Alert status (CSA)
Alert status is the FMCSA SMS flag indicating a carrier's percentile score in a BASIC category exceeds the threshold for that carrier's freight class (65th percentile for general property, 60th for hazmat and passenger).
Alert status is displayed as a triangle icon on the SMS carrier snapshot. The icon is the fastest visual scan brokers use during pre-booking screening.
Alert in Unsafe Driving and Alert in Hours of Service are the two most litigation-relevant flags. Booking a carrier in alert in either without documenting a rationale is the discovery exhibit plaintiff's counsel builds a case around.
Why this matters for freight brokers
Alert status is the booking-decision signal that requires a documented response. Either decline the load or capture the rationale in writing. Silence in the record is the worst outcome.
Related terms
- CSA scores — CSA scores are the percentile-ranked performance measures FMCSA publishes for motor carriers across seven behavioral categories called BASICs, drawn from roadside inspection and crash data.
- BASIC categories — BASICs (Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories) are the seven categories FMCSA uses to score motor carrier safety performance in the CSA program.
- SMS (Safety Measurement System) — SMS is the FMCSA public-facing system that displays CSA BASIC percentile scores and alert status for motor carriers.
Sources
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