Here’s what you need to know to stay ahead of these upcoming changes and how they might impact your operations.

What’s Changing in the Safety Measurement System?

After years of evaluation, FMCSA is set to overhaul several key aspects of the SMS. Starting from 2023, the agency sought input from various stakeholders, including carriers, drivers, and law enforcement, to revamp its methodology. Now, these changes are on the horizon, and while the specifics won’t be implemented immediately, preparation is essential.

Goodbye to BASICs, Hello to Compliance Categories

The first notable change involves retiring the current seven Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs). Instead, they’ll be replaced by six streamlined “Compliance Categories.” One significant adjustment involves folding Controlled Substances and Alcohol violations into the Unsafe Driving category, alongside all Out-of-Service (OOS) violations.

Vehicle Maintenance Gets a Driver-Specific Update

The Vehicle Maintenance category will also see specific changes. Violations that drivers should catch during pre-trip inspections will now be labeled as “Vehicle Maintenance: Driver Observed.” This list currently includes 858 potential inspection items, although the number may change before implementation. Download the list here.

FMCSA Compliance Division representative Wesley Russell explained, “Dividing those (violations) out does a better job increasing our understanding of what violations are occurring, and gives us a head start already on determining where to go look to determine if maybe there’s smaller things on quick checks that are not being found, or maybe it’s something bigger in the overall maintenance program.”

For drivers, the classification of a maintenance violation as “Driver Observed” can have direct implications. Such violations are likely to appear in the Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP), making it more challenging for drivers who neglect pre-trip inspections to secure employment.

Changes to Violation Severity Points

Another significant adjustment involves the scoring system for violations. Under the current system, violations are weighted on a scale of 1–10. The new process simplifies this to just two levels:

• Out-of-Service (OOS) violations and driver disqualification incidents will receive a “2.”

• All other violations will receive a “1.”

Additionally, similar violations will be grouped into approximately 100 categories. For example, hours-of-service violations, such as 14-hour, 11-hour, rest break, and 70-hour rule violations, will fall under the same category. This means that only one point will be applied per inspection, even if multiple related violations are identified.

According to Russell, this change helps identify problem areas without penalizing carriers for multiple similar violations during one inspection.

When Will These Changes Take Effect?

FMCSA has not set a definitive date for the new system to go live. Several milestones, such as updating the CSA website and finalizing the methodology, still need to be addressed. For now, carriers and drivers will continue to use the existing system, and all current data in SMS will be transitioned to the new format once the changes are implemented.

Stakeholders can continue to monitor updates, including a prioritization preview, on the FMCSA’s official site here.

Staying Prepared for What’s Ahead

While initial plans included webinars in February and March 2025, these were canceled following January’s session. However, stakeholders can still access valuable resources and submit questions about the changes.

Source: The Trucker

Image Source: fleetequipmentmag

The post Prepare Now for Major FMCSA Safety Measurement System Updates appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

This proposal stems from the drug testing procedures rule that went into effect on June 1, 2023. The update was introduced to address compliance challenges tied to the implementation of oral fluid testing.

The DOT explained that its goal is to resolve “unforeseen circumstances rendering it impossible to comply with requirements” outlined in its previously finalized rule allowing oral fluid drug tests. Last month, the department had already issued an amended rule addressing other complications identified in the 2023 guidelines.

Background on the Drug-Testing Rule

By regulation, some drug testing scenarios mandate a directly observed collection. These include instances in which the original sample was invalid without medical justification or during “return-to-duty” testing.

The 2023 final rule specified that oral fluid tests should be used in certain situations where directly observed collections were necessary. However, oral fluid testing has faced delays due to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) not certifying sufficient facilities to perform these tests. According to protocol, no oral fluid drug tests can take place until HHS approves at least two laboratories—one primary lab and one for split specimen analysis.

Temporary Solution Proposed by the DOT

Given the unavailability of oral fluid testing, the DOT has outlined a temporary measure requiring directly observed urine collections for scenarios where oral testing is mandated.

“We intend this provision to require directly observed urine tests in situations where an oral fluid collection is required, but is not yet available,” the DOT clarified. The department emphasized that this amendment is meant to be “a temporary, short-term solution because there are currently no certified oral fluid laboratories.”

Sunset Clause for the Interim Rule

The DOT’s proposal includes a sunset clause. The temporary provision will expire one year after HHS announces in the Federal Register that it has certified the second oral fluid drug testing lab. The DOT will release its own Federal Register notice with the specific certification date once HHS confirms the lab meets requirements.

Conditions for Oral Fluid Testing During the Interim Period

During the interim period, if an oral fluid collection becomes feasible—such as when at least two labs have received certification, and both qualified collectors and conforming collection devices are available at a site—oral fluid testing must be conducted instead of urine collection.

Public Comment Period

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is actively seeking public comments on the proposed rule. Feedback will be accepted until January 8, 2025. Stakeholders are encouraged to provide input during this period.

For more information or to submit a comment, visit the FMCSA’s website.

Source: Commercial Carrier Journal

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