FMCSA Rejects Item Response Theory (IRT) Model and Proposed Changes to BASICs
On February 14, 2023, the FMCSA issued a notice requesting comments on proposed changes to the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) system. The FMCSA rejected the National Academy of Sciences’ IRT statistical model and proposed significant changes to the current Safety Measurement System (SMS). According to the FMCSA, the proposed changes will allow the agency to better target the least safe motor carriers in the industry.
The FMCSA proposed the following changes to the SMS:
- Reorganized BASICs. The most notable change is the realignment of the BASICs into “safety categories.” The proposal eliminates the Controlled Substance and Alcohol BASIC and folds it into the Unsafe Driving safety category. It bifurcates the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC into two safety categories—Vehicle Maintenance and Vehicle Maintenance: Driver Observed. And it segments the Driver Fitness and Hazardous Materials safety categories based on the type of equipment the carrier operates.
- Consolidating violations. The proposal combines the 959 violations currently used in SMS, with 14 new violations into 116 violation groups.
- Updated severity weights. The proposal simplifies violation severity weights by assigning a severity weight of either 1 or 2, rather than using the scale of 1 to 10.
- Proportionate percentiles. The proposal uses a proportionate percentile approach to reduce the impact of moving between safety event groups, which has historically resulted in significant negative swings for motor carriers.
- Adjusting intervention thresholds. The proposal increased the intervention thresholds in the Driver Fitness and Hazardous Materials safety categories to better identify carriers with higher crash rates.
- Greater emphasis on recent violations. Under the proposal, the FMCSA will not score carriers in a safety category if the carrier does not have a violation in that category in the last 12 months.
- An updated utilization factor. The FMCSA proposed increasing the utilization factor mileage cap from 200,000 to 250,000 miles.
The FMCSA did not propose any changes to the SMS to address geographic enforcement disparity.
The proposed changes to the SMS could have a significant impact on the way motor carriers are evaluated.
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News from Scopelitis is intended as a report to our clients and friends on developments affecting the transportation industry. The published material does not constitute an exhaustive legal study and should not be regarded or relied upon as individual legal advice or opinion.
FMCSA Rejects Item Response Theory (IRT) Model and Proposed Changes to BASICs
On February 14, 2023, the FMCSA issued a notice requesting comments on proposed changes to the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) system. The FMCSA rejected the National Academy of Sciences’ IRT statistical model and proposed significant changes to the current Safety Measurement System (SMS). According to the FMCSA, the proposed changes will allow the agency to better target the least safe motor carriers in the industry.
The FMCSA proposed the following changes to the SMS:
- Reorganized BASICs. The most notable change is the realignment of the BASICs into “safety categories.” The proposal eliminates the Controlled Substance and Alcohol BASIC and folds it into the Unsafe Driving safety category. It bifurcates the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC into two safety categories—Vehicle Maintenance and Vehicle Maintenance: Driver Observed. And it segments the Driver Fitness and Hazardous Materials safety categories based on the type of equipment the carrier operates.
- Consolidating violations. The proposal combines the 959 violations currently used in SMS, with 14 new violations into 116 violation groups.
- Updated severity weights. The proposal simplifies violation severity weights by assigning a severity weight of either 1 or 2, rather than using the scale of 1 to 10.
- Proportionate percentiles. The proposal uses a proportionate percentile approach to reduce the impact of moving between safety event groups, which has historically resulted in significant negative swings for motor carriers.
- Adjusting intervention thresholds. The proposal increased the intervention thresholds in the Driver Fitness and Hazardous Materials safety categories to better identify carriers with higher crash rates.
- Greater emphasis on recent violations. Under the proposal, the FMCSA will not score carriers in a safety category if the carrier does not have a violation in that category in the last 12 months.
- An updated utilization factor. The FMCSA proposed increasing the utilization factor mileage cap from 200,000 to 250,000 miles.
The FMCSA did not propose any changes to the SMS to address geographic enforcement disparity.
The proposed changes to the SMS could have a significant impact on the way motor carriers are evaluated.
News from Scopelitis is intended as a report to our clients and friends on developments affecting the transportation industry. The published material does not constitute an exhaustive legal study and should not be regarded or relied upon as individual legal advice or opinion.