DOT Compliance for Trucking Companies: Ultimate Guide

September 15, 2025

If you’re in the trucking business, you’ve heard the term “DOT compliance.” But what does it really mean? In short, it’s the official rulebook you have to play by to keep your trucks on the road legally and safely.

These rules come straight from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and they cover everything—from how many hours you can be behind the wheel to how often your equipment needs to be serviced. Think of it as the foundational playbook for running a professional, safe, and ultimately profitable trucking operation.

What DOT Compliance Really Means For Your Business

Let’s cut right to the chase. DOT compliance isn’t just a bureaucratic hoop to jump through to avoid fines or pass an audit. It’s a complete safety framework designed to protect your company, your team, and every single person sharing the road with your trucks.

At its core, it’s about making sure every piece of your operation—from the person holding the steering wheel to the truck they’re driving—meets a strict, non-negotiable safety standard. This isn’t a “set it and forget it” kind of thing; it’s an ongoing commitment that directly impacts your company’s reputation and your bottom line.

Key Compliance Areas

To really get a handle on DOT compliance, it helps to break it down into its core components. These aren’t just separate checklist items; they all work together to form a strong safety culture within your fleet.

As you can see, true compliance is a balancing act. You need a solid focus on the regulations, airtight recordkeeping, and consistent vehicle safety standards. If one of these areas is weak, the whole structure is at risk of falling apart.

To give you a clearer picture, here’s a quick summary of the main pillars you need to manage.

Key DOT Compliance Areas at a Glance

This table breaks down the core pillars of DOT compliance that every trucking company needs to have on its radar.

Compliance Area	What It Covers	Why It’s Critical for You
Driver Qualification	Vetting your team, maintaining DQ files, managing CDLs and medical cards.	Ensures you only put safe, qualified, and medically fit people behind the wheel.
Hours of Service (HOS)	Tracking on-duty/off-duty time, ensuring proper breaks, and monitoring ELD data.	Prevents fatigue, which is a leading cause of accidents.
Vehicle Maintenance	Regular inspections, preventative maintenance schedules, and repair records for all trucks/trailers.	Keeps your equipment safe and reliable, reducing breakdowns and out-of-service violations.
Drug & Alcohol Testing	Managing pre-employment, random, and post-accident testing programs. Ensuring compliance with DOT Clearinghouse regulations.	Keeps impaired people off the road and is a non-negotiable part of federal law.
Crash & Inspection Reporting	Documenting all accidents and roadside inspections, and tracking your safety data.	Your public safety record (CSA score) is built on this data and impacts your insurance/load opportunities.

Mastering these areas is what separates the pros from the companies that are constantly looking over their shoulder, waiting for an audit. You can use our DOT compliance checklist to see how prepared your fleet is for an audit.

Why Your Safety Rating Is Everything

All your hard work in these areas gets graded and rolled up into a single DOT safety rating. This rating isn’t private—it’s public information that directly affects your ability to do business. A bad rating can cause your insurance premiums to skyrocket, make it nearly impossible to book loads with good brokers, and could even get your operating authority revoked.

A “Satisfactory” rating is the gold standard. It’s a green light to the entire industry that you run a tight, professional ship. On the other hand, a “Conditional” or “Unsatisfactory” rating is a massive red flag that screams “safety risk” to auditors, insurers, and your customers.

The consequences for falling short are real. For instance there were around 11,500 safety violations in 2024 alone. A “Satisfactory” rating makes you a low-priority target for inspections, while a “Conditional” one puts a bullseye on your back. Most carriers haven’t gone through a DOT safety audit and are listed as “Not Rated”.

At the end of the day, getting a handle on DOT compliance for a trucking company isn’t just about following rules. It’s a core business strategy that protects your assets, builds your reputation, and opens the door to long-term, sustainable growth.

Building Bulletproof Driver Qualification Files

Your team members are the heart and soul of your operation. Their Driver Qualification (DQ) files are the official record proving they are safe, qualified, and legally allowed to be on the road.

