Stuart says: Now everyone is scrambling about CSA 2010.What are we going to do? Got to have a meeting! Conference calls? In addition, if you look at the facts clearly, you’ll note some additional pressure—of which the driver and his boss are going to take the brunt. They will have to be more responsible and their records will pinpoint weaknesses. The maintenance department should not see any real changes if it has a reasonable program, performs PMs on time and responds to the driver vehicle condition report (DVCR), the driver vehicle inspection report (DVIR) and the vehicle condition reports (VCR).

Here is what I see. No real issues, but based on the interpretation, a driver may truly end up doing what we have always wanted and preached—a detailed post-trip VCR, so we can make the vehicle ready for the next dispatch (or the dispatch delaying “pre trip”). This means the driver could possibly be late on a load because the post trip repair would turn into a dispatch delay so the tech can repair the vehicle, providing someone is available for immediate repair.

That being said, we should be preparing for some intensity in this area, because clearly drivers may decide to not drive the vehicle if they believe they will get “points.” If you are scrambling, shame on your maintenance system. Tune it up quickly. The days of the driver being dispatched with a light out and a claim it just failed 20 miles ago are gone!