How to Check Your CSA Score, Inspection History, and BASICs
Let me show you… where your CSA and inspection data actually lives, how to read it without guessing, and what matters most when it comes to inspections, audits, and long-term FMCSA compliance.
Source data comes from official FMCSA systems. Access to certain records, such as PSP reports, requires identity verification and a paid request through FMCSA. This page explains how to access and understand your own records.
What a CSA score really is (and what it’s not)
CSA stands for Compliance, Safety, Accountability. It’s how FMCSA tracks safety performance based on inspections, violations, and crashes.
Think about it like this… CSA is not a single “grade.” It’s a collection of data points that show patterns over time. One bad inspection doesn’t ruin you — repeated issues do.
Where to check your CSA score and inspection history
FMCSA does not hide this information, but they also don’t explain it well. These are the official systems drivers and carriers use to review their own safety data.
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FMCSA Safety Measurement System (SMS):
Used by carriers to monitor their own BASIC categories, inspections, and safety trends. -
FMCSA Company Snapshot:
Public-facing overview of USDOT information, inspection counts, and limited safety data.
Important to know: CSA and SMS data is designed primarily for carriers to monitor their own safety performance. PSP reports are a paid FMCSA service available to drivers and carriers for viewing their own history only. You cannot access another driver’s PSP or a carrier’s internal CSA profile without authorization.
Individual drivers do not receive a personal “CSA score,” but inspections follow the driver and directly affect the carrier they operate under.
Understanding the BASIC categories (plain English)
BASICs are the categories FMCSA uses to group violations. You don’t need to memorize them — you need to understand which ones actually hurt you.
- Unsafe Driving – speeding, reckless driving
- Hours-of-Service Compliance – logs, ELD issues
- Vehicle Maintenance – lights, brakes, tires
- Controlled Substances & Alcohol
- Hazardous Materials (if applicable)
- Crash Indicator
So basically… most CSA problems come from the same two areas: vehicle maintenance and log compliance.
How to actually improve your CSA standing
Improving your CSA profile isn’t about fighting FMCSA — it’s about tightening systems so violations don’t happen in the first place.
- Perform consistent pre-trip and post-trip inspections
- Fix paperwork and log issues before inspections find them
- Review inspection reports, not just citations
- Track trends instead of reacting to one-off events
All right, so… improvement starts with visibility. If you don’t know what inspectors are seeing, you can’t correct it.
Helpful tools to stay ahead
Once you understand your own safety data, these tools help you stay organized and avoid preventable compliance problems down the road.
Driver PSP Record (the $10 FMCSA report most drivers don’t know exists)
Okay now… if you’re a driver and you want to see what carriers review during hiring, you’re looking for your PSP (Pre-Employment Screening Program) record.
A PSP report is pulled from official FMCSA data and shows your roadside inspection history and reportable crash data used in pre-employment screening. Drivers can request their own PSP directly from FMCSA for $10.
Important distinction: PSP is driver-specific and self-access only. CSA/SMS data is carrier-focused. Both systems matter, but they serve different purposes within FMCSA compliance and enforcement.
More FMCSA compliance tools
This page covers CSA, inspections, and PSP records. If you need to verify broker status, ELD compliance, USDOT records, or other FMCSA requirements, use the full Compliance Tools hub below.