducted.Haz-Mat inspections were conducted.

Training (cont’d)Training (cont’d)

Officers are also certified to conduct motor Officers are also certified to conduct motor coach inspections. This is a one-week coach inspections. This is a one-week course, including 32 hours of classroom course, including 32 hours of classroom instruction and a written test.instruction and a written test.

Officers must conduct a minimum of 8 Officers must conduct a minimum of 8 Level I motor coach inspections in order to Level I motor coach inspections in order to maintain their certification.maintain their certification.

In 2009, 61 bus inspections were In 2009, 61 bus inspections were conducted.conducted.

Support for District OfficersSupport for District Officers

MCSAP officers will respond to assist MCSAP officers will respond to assist district officers with any incident involving district officers with any incident involving a Commercial Vehicle, including a Commercial Vehicle, including accidents, traffic stops and haz-mat spills.accidents, traffic stops and haz-mat spills.

Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts

While the final numbers are not out for 2009 yet, While the final numbers are not out for 2009 yet, here are a few statistics involving commercial here are a few statistics involving commercial vehicles for 2008:vehicles for 2008:

There were 2,470 CMV accidents involving There were 2,470 CMV accidents involving either injury or death in the State of Missouri either injury or death in the State of Missouri during 2008.during 2008.

115 of these accidents were fatal115 of these accidents were fatal 1,922 CMV accidents involving either injury or 1,922 CMV accidents involving either injury or

death occurred in St. Louis City/County.death occurred in St. Louis City/County.

Final Thoughts (cont’d)Final Thoughts (cont’d)

Between 2006-2008, there were 14 fatal Between 2006-2008, there were 14 fatal accidents involving a CMV in the city of St. accidents involving a CMV in the city of St. Louis. Additionally, there were 660 injury Louis. Additionally, there were 660 injury accidents involving a CMV in the city of St. accidents involving a CMV in the city of St. Louis.Louis.

The number one spot for the likelihood of The number one spot for the likelihood of a CMV involved accident to occur in St. a CMV involved accident to occur in St. Louis is within a 3 mile radius of Hall Louis is within a 3 mile radius of Hall Street and Adelaide.Street and Adelaide.

Final Thoughts (cont’d)Final Thoughts (cont’d)

The overall goal of the MCSAP Unit is to The overall goal of the MCSAP Unit is to reduce CMV involved crashes in St. Louis. reduce CMV involved crashes in St. Louis. Preliminary information suggests that Preliminary information suggests that there were only 2 fatal accidents involving there were only 2 fatal accidents involving a CMV during 2009 in St. Louis City and a CMV during 2009 in St. Louis City and that the overall number of CMV accidents that the overall number of CMV accidents was on a downward trend. This is in line was on a downward trend. This is in line with the same trend across the state of with the same trend across the state of Missouri.Missouri.

Final Thoughts (cont’d)Final Thoughts (cont’d)

Ensuring that unsafe trucks are removed Ensuring that unsafe trucks are removed from St. Louis roads and encouraging the from St. Louis roads and encouraging the truck industry to maintain a high standard truck industry to maintain a high standard of safety when placing their drivers on the of safety when placing their drivers on the road is the ultimate goal of the MCSAP road is the ultimate goal of the MCSAP Unit.Unit.

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

Sgt. Paul Lauer – SupervisorSgt. Paul Lauer – SupervisorCommercial Vehicle Enforcement UnitCommercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit

palauer@slmpd.orgpalauer@slmpd.org