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BASICs OVERVIEW 4


How does FMCSA calculate the ISS score? What are Alerts?


The BASICs, CSA and ISS scores are all data-driven. The calculations FMCSA goes through can be complex – but there are four aspects of this process you should understand.


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When determining a carrier’s BASIC percentile, FMCSA applies a mathematical formula to a carrier’s violations in the last 24 months. Violations that are more recent have greater impact in the equation, as do violations that are more severe. This is commonly referred to as Time and Severity weighting.


Having recent “clean” inspections will tip the scales in your favor as older inspections, those with violations, age out. Similarly, even minor violations can be an improvement over past problems, particularly those that placed a truck or driver out of service (OOS). Improvement in your scores may require close attention over several months, but you are not stuck in the past.


You do need enforcement inspections. Because inspections produce the data FMCSA uses to calculate ISS scores, FMCSA will prioritize for inspection those motor carriers who simply do not yet have enough inspections to generate a safety profile.


This is another opportunity to improve your scores. Reach out to your local state commercial vehicle enforcement agency and see whether they will conduct voluntary truck inspections. If not – they may be short on manpower – perhaps they do give demonstrations to motor carrier groups. You can learn directly from the inspectors themselves.


FMCSA applies an Alert symbol to a carrier’s BASIC when the carrier’s percentile is at or above the “Intervention Threshold” established for that category. It can also apply when the carrier has Acute and/or Critical Violations. These are one- time occurrences discovered during an investigation of noncompliance so severe that immediate corrective action is required. The Alert triggers direct contact by federal or state officials with the motor carrier.


The FMCSA “intervention” contact may simply be a warning letter that the carrier needs to pay closer attention to one area of safety compliance or it may entail a targeted or full compliance review. Interventions can result in fines, penalties and, in severe cases, disqualification as a motor carrier. Alerts are not just an opportunity to improve your scores, they are an alarm bell that improvement must occur. Heed that alarm by looking closely at the sections below for any BASIC where you have an Alert.


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