CSA Points Value Guide

CSA points are assessed for DOT violations that a truck driver receives during a roadside inspection. Use this guide to learn more about CSA points and find the point values associated with each violation.

Each time a trucker is pulled over and inspected by a law enforcement officer, they run the risk of receiving violations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). The rule book is about 400 pages long and all trucking companies are expected to be in compliance with all regulations at all times.

What is CSA?

CSA or Compliance, Safety and Accountability is the current safety compliance and enforcement program of the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The program was launched in 2010 and is designed to hold both trucking companies and their drivers accountable for their role in safe trucking operations.

We monitor your CSA score changes and assign corrective action training based on new roadside inspections as part of our monthly DOT compliance services!

How are CSA Points Calculated?

Under the CSA program, the FMCSA uses a points system to help them determine which trucking companies should be prioritized for further enforcement action (i.e. offsite or onsite compliance reviews from DOT officers, etc.).

Trucks are inspected during a “roadside inspection” which can take place when a driver gets pulled over by law enforcement or if they get flagged for further inspection at a weigh station.

Each violation holds more “weight” in the CSA points system depending on how severe the violation is on a scale from 1 (least severe) to 10 (most severe).

If a driver or truck is found to be in violation of an FMCSA regulation (FMCSR), then they are issued a citation or a warning. At the end of each roadside inspection, the driver will receive a DVER, (Driver Vehicle Examination Report) that is kind of like an inspection report card.

Each violation holds more “weight” in the CSA points system depending on how severe the violation is on a scale from 1 (least severe) to 10 (most severe). The more severe a violation, the higher the associated severity points.

There is also a “time weight” associated with each violation. The time weight scale is between 1 and 3. Newer violations are weighted higher.

Violation received less than 6 months ago: 3 points

Violation received between 7 and 12 months ago: 2 points

Violation received between 12 and 24 months ago: 1 point

So, the company that the driver works for would then have 30 (10 severity x 3 time) CSA points added to their Unsafe Driving CSA score.

Let’s take a look at the most common CSA violations with their associated severity points:

Unsafe Driving CSA Points

Unsafe driving violations are received when a driver isn’t operating in compliance with the FMCSA Unsafe Driving regulations. As you could imagine, this deals with violations like speeding, reckless or careless driving, using a cell phone or texting while driving and many other violations.

Unsafe Driving Violations: 10 CSA Points

• 390.17DT Operating a CMV while texting
• 392.2R Reckless driving
• 392.2-SLLS4 State/Local Laws – Speeding 15 or more miles per hour over the speed limit.
• 392.2-SLLSWZ State/Local Laws – Speeding work/construction zone.
• 392.2-SLLT State/Local Laws – Operating a CMV while texting
• 392.80(a) Driving a commercial motor vehicle while Texting 392.82(a)(1) Using a hand-held mobile telephone while operating a CMV

Unsafe Driving Violations: 7 Points

• 392.2-SLLS3 State/Local Laws – Speeding 11-14 miles per hour over the speed limit.
• 392.16 Failing to use seat belt while operating a CMV

Unsafe Driving Violations: 5 Points

• 392.2C Failure to obey traffic control device
• 392.2FC Following too close
• 392.2-INAT Inattentive Driving
• 392.2LC Improper lane change
• 392.2-ML Failure to Maintain Lane

Hours of Services CSA Points

Hours of service violations are related to a how well a truck driver manages their available hours of driving time and off-duty time. Truck drivers can typically only drive up to 11 hours each day and those hours must be within a consecutive 14 hour time window. They must also take a 30 minute break within 8 hours of when they start driving.

Hours of Service Violations: 10 CSA Points

• 395.13(d) Driving after being declared out-of-service for HOS violation(s)
• 392.3 Operating a CMV while ill or fatigued
• 392.3-FPROP Fatigue – Operate a property-carrying CMV while impaired by fatigue.

