Understand Three Important Trucking Tools For Hiring and Roadside Inspections

The DataQ System can help fight and remove incorrect records that could be keeping your scores or insurance rates high.

Every year the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) releases the top concerns affecting the trucking industry. As expected, the latest survey revealed that the shortage of qualified truck drivers and cost of trucking insurance remain top concerns.

These issues will continue  to be a problem for years to come. However, there are tools that fleet managers, owner-operators, and truck drivers should understand that could help simplify the hiring process and possibly reduce trucking insurance rates.

These tools include:

• Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) Reports
• Inspection Selection System (ISS) Scores, and
• the DataQ Process

PSP Reports Used In Trucker Hiring Decisions

The FMCSA created the Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) to help carriers make more informed hiring decisions. This database includes a commercial driver’s five-year crash and three-year inspection history from the FMCSA Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) which is largely the same data used in the carriers CSA performance measurements.

PSP records are simply a history of violations without scoring like in the CSA score system and are available for companies hiring commercial truck drivers.

Fleets can use the three-year roadside violation history and 5-year crash history alongside a driver’s employment history to analyze a their potential driving habits.

These reports are also valuable for truck drivers looking for jobs, which keep them informed of their current record  and any potentially incorrect data that could be challenged and removed with the DataQ process. A driver likely looking for a new job should pull a report at least twice per year to verify their record is accurate.

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ISS Scores Helps Roadside Inspectors Pull Drivers For Inspection

Usually, inspectors look for physical defects and spot visible violations that warrant a truck to be pulled over for a full roadside inspection.

However, inspectors have additional tools to determine if a roadside inspection is recommended.

When rolling into weight scales, inspectors’ computer terminals quickly pull basic information on the truck, driver and company. One of the data points is the “Inspection Selection System” or “ISS” Score.

These scores combine CSA score percentage, out-of-service rates, crash data, and previous audit information. If the ISS Score is high, an inspection is warranted. If the score is not too high and considered “optional”, it still may be worth it to an inspector to look at the truck pulling through.

Fleets can find their ISS score through their FMCSA Portal or if logging into the SMS system.

DataQ is Used To Clear Incorrect Information Harming Your Fleet

If you notice incorrect information in your PSP report or the CSA Safety Measurement System (SMS), there is a tool—DataQ System—to help fight and remove these records that could be keeping your scores or insurance rates high.

When you want to challenge an incorrect violation, a crash that meets the challenge guidelines, or an inspection assigned to you by mistake, you can achieve this through the DataQ process.

DataQ is the online system for drivers, motor carriers, Federal and State agencies, and others to file concerns about Federal and State data maintained in MCMIS and released to the public by Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

The most important part of the DataQ Process is gathering the best supporting documents when making your case. This may include ELD data, video records, and more. There is a limit to how many times you can challenge that same violation, so being thorough the first time will help you win your case.

If you have an eligible crash that occurred on or after June 1, 2017, you may submit a challenge with compelling evidence to prove the crash was Not Preventable. During the Demonstration Program, eligible crashes are limited to the following:

• Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) was struck by a motorist driving under the influence of illegal substance (or related offense)
• CMV was struck by a motorist driving the wrong direction
• CMV was struck in the rear
• CMV was struck while it was legally stopped or parked, including when the vehicle is unattended
• CMV struck an individual committing, or attempting to commit, suicide by stepping or driving in front of the CMV
• CMV sustained disabling damage after striking an animal in the roadway
• Crash as a result of an infrastructure failure, falling trees, rocks, or debris
• CMV was struck by cargo or equipment from another vehicle

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What can CNS do for me in the DataQ system?

We have built great rapport with the FMCSA challenging DataQ’s and have the experience and expertise to determine what can and cannot be challenged.

Our DOT Compliance Specialists are well-versed in the FMCSA rules and regulations, as well as what an officer is required to note on their report.

Whether you would like our DOT Specialists to challenge one DataQ or conduct a monthly analysis of all roadside violations to potentially challenge, we have a cost effective solution for your company.

We can:

• Request copies of an Inspection Report
• Contest incorrect, multiple-listed, or missing IEP/shipper information.
• Citation with associated violation
• Assigned to wrong motor carrier or driver
• Challenging a DOT Audit/Investigation
• Challenging a fine as a result of a Notice of Claim or Notice of Violation
• Crash duplicates, record missing, crash report contains incorrect information, crash preventability program*