What does the FMCSA Safety Measurement System measure, and why is it being updated?
The FMCSA Safety Measurement System (SMS) measures performance across seven Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASIC), including unsafe driving, hours-of-service compliance, vehicle maintenance, controlled substances and alcohol, hazardous materials compliance, driver fitness, and crash indicators. The SMS is designed to identify motor carriers that pose a safety risk by analyzing data collected from inspections, crash reports, and investigation results.
The SMS is being updated to make it easier for carriers to understand their BASIC scores and what is expected of them, ultimately enhancing road safety. These updates aim to:
- Improve the accuracy and fairness of safety ratings.
- Simplify the methodology, making it more transparent and easier to understand.
- Focus enforcement resources more effectively on high-risk carriers
What changes are coming to the Safety Measurement System (SMS) in 2025?
Here’s what’s coming to the SMS in 2025:
- Streamlined BASIC categories: Some of the categories are being combined or reorganized to better focus on key safety risks.
- Simpler violation severity weights: They’re making the system less complicated by cleaning up how violations are scored to eliminate unnecessary complexity and improve consistency.
- Prioritization of Carriers: High-risk carriers will be flagged more accurately, so enforcement can focus where it’s needed most.
- Transparency: The FMCSA is working on making it easier for carriers to understand their scores and what they need to do to improve.
What are FMCSA violation severity weights, and why are they being simplified in the Safety Measurement System (SMS) update?
Violation severity weights are numbers assigned to specific violations during inspections or investigations. These weights reflect how serious FMCSA considers the violation in terms of safety risks. The system has gained criticism over recent years for being too complex and carriers often feel it’s unfair. In response, the FMCSA aims to use a simplified scale to make the system more transparent and predictable. Simplifying violation severity weights will provide carriers with a clearer understanding of how violations impact their scores and help them focus on improving areas that truly affect safety.
What changes are being made to BASIC scores, and how will they affect carriers?
The 2025 Safety Measurement System (SMS) update will revise how BASIC scores are calculated and presented:
- Categories are being consolidated: Some areas will be grouped differently to better reflect actual risks. For instance, some inspection and violation types may be moved between categories to make them better aligned with risk factors.
- Better scoring: Only violations that are directly tied to crashes will count heavily, which means minor issues won’t weigh carriers down as much.
- More transparency: Carriers will get clearer information about their scores and how they’re calculated, along with clearer guidance on corrective actions.
For one, it’ll be easier to understand what’s driving your score and where you need to improve. Plus, carriers who run safe operations won’t feel as penalized for small or low-risk issues.
What do the 2025 changes to the Safety Measurement System (SMS) mean for carriers’ compliance and safety scores?
These changes are a big deal for carriers because they’ll shift how compliance and safety are monitored.
- Stricter focus on safety: If you’re a high-risk carrier with safety issues, expect more enforcement attention, encouraging safer operations across the industry.
- Greater fairness: If you’ve been running a safe and compliant operation, the changes should work in your favor by making the system fairer.
- More transparency: The updated SMS also makes it easier to see where you’re doing well and where you need to improve, which gives you a clearer roadmap to better scores.
For carriers, the changes represent an opportunity to align with updated compliance standards and demonstrate their commitment to safety.
How can carriers prepare for the 2025 Safety Measurement System (SMS) updates?
There are several steps you can take to ensure compliance with the new SMS updates:
- Learn about the changes: Take some time to review the proposed update to BASIC, violation weights, and scoring so you’re not caught off guard.
- Audit your safety performance: Go through past inspections, violations, and BASIC scores to spot any patterns or areas where you could improve.
- Train your team: Make sure your drivers and managers understand safety protocols and the new expectations with the updated system.
- Step up vehicle maintenance: Regular inspections and timely repairs can help avoid unnecessary violations.
- Use technology: Tools like GPS tracking and compliance software to monitor safety metrics and streamline reporting.
- Stay informed: Attend webinars and read FMCSA materials to stay informed on implementation timelines and detailed guidance.
- Work with a safety consultant: If you’re unsure about where to start, seek expert advice from a partner like Fundamental Labor Strategies to implement best practices.
Fundamental Labor Strategies helps our clients navigate changes within the industry. Contact us today at 215-862-7280 to discuss how we can help you.