New Entrant Safety Audit Requirements (2026) – FMCSA Guide
The New Entrant Safety Audit is FMCSA’s one-time compliance check for new motor carriers operating under a new USDOT number, designed to confirm you have the basic safety systems required by federal law (driver qualification, drug & alcohol/Clearinghouse, HOS/ELD, maintenance, insurance, and accident tracking) in place and actually being used. It typically takes place around…
Preparing for CVSA Roadcheck
Preparing for CVSA Roadcheck each year doesn’t have to be hard. Many of the issues that DOT inspectors check for during their annual International Roadcheck event are easily prevented. Follow these 3 steps to reduce the likelihood of your trucks being inspected and improving the outcome if they are. This article was updated on: October…
DOT Audit Checklist
A DOT Audit Checklist will help you prepare for an upcoming DOT audit. If you don’t have a DOT audit coming up, then using one will help make sure that you’re “audit ready”! A DOT (Department of Transportation) audit—also known as a compliance review—is an in-depth evaluation of your trucking company safety program and regulatory…
What is a DVER?
A Driver/Vehicle Examination Report (DVER) is issued after a roadside DOT inspection, summarizing violations and compliance issues. Drivers must promptly deliver the DVER to their carrier, who must then address violations and return a signed copy within 15 days. Effective DVER management is vital for maintaining compliance and safety.
Five Ways To Boost Semi-Truck Fuel Economy
Want to boost your semi-truck fuel economy by 15 to 20% or more? You can easily do that with these 5 tips! With diesel fuel prices at or near all time highs, it’s never been more important to manage this critical business expense. Slowing Down One of the easiest ways to boost your semi-truck fuel…
What is the FMCSA Clearinghouse?
The FMCSA Clearinghouse is a database that provides information about whether a commercial driver has any DOT drug and alcohol program violations. These are typically failed DOT drug tests. Post Updated: All trucking companies must request (and receive) this violation information from the DOT clearinghouse before a driver can operate a truck or bus for…
2022 International Roadcheck Focus: Wheel Ends
The 2022 International Roadcheck event will be held this year on May 17-19 with a focus on wheel ends. During this 72 hour DOT inspection blitz, commercial vehicle enforcement officers from all over North America will likely inspect over 40,000 commercial trucks and buses. Preparing for CVSA Roadcheck in advance should make it a “non-event”…
CSA Points Value Guide
CSA points are assessed for DOT violations that a truck driver receives during a roadside inspection. Use this guide to learn more about CSA points and find the point values associated with each violation. Each time a trucker is pulled over and inspected by a law enforcement officer, they run the risk of receiving violations…
What is a CVSA Sticker?
A CVSA sticker is issued to a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) after that vehicle successfully “passes” a Level 1 DOT inspection or Level 5 Inspection. To pass an inspection, the truck, bus, trailer, car etc. must have no “critical violations” discovered according to the North American Standard Out-of-Service criteria. What does a CVSA Sticker Mean?…
How To Prepare for a DOT Audit
Prepare for a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) audit with our step-by-step guide. Learn how to gather critical driver records, maintenance logs, and compliance documentation — plus audit day tips to stay calm and confident. Your complete DOT-audit prep resource is just a click away.
Failed DOT Drug Test, Now What?
Your driver just failed a DOT Drug or Alcohol Test. Now what do you do? Well, take a deep breath and don’t panic! Here’s what to do next: 1) Park The Driver Remove the driver from “a safety sensitive function”. Pull them off of the road immediately…wherever they are. Period. Full Stop. If they’re under…
Avoid Weigh Stations
Avoid Weigh Stations unless you are invited to pull in for a full Level 1 DOT inspection by the officers. I’m often asked “Why don’t I just make sure that my truck will pass inspection and send them through a weigh station to help improve my vehicle maintenance scores? “Purposeful inspections” are a very slippery slope. …
CVSA RoadCheck 2021
CVSA Roadcheck 2021 has been set for May 4-6, 2021. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has set May 4-6 as the dates for this year’s International Roadcheck. During the 72-hour enforcement blitz, commercial motor vehicle inspectors in jurisdictions throughout Canada, Mexico and the U.S. will conduct thousands of Level 1 DOT inspections on both…
DOT Clearinghouse: 5 Important Keys
Are you worried about DOT Clearinghouse compliance? If not, you should be! The FMCSA just listed the new civil penalty for a Drug and Alcohol (DACH) clearinghouse violation at $5,833! If you’re concerned about the DOT Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse and what you have to do to comply with the DOT drug and alcohol program requirements,…
CVSA Roadcheck 2020
CVSA Roadcheck 2020 starts today! The CVSA International Roadcheck begins today and lasts for the next 72 hours. During this time period, we can expect to see a much greater law enforcement presence on the roadways as CMV inspectors will be conducting thousands of Level 1 DOT inspections. Preparing for CVSA Roadcheck in advance should…
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