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