How a Bad CSA Score Can Make or Break Your Fleet — And What to Do About It

Have you ever known anyone who had to turn around a poor credit score? The clean-up process can be time-consuming and grueling, taking so much work and time to repair mistakes from the past. In such a situation, you certainly would not choose to then rack up credit card debt after working so hard to achieve a better score. Logically, the same should be true for fleets trying to reduce their CSA scores. But often, fleet managers may not be aware that achieving a low score is a two-step process: first, violations must be dealt with to reduce existing CSA points; and second, the CSA score must be diligently maintained with preventative and proactive safety and violations management to keep a clean record.

If your fleet isn’t actively working to maintain a low CSA score, expect a major financial hit. We have heard of fleets being passed over for profitable loads or being underpaid for loads due to their high CSA scores.

Once insurance companies see a bad score, it can be detrimental to a fleet’s bottom line. Providers use CSA scores as a measure of a fleet’s overall safety and to assess the level of risk in insuring a fleet—the riskier the fleet, the more the company will have to pay in premiums. Plus, it doesn’t take much for a fleet to enter the “red zone.” One of the fleets we work with had a driver receive two violations in a two-week period, and their premium increased by 250%. Their new rate was locked in for three years, so firing the driver wouldn’t make a difference. Some fleets who accumulate too many violations might just become uninsurable and potentially driven out of business.

High CSA scores are long-term problems which require regular maintenance and attention. Unfortunately, some fleets don’t have the internal resources to keep up with the ins and outs of professional CSA management. That’s where TVC Pro-Driver comes in. We have in-house subject matter experts with years of experience helping fleets reduce CSA points and keep clean records. TVC’s “white glove service” guarantees we are there every step of the way, from identifying disputable violations to representing drivers in court.

One of the major perks of working with TVC is our ability to tackle pre-existing violations. We have had success with examining historical violations, identifying those which can be disputed in court and getting significant points revoked. Members also have access to our best-in-class legal protection services, which means we will automatically perform CSA/DataQ challenges when tickets are reduced or dismissed. Even reducing one 15-mile-over speeding violation can have a significant impact on the fleet’s CSA score and help a fleet bring its CSA score into a healthier state.

One of our clients was under a conditional rating and underwent an audit where they were facing large fines. The fleet signed up with TVC Pro-Driver, and we reduced the fines considerably, helping them realize a rapid return on their investment. We also assisted them with setting up a safety training program to prove they were taking steps toward becoming a safer fleet. This happened six years ago, and the fleet is still a happy, safe TVC Pro-Driver fleet customer today.

Fleet executives know a low CSA score can impact profitability. If you are interested in learning more about how TVC Pro-Driver can help your fleet fight violations and generate long-term revenue, email me at nhillesheim@prodriver.com.

Article by Nick Hillesheim, TVC Pro-Driver Chief Sales Officer