CSA BASIC Scores Explained (and How to Challenge Violations in DataQs)

CSA scores are percentiles that FMCSA's Safety Measurement System (SMS) calculates from your roadside inspections, crash reports and investigation results over the last two years. They rank you against carriers with a similar amount of data in seven categories called BASICs. If your percentile in a BASIC reaches FMCSA's intervention threshold, you may get a warning letter or an investigation. If the data behind a score is wrong, you can challenge it through FMCSA's DataQs system.

What the Safety Measurement System is

CSA stands for Compliance, Safety, Accountability. It is FMCSA's program for finding and working with carriers that may have safety problems. The SMS is the scoring tool inside CSA.

According to FMCSA's CSA "Measure" page, the SMS uses roadside inspection and crash data from the last two years, plus investigation results. FMCSA updates it once a month. The SMS Methodology calls the SMS FMCSA's "workload prioritization tool." In other words, it helps FMCSA decide which carriers to look at first.

CSA scores are not the same as your safety rating. A rating (Satisfactory, Conditional or Unsatisfactory) only comes from an investigation. If you have a Conditional rating, see our guide on how to upgrade a Conditional safety rating.

The 7 BASICs

BASIC stands for Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Category. The SMS Methodology defines them this way:

There is also an Insurance/Other Indicator. It is based on investigation findings, like operating without required insurance, and it is not public.

How inspections and crashes feed your scores

You don't need the math to manage your scores. You do need to know how the pieces fit together.

Severity weighting

Each violation that counts in the SMS has a severity weight. More serious violations carry more weight. Within certain BASICs, a violation that led to an out-of-service order gets extra weight. The SMS Methodology also caps the total severity weight from any single inspection in any single BASIC, so one bad inspection cannot add unlimited points to one category.

Crashes are weighted too. Crashes with injuries, deaths or a hazmat release count more than tow-away-only crashes.

Time weighting

Newer events count more. FMCSA's methodology gives a time weight of 3 to events in the past six months, 2 to events from six to 12 months ago, and 1 to events from 12 to 24 months ago. After 24 months, an event drops out of the SMS.

This means a bad month hurts most right away and then fades. It also means improvements take time to show.

Clean inspections count

For most BASICs, your measure is spread across your "relevant inspections." The methodology says these include inspections with no violations in that BASIC. So every clean inspection helps dilute older violations.

Peer groups and percentiles

The SMS places you in a group with carriers that have a similar number of inspections or crashes. It then ranks you within that group. A percentile of 70 means your measure is worse than 70% of carriers in your group. Higher is worse.

You also need enough data to get a percentile. If you have only a few inspections, you may have violations listed but no percentile in that BASIC.

Intervention thresholds

If your percentile is at or above the threshold for a BASIC, you get a symbol in that BASIC and FMCSA may prioritize you for action. These are the thresholds in the current SMS Methodology (June 2026 edition):

The methodology explains that Unsafe Driving, Crash Indicator and HOS Compliance have the strongest link to crash risk, so their thresholds are lower. Passenger and hazmat carriers have lower thresholds because their crashes can have worse results. FMCSA's methodology defines which carriers fall into the passenger and hazmat groups.

A carrier can also be prioritized if an investigation found acute or critical violations within the past 12 months.

What FMCSA may do

FMCSA's CSA interventions page lists warning letters, targeted roadside inspections, offsite investigations and onsite investigations. Investigations can lead to a Notice of Violation, a Notice of Claim with civil penalties, or in serious cases an out-of-service order. If you received one of those, our guide to out-of-service order reinstatement explains the next steps.

What's public and what's hidden

Since the FAST Act of 2015, FMCSA does not show SMS percentiles and alerts for property carriers to the public. The SMS Methodology says property carriers must log in to see their complete SMS results.

Here is what that means in practice:

• Hidden for property carriers: BASIC percentiles and prioritization symbols.
• Hidden for everyone: Crash Indicator, Hazardous Materials Compliance and the Insurance/Other Indicator.
• Still public: Your inspection and violation history. Brokers, shippers and insurers can see it.
• Passenger carriers: Most SMS results remain public, except the hidden categories above.