Hours of Service Violations: 7 Points

• 395.3A1R 11 hour rule violation (Property)
• 395.3A2R 14 hour rule violation (Property)
• 395.3A2-PROP Driving beyond 14 hour duty period (Property carrying vehicle)
• 395.3A3-PROP Driving beyond 11 hour driving limit. (Property Carrying Vehicle) 395.3(a)(3)(ii)⁶ Driving beyond 8 hour driving limit since the end of the last on duty, off duty, or sleeper period of at least 30 minutes
• 395.3B1-PROP Driving after 60 hours on duty in a 7 day period. (Property carrying vehicle)
• 395.3B2 Driving after 70 hours on duty in a 8 day period. (Property carrying vehicle)
• 395.3BR 60/70 – hour rule violation (Property)
• 395.8(e) False report of drivers record of duty status
• 395.8E1PC False Record of Duty Status – Improper use of Personal Conveyance Exception

Hours of Service Violations: 5 Points

• 395.8(a) No drivers record of duty status when one is required
• 395.A-ELD ELD – No record of duty status (ELD Required)
• 395.8A1 Not using the appropriate method to record hours of service
• 395.8(f)(1) Driver’s record of duty status not current

Vehicle Maintenance CSA Points

There are more vehicle maintenance regulations (and violations) than any other section of the FMCSA regulations. As the name suggests, violations in this CSA BASIC category relate directly to how well the trucking company’s vehicles, trucks and trailers are maintained.

Vehicle Maintenance Violations: 10 CSA Points

• 396.3A1BOS BRAKES OUT OF SERVICE: The number of defective brakes is equal to or greater than 20% of the service brakes on the vehicle or combination
• 392.63 Pushing/towing a loaded bus
• 392.64 Riding within the closed body of a commercial vehicle without exits
• 396.9(c)(2) Operating an out-of-service vehicle

Vehicle Maintenance Violations: 8 Points

• 393.75(a) Flat tire or fabric exposed
• 393.75(a)(1) Tire-ply or belt material exposed
• 393.75(a)(2) Tire-tread and/or sidewall separation
• 393.75(a)(3) Tire-flat and/or audible air leak
• 393.75(a)(4) Tire-cut exposing ply and/or belt material
• 393.75(b) Tire-front tread depth less than 4/32 of inch on a major tread groove
• 393.75B-OOS Tire-front tread depth less than 2/32 of inch on a major tread groove
• 396.3A1T Tires (general)

Vehicle Maintenance Violations: 7 Points

• 393.100(b) Leaking/spilling/blowing/falling cargo
• 393.102(c) Exceeding working load limit for tiedowns
• 393.1XX Improper Securement of pretty much any type of load.

Vehicle Maintenance Violations: 6 Points

• 393.9BRKLAMP Inoperative Brake Lamps
• 393.9H Inoperable head lamps
• 393.9T Inoperable tail lamp
• 393.9TS Inoperative turn signal 
• 393.25(f) Stop lamp violations
• 393.207(a) Axle positioning parts defective/missing

If you have an issue with any lighting violations, check out our ultimate guide to avoiding lighting violations!

Vehicle Maintenance Violations: 4 Points

• 396.17(c) Operating a CMV without proof of a periodic inspection
• 393.47(d) Clamp or Roto type brake out-of-adjustment
• 393.45 Brake Hosing and Tube Adequacy
• 393.45(b)(2) Brake hose or tubing chafing and/or kinking
• 393.45(b)(2)UV Brake Hose or Tubing Chafing and/or Kinking Under Vehicle
• 393.45B2PC Brake Hose or Tubing Chafing and/or Kinking – Connection to Power Unit

Click here to learn how to prevent brake hose and tube violations!

Driver Fitness CSA Points

Driver fitness violations mostly deal with driver licensing and credentials. Here we’ll find violations associated with drivers operating on suspended driver’s licenses and other medical certificate related issues.

