The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute’s (UMTRI) recent evaluation of the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) Operational Model Test (Op-Model Test) concluded that the CSA warning letter intervention is highly effective.  Specifically, the results showed that a year after receiving a warning letter, 83% of the test carriers had resolved identified safety problems.
 
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued over 33,000 warning letters since it launched CSA last December.  While it is not required, many motor carriers send in letters and/or call Division Offices when they receive a warning letter; a number of them have reported that the letter served as a wake-up call that helped them to identify and address  their safety problems.
           
The Warning Letter Tipsheet, a useful tool for motor carriers that receive warning letters, can be found at http://csa.fmcsa.dot.gov/Documents/WarningLetterTipsheet.pdf.  FMCSA will begin enclosing one with each warning letter this fall.

A general factsheet about the warning letter intervention can be found at http://csa.fmcsa.dot.gov/Documents/CSA2010_WarningLetterFactsheet.pdf.  It provides a sample warning letter and some frequently asked questions.
           
In addition, those interested in learning more about the UMTRI evaluation can visit http://csa.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/umtri.aspx.  

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