In The News

Top 25 CSA violations

By Scott Loftis/Staff Writer
Posted Sep 13th 2011 4:10AM

What’s the most common Comprehensive Safety Analysis violation by drivers and carriers?

According to Rickey Gooch, managing partner with Legal Benefits Group, Inc., it’s failing to keep a driver’s record of duty status current.

Gooch, who is a CSA consultant and Commercial Drivers Legal Plan trainer, recently released his list of the top 25 CSA violations by drivers and carriers.

No. 2 on the list is inoperative required lamps — a direct cause of being stopped and inspected. No. 3 is a log violation and No. 4 is requiring a permitting a driver to drive after 14 hours on duty. Rounding out the top five is tires with tread depth of less than 2/32 of an inch, another direct cause for inspection.

Gooch cautions drivers and carriers to be aware of common violations and take the proper measures to avoid them.

“Anything on your truck not working under CSA will help the FMCSA put you out of business!” Gooch wrote.

Rounding out the top 25 violations are:

Speeding – a direct cause of being stopped and inspected. Brake connections with leaks or constrictions.

No or defective lighting devices or reflective devices/projected – a direct cause of being stopped and inspected.

Failing to secure brake hose/tubing against mechanical damage.

Clamp/Roto-Chamber type brake(s) out of adjustment.

No/discharged/unsecured fire extinguisher.

Inspection/repair and maintenance parts and accessories.

Automatic brake adjuster CMV manufactured on or after Oct. 20, 1994— air brake.

Oil and/or grease leak – a direct cause of being stopped and inspected.

Failing to use seat belt while operating CMV.

Inoperative head lamps – a direct cause of being stopped and inspected.

Driver failing to retain previous 7 days’ logs.

Requiring or permitting driver to drive more than 11 hours.

False report of driver’s record of duty status.

Brake tubing and hose adequacy.

Inoperative tail lamp –a direct cause of being stopped and inspected.

Stop lamp violations – a direct cause of being stopped and inspected.

Flat tire or fabric exposed – a direct cause of being stopped and inspected.

Inoperative turn signal – a direct cause of being stopped and inspected.

ABS-malfunctioning indicator lamps _ trailer manufactured on or after March 1, 1998.

To see the complete list of the top 25 violations, go to: http://www.askthetrucker.com/top-25-csa-violations-by-drivers-and-carriers

For more information about Legal Benefits Group, visit
www.GoLegalBenefits.com