How To Increase The Safety Rating Of Heavy Equipment?

  • Editorial Team
  • Equipment Inspection Tips
  • 5 March 2024

When you become a heavy equipment owner you have to deal with a number of factors to gain and retain your position in the market.

Among that is getting along with the heavy equipment compliance rating.

A poor rating can add up the insurance rates as well as difficulty for owners to get new clients.

Knowing the Safety Compliance Rating Option

There are certain safety standards announced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to examine the compliance rating of any heavy-duty machinery.

Here your compliance as a fleet owner as well as the regular equipment maintenance go under evaluation by the authorities.

It will be judged as per a safety model to measure safety levels followed within the inventory

Following the compliance rating set by FMCSA to know and comply within 2024;

Here are the three main safety compliance ratings given by FMCSA

With a compliance period of 30 days, FMCSA will issue a compliance notification to measure the safety regulations as per the ratings maintained within the period.

However, you can also view the ratings on the public website of the SAFER website.

Factors Affecting The Safety Rating Compliance

These factors determine the successful accomplishment of safety rating levels given by FMCSA which are as follows;

  • Right integration of safety management and assessment controls
  • Frequency of safety compliance violations and rule-breaking rate
  • The severity of violations observed in the inspection process as well as the frequency of compliance violations as per the rules of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
  • The frequency and number of heavy equipment that goes out of service.
  • Increase or decrease in similar types of violations discovered during safety or compliance reviews.
  • The rate of increment or decrement of similar kinds of violations
  • The frequency of heavy equipment’s incidents, contact with hazardous substances, and accident rate as per usage
  • Usage of indicators that have been increased or declined within the passage of time
  • Violations of rules by heavy equipment drivers as per the laws of the U.S. and nearby regions

Redemption Options For Unsatisfactory Compliance Ratings

In case you get a poor rating from authorities you have second chances to better it. You can write a written request to the concerned authority which is the FMCSA center.

Moreover, the FMCSA will overview your plan of safety management and compliance execution to give you another chance.

In particular, they will see how will you cater to the observed complaint rating violations in the next round.

As per the strategies described in the safety management plan and similar approaches, FMCSA will issue the company with an improved compliance rating certificate.

How To Make A Good Safety Management Plan?

There is nothing like a very perfect safety management plan that can inspire the authorities or bring outclass results.

It’s a try-and-test situation where the amalgamation of different strategies will bring different outcomes;

  • Reasons and solutions to get immediate compliance as per the rules
  • Steps were taken to resolve potential and existential issues accordingly

The Compliance Of Heavy Equipment

Your safety management plan should cover;

  • Steps to identify deficiencies
  • Mechanisms involved to entertain uncertain shortcomings as well as to prevent violations like regular audits and evaluation processes
  • Commencement of relevant training and awareness sessions for employees and drivers
  • A proper documentation to quote that deficiencies have been evaluated and resolved
  • Inclusion of internal as well as external audits to show how violations are prevented

FMCSA’s Final Take

In the end, the compliance rating is issued within the duration of 30 to 45 days by FMCSA. If your equipment fulfills the complaint rating standards then the equipment will get a good rating.

This compliance rating can further aid in getting new and cross-broader clients as it ensures how responsible you are as a contractor.

If an equipment’s request for an improved safety rating is denied, it can request another review by demonstrating that it has improved its safety program.

However, if the equipment fails to show improvement the ratings will remain unchanged.