Think of it like this: a DQ file is your driver’s professional resume, but with serious legal teeth. It’s not just a folder full of paperwork; it’s a critical compliance tool that DOT auditors will absolutely scrutinize with a fine-tooth comb.

A single missing document or an expired medical card can trigger a violation, leading to fines and a nasty mark on your safety record. That’s why building bulletproof DQ files isn’t just a good idea—it’s an essential part of a solid DOT compliance for trucking companies strategy. Getting this right from day one for every new hire is non-negotiable.

The Anatomy of a Compliant DQ File

So, what exactly goes into one of these all-important files? While it might seem like a mountain of paper, each document has a specific job in verifying your driver’s qualifications and history. An organized file makes an audit a smooth process and shows you’re serious about safety and is one of the cornerstones of DOT compliance for a trucking company.

A complete DQ file has to contain these core documents:

Application for Employment: This is the foundation, required by §391.21. It captures your driver’s history and qualifications.
Motor Vehicle Report (MVR): You need to pull an MVR from every state where a driver held a license in the past three years. This paints a clear picture of their driving record.
Previous Employer Inquiries: For the last three years, you have to investigate safety performance history with all previous DOT-regulated employers.
Road Test Certificate: Unless you meet specific exceptions, every new hire has to pass a road test. You must keep the certificate of completion in their file. A copy of the driver’s CDL can act as a substitute for this document.
Medical Examiner’s Certificate: A valid medical card is proof that you are physically qualified to operate a CMV. Expired med cards are one of the most common—and easily avoidable—violations out there. Thankfully, the FMCSA has almost completed their integration with all State drivers license agencies and paper medical certificates are about to be totally done away with.

Keeping these documents organized and current is a continuous process, not a one-and-done task. For a detailed breakdown, using a comprehensive DQF checklist to guide your process can make sure no detail slips through the cracks.

Key Takeaway: A DQ file isn’t just about hiring. It’s a living record that must be maintained for the entire duration of each driver’s employment and for three years after.

Ongoing Maintenance and Common Pitfalls

Building the initial file is only half the battle. Ongoing maintenance is where a lot of trucking companies drop the ball. Certain documents expire and require regular updates to keep the file—and you—compliant.

This is where a simple tracking system can save you from major headaches. Whether it’s a spreadsheet or a dedicated compliance platform, you need a reliable way to monitor those renewal dates.

Here are the critical items that need constant attention:

Annual MVR Review: Every 12 months, you must pull a new MVR and conduct a formal review of each driver’s driving record. This review has to be documented and kept in each DQ file.
Medical Certificate Renewals: Medical cards typically expire every 24 months, sometimes sooner for certain medical conditions. You need a system to track these dates and ensure you renew them before they expire.
CDL and Endorsement Updates: Always keep a current copy of a driver’s Commercial Driver’s License and verify that any required endorsements (like HazMat or Tanker) are still valid.

One of the biggest mistakes we see is the “file and forget” mentality. If a driver has an expired medical card, they are legally disqualified from driving. If they’re in an accident, your company’s liability could be enormous. Proactive management turns this complex task into a manageable routine, protecting your business and keeping your best people on the road where they belong.

Mastering Hours of Service and ELD Rules

Hours of Service (HOS) rules are the bedrock of road safety, but let’s be honest—they can feel like a complex puzzle. These regulations exist for one simple reason: to keep tired people off the road. Fatigued driving is a massive contributor to serious accidents, and mastering HOS is about more than just dodging violations. It’s about building a culture of safety that protects your drivers, the public, and your business.

Think of HOS as the operating system for your driver’s workdays. It dictates exactly how long they can be behind the wheel, when they absolutely have to rest, and how their on-duty time is tracked. Getting this wrong leads to some of the most frequent—and expensive—violations found during roadside inspections and DOT audits.

