CSA standards went into effect a little over one year ago. While compliance hasn’t been easy for everyone—and you would be hard-pressed to find someone who feels like CSA has been perfect from the start—CSA violations will continue to play an important role in the trucking industry throughout 2012. Here’s a look at what makes some CSA violations serious as well as some lesser-known violations you need to understand.

Failing to comply with CSA standards can be serious. There are two violations that have severe consequences. The first is when noncompliance requires immediate action on the part of the carrier, such as the lack of a drug or alcohol testing program. This could be a serious violation regardless of how many incidents can be attributed to drug or alcohol use.

The second serious violation of CSA standards are those related to a carrier’s management system, such as false reports or an ongoing pattern of violations.

There are also lesser-known violations of topics on the CSA standards list that may surprise you. For instance, a violation could appear if the inspector could not get windshield wiper fluid to dispense when operating. A citation for such a violation may seem petty, but it’s all about being prepared for what’s coming and exercising safety precautions at the highest level possible.

CSA is so new that it remains to be seen if the program will improve safety on the highway to the degree expected when it was implemented in late 2010. However, at Greatwide Logistics, we believe in everything that CSA stands for. Even before the program went into effect, Greatwide decided to implement the suggested safety protocol to strengthen an already strong safety record.

If you are interested in dedicated trucking, one of Greatwide’s primary lines of business, be sure to connect with Greatwide on LinkedIn. Then, check out their Facebook page to see what truckers are asking related to CSA standards, and find out what truckers are talking about on Twitter.