Use our USDOT check tool to see your public company snapshot.

Proposed SMS changes: what is current

FMCSA has approved changes to the SMS. In a November 20, 2024 Federal Register notice, it responded to comments on its 2023 proposal. FMCSA's Prioritization Preview site says the BASICs will be renamed "compliance categories." It also says Vehicle Maintenance will be split into two categories, and Controlled Substances/Alcohol violations will move into Unsafe Driving.

As of this writing, those changes are not live. The preview site says carriers should keep using the current SMS website until the updated system takes effect, and it gives no launch date. The current SMS Methodology still uses the seven BASICs and the thresholds shown above. We will update this guide when FMCSA launches the new system.

How to challenge violations in DataQs

DataQs is FMCSA's online system for requesting a review of federal and state data. You file a Request for Data Review (RDR). Carriers, drivers and others can use it.

When a DataQs challenge makes sense

• A violation was written in error, or the facts on the report are wrong.
• The inspection or crash was assigned to the wrong carrier.
• A violation was cited twice or under the wrong regulation.
• A citation tied to a violation was dismissed or you were found not guilty in court.
• A crash was not preventable and fits an eligible crash type (see the next section).

How the process works

1. Create an account at dataqs.fmcsa.dot.gov.
2. Pick the right record and the correct request type.
3. Explain the error clearly. Stick to facts. Cite the regulation and say exactly what is wrong.
4. Attach proof. This can include photos, repair receipts, ELD records, bills of lading, dispatch records or court documents.
5. Track the request and respond quickly if the reviewer asks for more.

Most inspection and crash data comes from the states. FMCSA's DataQs help materials say requests about state-reported data go to the state agency that reported it. FMCSA has also rolled out updated DataQs requirements that require states to use a multi-stage review process.

Court results

The SMS Methodology explains what happens when a citation goes to court. If the citation was dismissed or you were found not guilty, the violation is removed. If you were convicted of a different charge, the severity weight is set to 1. You must submit certified court documents through DataQs. This applies to inspections on or after August 23, 2014.

The Crash Preventability Determination Program

Normally, every reportable crash counts in your Crash Indicator, even if your driver did nothing wrong. FMCSA's Crash Preventability Determination Program (CPDP) lets you submit evidence that an eligible crash was not preventable.

Key points:

• FMCSA reviews 21 specific crash types. Examples include your truck being struck in the rear or hit by a driver going the wrong way.
• FMCSA expanded the eligible crash types on December 1, 2024. Crashes on or after that date use the newer list.
• You submit the request through DataQs with the police accident report and any other proof, such as photos or video.
• If FMCSA finds the crash not preventable, the SMS lists it as "Reviewed – Not Preventable" and leaves it out of your Crash Indicator measure and percentile.

Practical steps to lower your scores

There's no shortcut. Scores improve when fewer violations happen and older ones age out. These steps help:

1. Check your SMS data every month. Log in and look for errors as soon as new data posts.
2. Fix the biggest driver of your scores first. Often it is one BASIC and a few repeat violations.
3. Run real pre-trip inspections. Lights, tires and brakes are common Vehicle Maintenance problem areas. Our vehicle maintenance compliance service can set up a program.
4. Audit hours of service. Review ELD data weekly and coach drivers early. See our hours of service compliance support.
5. Keep driver files complete. Missing medical cards and expired licenses hit Driver Fitness.
6. Coach on speed and phone use. Unsafe Driving has one of the lowest thresholds.
7. File DataQs requests for real errors and CPDP requests for eligible crashes.
8. Prepare drivers for inspections. Our guide to DOT roadside inspection levels explains what officers check.

How JMM Compliance can help

We review your SMS data, find which violations are driving your scores and help you build a plan to bring them down. We can help you prepare DataQs and CPDP requests when you have the documents to back them up. If FMCSA sends a warning letter or schedules an investigation, our DOT audit preparation and compliance management services help you get your records in order. We can't promise a DataQs outcome, but we can help you send a clear, complete request.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Requirements depend on your operation; confirm details with FMCSA or a qualified professional.