7 BASICS 

Photo of a truck

It may seem repetitive to talk about safety, but it’s a central issue when we talk about the trucking industry. The issue of Safety Compliance is particularly relevant to every carrier’s operation due to the impact a bad rating or a high CSA score can have on their bottom line. 

Because of how this can affect your safety records, it is crucial to get familiar with the 7 BASICs and how a full compliance program can help you keep up with all regulations. In this context, BASICs stand for Behavior, Analysis, and Safety Improvement Categories, and they’re used by the FMCSA to determine the safety performance and compliance of a particular carrier compared to others. Here, we break down each one of the BASICs so you have the information you need to stay compliant!  

#1- Unsafe Driving: The Unsafe Driving BASIC is used to prioritize the safety of the nation’s highways. It deals with conducting interventions for repeated unsafe behaviors, including texting, speeding, use of a hand-held cell phone, reckless driving, improper lane change, and inattention. Try to eliminate any of these behaviors to keep the roads safe and your records clean. 

#2- Crash Indicator: The Crash Indicator BASIC collects data from state-reported crashes over the last 2 years. It is used to keep track of a carrier’s driving behaviors to detect those that might be dangerous on the roads. 

#3- Hours-of-Service (HOS) Compliance: The HOS Compliance BASIC is in place to make sure HOS regulations are being met. Make sure that you are aware of regulations and keep track of your hours on and off the road to remain compliant. 

#4- Vehicle Maintenance: The Vehicle Maintenance BASIC is used to make sure trucks are properly maintained for the safety of carriers and other drivers on the road. To keep the roads safe, conduct pre and post-trip inspections and take note of any repairs you might need to make before continuing your journey.

#5- Controlled Substances/ Alcohol: The Controlled Substances/Alcohol BASIC is in place to keep drugs and alcohol off the roads, as the use of them while operating a vehicle is extremely dangerous to yourself and others. Avoid substance misuse and possession in your truck to avoid extreme risk. The clearinghouse is also part of the compliance in this BASIC (this is for CDL Drivers only!) 

#6- Hazardous Materials (HM) Compliance: The Hazardous Materials Compliance BASIC focuses on the safe transportation of hazardous materials. Its regulations cover how to properly package, mark, label, placard, and load HM. Also, it includes regulations for tank specification testing, loading/unloading, attendance, and leakage.

#7- Driver Fitness: The Driver Fitness BASIC collects data on driver qualification files. The required files for this BASIC include valid commercial driver’s licenses, medical certifications, state driving records, employment applications, and annual reviews of driving records. Do your best to keep your drivers’ records complete and up-to-date for this BASIC. 

 It’s important to note that Alerts on any BASIC are only available to motor carriers that are logged into their safety profiles, so visit your safety profile to get an idea of your current safety scores and any changes you need to make to improve this area of your company. 

Simplex is Here to Help! We know that there are a lot of regulations and paperwork to keep track of, but don’t worry, we have you covered. Our services include DOT Safety Compliance, Permits, and our Simplex ELD trucking system which are cost-effective and fully equipped to make it easy to be fully compliant. Simplex is the best solution for outsourcing your safety department, no matter how new or how experienced you might be with the industry.