Decoding the Core HOS Rules

Instead of getting bogged down in dense regulatory text, let’s break down the three main pillars of HOS for property-carrying drivers. Nail these, and you’re well on your way to solid DOT compliance for trucking companies.

The 11-Hour Driving Limit: After 10 consecutive hours off-duty, drivers can drive for a maximum of 11 hours. Once they hit that limit, the truck stops until they’ve taken another 10 consecutive hours off. It’s a hard ceiling.
The 14-Hour Driving Window: This one trips people up all the time. From the moment a driver comes on duty, a 14-hour clock starts ticking. All of their 11 hours of drive time must happen within this window. The clock doesn’t stop for fuel, food, or breaks. Once that 14-hour window closes, driving is done for the day.
The 30-Minute Break Requirement: After 8 consecutive hours on duty, they must take a 30-minute break before you can drive again. This can be logged as off-duty time or in the sleeper berth, but it has to happen.

These three rules are designed to work together, creating a non-negotiable framework that ensures that your drivers get the rest they need to be safe.

Auditor’s Focus: During a DOT audit, investigators aren’t just looking for one-off mistakes. They’re hunting for patterns. A single violation might slide, but repeated instances of pushing the 11 or 14-hour limits signal a systemic failure in your safety program.

ELDs Are More Than Just a Mandate

The Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate officially killed the old paper logbooks, making it nearly impossible to fudge the numbers. While many grumbled about the switch, ELDs are now an essential tool for HOS compliance. For fleets that came over from the older AOBRD systems, understanding the differences between AOBRDs and modern ELDs is still important, but their main job is the same: accurately record your driver’s duty status.

But if you’re only viewing your ELD as a compliance gadget, you’re missing out. It’s a powerful operational tool that gives you a real-time pulse on your fleet’s performance and safety.

Managing Common ELD Challenges

Just bolting ELDs into your trucks won’t keep you compliant. You have to actively manage the data they generate and train your team to keep the logs clean. Two of the biggest headaches are unassigned driving time, improper log edits and incorrect use of off duty time exceptions.

Here’s how you get ahead of them:

Tackle Unassigned Driving Time Daily: This happens when a truck moves without anyone logged in, and it’s a giant red flag for auditors. You need a rock-solid daily process to review these events. Either assign them to the correct person or add a clear note explaining the move (e.g., “Yard move by mechanic”). Don’t let these pile up!
Train for Proper Log Edits: Mistakes happen, and both you and your managers can edit logs to fix them. But every single edit requires an annotation explaining why the change was made. Auditors live for scrutinizing edits, looking for anything that smells of tampering. Clear, honest explanations are your best defense.
Improper Use of Personal Conveyance or Yard Move Exceptions: Once a driver is nearing the end of their daily clocks, they may be tempted to push a bit more or try to “find a safe place to park” by improperly using the Personal Conveyance or Yard Move duty statuses. Don’t allow this! Each of these violations counts as a log falsification (395.8(e)) violation and can cost you big time at the roadside or during a DOT audit.

By making these tasks part of your daily routine, you stop small issues from snowballing into major violations. Clean logs aren’t just about passing an audit; they’re proof of your commitment to running a tight, safe operation.

Keeping Your Fleet Safe and Road-Ready

A well-maintained truck isn’t just a reliable piece of equipment; it’s a rolling testament to your commitment to safety. When it comes to DOT compliance for trucking companies, the physical condition of your fleet is constantly under the microscope. A breakdown on the side of the road is bad enough, but failing to keep your trucks and trailers in top shape can lead to out-of-service violations, painful fines, and a black eye on your safety record.

Think of your vehicle maintenance program as the physical proof that you’re running a safe operation. Every single truck and trailer has to meet the standards laid out in Part 396 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. This isn’t just about a big check-up once a year; it’s about a daily, documented DOT pre-trip inspection routine that catches problems before they put an unsafe vehicle on the road.

