The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance recently released results of its annual campaign, aimed at improving driver behavior in or around commercial vehicles. During Oct. 19-25, officers made 19,980 enforcement contacts with commercial drivers and 39,100 non-commercial drivers across the United States and Canada.
Investigators used driver performance data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s CSA algorithm to target companies for on-site interventions.
Of the carriers investigated, 23 percent received proposed Unsatisfactory Safety Ratings, versus 15 percent for the full 2014 fiscal year. Another 53 percent received proposed Conditional Safety Ratings, compared to last year’s 28 percent for FY 2014. Forty-six percent of investigations resulted in enforcement actions, in contrast to 33 percent for FY 2014.
Additionally, CVSA inspectors conducted 24,184 North American Standard Roadside Inspections, versus 44,882 in 2013’s blitz.
In the 2014 Operation, 19,980 commercial traffic enforcement contacts were made, compared to 29,048 in 2013. That number also dropped for non-commercial drivers to 39,100 contacts from 45,717 in 2013.
The percentage of commercial drivers receiving warnings or tickets issued for speeding has decreased in recent years and remains far lower than for passenger vehicle drivers.
In 2014, it was 5.8 percent for commercial drivers, down from 7.3 percent in 2013 and 10.8 percent in 2012.
The percentage of warnings and citations issued to non-CMV drivers for speeding decreased from 56 percent in 2013 to 52.3 percent in 2014.
Non-commercial drivers also received nearly triple the number of warnings and citations per contact as commercial drivers.
The top three warnings and citations issued were the same for commercial and non-commercial drivers: Speeding, failure to wear safety belts and not obeying traffic control devices.
CVSA began Operation Safe Driver in 2007. in partnership with the FMCSA and with the support of industry and safety organizations. The week includes outreach events ranging from high schools to truck rodeos.