Driver Fitness Violations: 10 CSA Points

390.35B-MED Operating a CMV while possessing a fraudulent medical certificate

Driver Fitness Violations: 8 Points

• 383.23(a)(2) Operating a CMV without a CDL
• 383.51A-SIN Driving a CMV while CDL is suspended for a safety-related or unknown reason and in state of driver’s license issuance.
• 383.51(a) Driving a CMV while disqualified from holding a CDL
• 391.11B5-DNL Driver does not have a valid operator’s license for the CMV being operated.
• 391.11(b)(7) Driver disqualified from operating CMV
• 391.15(a) Driving a CMV while disqualified

Driver Fitness Violations: 5 Points

• 391.15A-SIN Driving a CMV while disqualified. Suspended for safety-related or unknown reason and in the state of drivers license issuance.
• 383.51A-NSIN Driving a CMV while CDL is suspended for a non-safety-related reason and in the state of driver’s license issuance.
• 383.51A-SOUT Driving a CMV while CDL is suspended for safety-related or unknown reason and outside the state of driver’s license issuance
• 391.15A-NSIN Driving a CMV while disqualified. Suspended for non-safety-related reason and in the state of driver’s license issuance.
• 391.15A-SOUT Driving a CMV while disqualified. Suspended for a safety-related or unknown reason and outside the driver’s license state of issuance.

Drug and Alcohol CSA Points

Operating a commercial motor vehicle while under the influence or in possession of controlled substances and/or alcoholic beverages is strictly forbidden.

As you can see by the associated point values below, these violations are treated very severely.

Drug and Alcohol Violations: 10 CSA Points

• 392.4(a) Driver uses or is in possession of drugs
• 392.4A-POS Driver on duty and in possession of a narcotic drug / amphetamine
• 392.4A-UI Driver on duty and under the influence of, or using a narcotic drug / amphetamine, which renders the driver incapable of safe operation.

Drug and Alcohol Violations: 5 Points

392.5(a) Driver consuming an intoxicating beverage within 4 hours before operating a motor vehicle.

Hazardous Materials CSA Points

As you might imagine, this CSA BASIC category deals exclusively with the transportation of hazardous materials. Most trucking companies (and drivers) don’t haul hazmat loads specifically due to the large amount of additional regulations that must be followed.

Hazardous Materials Violations: 10 CSA Points

• 173.24(b) Failed to meet general package requirements
• 173.24((b))(1) Release of Hazardous Materials from package
• 173.24(b)(a) Bulk package outage or filling limit requirements
• 173.24(b)(d)(2) Exceeding the maximum weight of bulk package rating as shown on specification plate 173.24(c) Packaging not authorized by the Hazardous Materials Regulations
• 173.24(f)(1) Closures for packagings must not be open or leaking
• 177.834(a) Package not secure in vehicle

Hazardous Materials Violations: 8 Points

• 171.2(f) Transporting Hazardous Materials not in accordance with this part
• 171.2(g) Cargo tank (packaging) does not comply with Hazardous Materials Regulations
• 173.35(a) Intermediate bulk container requirements
• 173.36 Large bulk packages general requirements

Hazardous Materials Violations: 7 Points

• 173.32A2 Portable tank periodic testing
• 180.205(c) Periodic requalification of cylinders
• 180.405(b) Cargo tank specifications

Point Hazardous Materials Violations: 6 Points

• 397.7(b) Improperly parked hazmat vehicle
• 397.15 HM vehicle fueling violation
• 177.834(c) Smoking while loading or unloading Class 1, Class 3, Class 4, Class 5, or Division 2.1 Hazardous Material
• 397.5(a) Unattended explosives 1.1/1.2/1.3

Hazardous Materials Violations: 5 Points

• 172.504(a) Vehicle not placarded as required
• 172.506(a)(1) Placards not affixed to vehicle
• 172.303(a) Prohibited HM marking on package
• 172.302 Marking requirements bulk packagings
• 171.2(c) Failing to comply with Hazardous Materials regulations when offering hazardous materials for transportation.
• 171.2(k) Representing vehicle with Hazardous Materials with none present
• 172.328(d) Fail to mark manual remote shutoff device with “Emergency Shutoff”.
• 172.516(a) Placard not visible from direction it faces
• 172.516(c)(1) Placard not securely affixed or attached

CSA Points List

We created this post because it’s so hard to find this document that the FMCSA created and then buried on their website. But, this is NOT an all inclusive list!

If you would like to grab a copy of the Excel spreadsheet that outlines all of these violations and point values, simply click this link and select the resource titled ” SMS Methodology: Appendix A”.

If you would like a nicer PDF version, click this link:

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