The Daily Ritual: Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports

The Driver Vehicle Inspection Report, or DVIR, is the absolute cornerstone of your daily safety process. It’s a formal record your driver’s complete to document the condition of their commercial motor vehicle (CMV) before and after every single trip. This is a whole lot more than just kicking the tires—it’s a systematic check of all the critical safety components.

Before they head out, each driver has to be satisfied that the truck is in safe operating condition. When their day is done, they have to complete a post-trip inspection and note any defects or deficiencies that were found on the DVIR.

Key Takeaway: If a DVIR lists any defects that could affect the safe operation of the truck, that vehicle is grounded. It cannot be legally driven until those issues are fixed. This is non-negotiable.

Once a problem is noted, the process doesn’t end. You, as the carrier, must certify that the necessary repairs were made or that repairs weren’t needed. Then, before the driver can hit the road again, they have to review that last DVIR and sign off that they agree with the vehicle’s current condition.

This creates a closed-loop system of accountability. A clean, complete trail of DVIRs shows an auditor that you have a proactive system for finding and fixing safety issues before they become major problems.

The Annual Deep Dive: Periodic Inspections

While DVIRs handle the day-to-day, the annual periodic inspection is the real deep dive. Every CMV in your fleet—trucks and trailers alike—must go through a comprehensive annual DOT inspection at least once every 12 months. This can’t be done by just anyone; it has to be performed by a qualified inspector with the right training or experience to spot and address vehicle defects.

This inspection is far from a routine check. It’s a bumper-to-bumper review that ensures the vehicle is fundamentally sound. Key areas on the checklist include:

Braking Systems: Checking for leaks, worn-out parts, and proper adjustment.
Steering Mechanisms: Making sure there’s no excessive play or worn components.
Tires and Wheels: Looking for proper inflation, required tread depth, and secure mounting.
Lighting and Electrical: Verifying every required lamp and reflector is working.
Frame and Suspension: Inspecting for cracks, loose parts, or any other structural damage.

After the inspection, you are required to hold onto the proof of inspection for 14 months from the date on the report. This proof can be the report itself or a sticker on the vehicle. This documentation is your long-term evidence of a commitment to vehicle safety.

DVIR vs Annual Inspection

It’s easy to get the daily and yearly inspections mixed up, but they serve very different purposes. Here’s a quick breakdown of how they compare.

Feature	Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR)	Annual Periodic Inspection
Frequency	Daily (Pre-trip and Post-trip)	At least once every 12 months
Performed By	Your Drivers	A qualified inspector/mechanic
Purpose	Catch immediate, day-to-day safety issues	Comprehensive, in-depth check of all systems
Scope	Surface-level check of critical components	Bumper-to-bumper mechanical and structural review
Record Keeping	Kept for 3 months	Proof of inspection kept for 14 months

Both are absolutely essential. The DVIR is your first line of defense, while the annual inspection confirms the long-term health of your equipment.

Ultimately, a robust vehicle maintenance program is a core element of effective fleet safety management and a major focus during any DOT audit. Neglecting either the daily or annual requirements is a fast track to violations that can bring your entire operation to a grinding halt.

Managing Your Drug and Alcohol Program

A solid drug and alcohol program isn’t just a box to check—it’s the bedrock of a safe trucking operation. This is your system for making absolutely sure every person getting behind the wheel is clear-headed, focused, and ready for the job. It’s less about just following rules and more about a real commitment to the safety of your people and everyone else on the road.

Think of the program as a safety net, specifically designed to catch a huge problem before it leads to a catastrophe. For any carrier that’s serious about DOT compliance for trucking companies, getting this part right is priority number one.

The Different Types of Required Tests

Your testing program isn’t a one-and-done deal. The FMCSA mandates several types of tests, and each one plays a specific role in preventing failed DOT drug testing.

