• Vehicle defects and cargo securement failures are some violations under the vehicle maintenance BASIC.

Vehicle maintenance is a critical component of any motor carrier’s safety program, and it’s vital to driver safety on the road. Under the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program, improper vehicle maintenance or cargo securement could have a hefty impact on a company and its drivers.

The Vehicle Maintenance Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Category (BASIC) is used to measure driver and carrier performance related to vehicle failures, incidents, or cargo securement failures due to improper or inadequate maintenance or securement. Among the violations under this BASIC:

• Defective brakes, lights, and other mechanical components;
• Failure to make required repairs;
• Failure to inspect the vehicle or prepare inspection reports;
• Failing to properly secure the load; and
• Operating an out-of-service vehicle.

Performance on vehicle maintenance is measured using violations of certain Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations recorded on roadside inspection reports during vehicle inspections.