Your CSA (Compliance, Safety, Accountability) score is the FMCSA's measurement of your safety performance as a motor carrier. Many freight brokers check CSA scores before approving new carriers. A high CSA score can block you from working with major brokers even if your carrier packet is perfect.
What is the CSA program?
CSA is the FMCSA's system for identifying high-risk carriers and prioritizing them for roadside inspections and enforcement actions. It uses data from roadside inspections, crash reports, and investigation results to calculate scores across seven safety categories (called BASICs).
The 7 CSA BASIC categories
| BASIC Category | What It Measures | Intervention Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Unsafe Driving | Speeding, reckless driving, improper lane changes | 65% (passenger: 50%) |
| HOS Compliance | Hours of service, log book violations | 65% (passenger: 65%) |
| Driver Fitness | Invalid CDL, medical certificate issues | 80% |
| Controlled Substances/Alcohol | Drug/alcohol violations | Any violation |
| Vehicle Maintenance | Brakes, tires, lights, equipment defects | 80% |
| Hazmat Compliance | Hazmat regulations (if applicable) | 80% |
| Crash Indicator | Crash history relative to peers | 65% |
How brokers use your CSA score
Many freight brokers run carriers through the FMCSA's Safety Measurement System (SMS) before approving their carrier packet. If your scores are above intervention thresholds in any BASIC, some brokers will decline to work with you. Very high scores in Unsafe Driving or Controlled Substances are particularly problematic.
How to check your CSA scores
Go to ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/sms and search by your DOT number. You'll see your scores in each BASIC category compared to other carriers of similar size and operation type.
How to keep your CSA scores low
- Always conduct thorough pre-trip and post-trip inspections — vehicle maintenance violations are common
- Never drive fatigued or violate hours of service rules
- Address any out-of-service violations immediately
- If you receive an inspection violation you believe is incorrect, file a DataQ challenge at dataqs.fmcsa.dot.gov
- Violations drop off after 24 months — a clean record over time improves your scores naturally