MICHAEL COWLES

FMCSA tracks carrier performance through its Safety Measurement System (SMS), which scores carriers across six categories called BASICs. Each score is a percentile from 0 to 100, based on inspection and crash data from the past 24 months.

A score of 65 means the carrier performed worse than 65% of its peers. Anything above 75% can trigger FMCSA alerts or investigations. Brokers vetting new carriers should pay attention to scores above 50%.

Unsafe driving

Speeding, reckless driving, improper lane changes, seatbelt violations. All based on what officers find during roadside inspections.

HOS / Fatigue

Hours-of-service violations, logbook problems, driving past the allowed limits. Fatigued driving is one of the top causes of truck crashes in the US.

Driver fitness

Licensing problems, expired medical certificates, and other driver qualification issues.

Controlled substances

Drug and alcohol testing violations, possession, or impairment.

Vehicle maintenance

Brake problems, tire issues, lighting defects, load securement failures. Caught during the vehicle portion of roadside inspections.

Crash indicator

Based on crash history from state-reported data. Higher percentile means more crashes relative to the carrier's size and mileage.