Pre-Employment Testing: Before a driver performs any safety-sensitive functions (like driving), they have to pass a pre-employment drug test. A negative result is their green light to get on the road. Never allow a driver to operate for you without a negative PED in hand first!
Random Testing: This is the ongoing pulse check of your program. Each year, you’re required to randomly test a specific percentage of your team—currently 50% for drugs and 10% for alcohol. The key here is that the selection process has to be genuinely random to be compliant.
Post-Accident Testing: If one of your team members is involved in a specific kind of qualifying accident, a drug and alcohol test is mandatory. This is triggered by any human fatality, or if a citation is issued and someone has a bodily injury or a vehicle has to be towed.
Reasonable Suspicion Testing: This is a big one. If a properly trained supervisor sees behavior that suggests a driver might be under the influence, you must send them for a test. This can’t be a gut feeling; it requires specific, documented observations.
Return-to-Duty and Follow-Up Testing: Should a driver fail a test, they can’t just get back in the truck. They have to go through a formal return-to-duty process with a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP), which includes passing a test before they can drive again. After that, they’ll be subject to a series of unannounced follow-up tests.

Your Responsibilities with the FMCSA Clearinghouse

The FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is a game-changer. It’s a secure online database that gives you instant access to a CDL holder’s drug and alcohol violation history. As an employer, you have legal duties to both check this database and report any violations that happen under your watch.

You are legally required to run queries on the DOT Clearinghouse for all new hires and at least once a year for all your current team members. This closed a massive loophole that used to let people with violations hide their history by just hopping to a new company.

Skipping these queries is a major DOT audit violation. And the numbers show why it’s so critical: in 2025, there have already been around 32,700 reported drug or alcohol violations among commercial drivers. Nearly 193,000 CDL holders are currently in the database with a “prohibited status”.

The Clearinghouse is a powerful tool, but you have to use it correctly. For a detailed breakdown of your specific obligations, our guide on the DOT Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse will walk you through everything you need to know.

The People Who Make Your Program Work

A compliant program isn’t just paperwork; it’s about people. Your Designated Employer Representative (DER) is the Quarterback for your entire testing program. They’re the one who receives test results and has to take immediate, decisive action when needed.

Alongside the DER, all of your supervisors must have training on how to spot the signs and symptoms of substance use. This empowers them to confidently make the call for a reasonable suspicion test when the situation demands it. Together, these roles are what build a true culture of safety and accountability in your company.

How to Navigate a DOT Audit with Confidence

Let’s be honest, the words “DOT audit” are enough to send a shiver down the spine of even the most seasoned fleet owner or safety manager. But it doesn’t have to be a source of dread. If you’re well-prepared, an audit is just an opportunity to show off your company’s commitment to safety and prove you’re on top of your DOT compliance for trucking companies.

Think of an audit less like a surprise pop quiz and more like an open-book test. The auditor is simply there to verify your systems and make sure you’re following the safety playbook. Knowing what they’re looking for ahead of time is your biggest advantage.

Understanding What Triggers a DOT Audit

DOT Audits rarely happen out of the blue. The FMCSA uses a mountain of data to flag carriers that might pose a higher safety risk. Knowing what puts you on their radar is the first step to staying off of it.

Here are the most common reasons you might get that call:

High CSA Scores: This is the big one. If your Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) scores start creeping up in certain categories, it’s a major red flag. Generally, a score of 90%+ for more than 2 months in 2 or more CSA BASIC categories will push your company to the top of the list.
Recent Accidents: A serious or fatal crash will almost always trigger a comprehensive compliance review.
Citizen Complaints: A string of complaints filed against your team for things like aggressive driving can definitely put you on the list.
Random Selection: Sometimes, it’s just your number that gets pulled. That’s why you always have to be ready.

The Audit Checklist: What You Need to Have Ready

When an auditor shows up, they have a very specific list of documents they want to see. Having everything organized and easily accessible makes a huge first impression. It tells them you’re a professional who has nothing to hide.

Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll need to have on hand:

Driver Qualification Files: This means all DQ files for your current team, plus records for anyone who has left your company in the last three years.
Drug and Alcohol Program Records: Get ready to show your testing policies, records from your random testing pool, and all of your Clearinghouse query documentation.
Hours of Service Records: You’ll need at least six months of logs for everyone, along with any supporting documents like fuel receipts or toll records.
Vehicle Maintenance Files: This includes annual inspection reports, DVIRs for the last three months, and proof that any noted repairs were actually made. Be sure to have solid preventative maintenance schedules for each piece of equipment as well.
DOT Accident Register: A complete list of all DOT-recordable accidents your company has had in the past three years.
A copy of your MCS-90 endorsement.

Beyond just prepping for an official inspection, embracing the importance of regular safety audits internally can build a culture of continuous improvement and proactive compliance.

The Possible Outcomes and What They Mean

Once the review is over, the auditor will issue a safety rating that has a direct impact on your business. There are three possible outcomes, and each one carries significant weight for your entire operation.

Satisfactory: This is the gold standard. It means your safety management controls are working like a well-oiled machine, and you are in full compliance. It’s the green light that tells brokers, shippers, and insurance companies that you run a tight ship.

A Conditional rating is a serious warning shot. It means the auditor found one or more serious violations, and you’ll need to implement a formal corrective action plan to get things fixed.

Finally, an Unsatisfactory rating is the worst-case scenario. This means the auditor found widespread, critical violations. If this happens, you’ll have a short window (usually 45-60 days) to respond to your DOT closeout letter or you will be put out of service. By staying organized and proactive, you can confidently aim for a Satisfactory rating every single time.

Common Questions About DOT Compliance

Even with a solid plan, you’re going to have questions. It’s just the nature of the beast. DOT compliance is a complex world, filled with acronyms and specific rules that can feel like a foreign language at times. We get it.

Here are some straightforward answers to the questions we hear all the time from fleet owners and safety managers just like you. Think of this as your go-to guide for those “what if” moments that pop up. Getting these details straight helps you build a rock-solid foundation for your entire DOT compliance for trucking companies program, ensuring the little things don’t snowball into big problems.

What Is the Difference Between a USDOT Number and an MC Number?

This is easily one of the most common points of confusion, but the difference is actually pretty simple once you break it down.

Your USDOT Number is your unique fingerprint with the Department of Transportation. It’s how the government tracks your company’s safety report card—things like audits, roadside inspections, and crash data. If you operate a commercial vehicle in interstate commerce, you almost certainly need one. This number (with your company name) is required to be listed on all CMVs that you operate. Check out our article on the DOT sticker requirements for more information.

Your Motor Carrier (MC) Number, on the other hand, is your “operating authority.” It’s what gives you the legal permission to haul regulated freight across state lines for hire. So, think of it this way: the USDOT number says who you are, while the MC number says what you’re legally allowed to do.

How Long Do I Need to Keep My Records?

Paperwork is the backbone of compliance, and you better believe auditors will be checking your record retention timelines. Different documents have different expiration dates, but here are the big ones you absolutely have to get right.

Driver Qualification Files: You need to hang onto these for the entire time a person works for you, plus another three years after they leave.
Hours of Service Records: All logs and any supporting documents (like fuel receipts) must be kept for six months.
Vehicle Maintenance Records: Annual inspection reports need to be kept for 14 months. For daily vehicle inspection reports (DVIRs) that have defects noted, the retention period is three months.
Drug & Alcohol Records: This one has a split timeline. A positive test result must be kept for five years, while a negative result only needs to be kept for one year.

What Happens if One of My Team Members Fails a Roadside Inspection?

A failed inspection can bring things to a screeching halt, sometimes literally. If the officer finds a violation serious enough to be slapped with an “out-of-service” (OOS) tag—think bad brakes or being way over your hours—that truck or person is grounded right there on the spot until the problem is fixed.

Crucial Point: Out-of-service violations are the heavy hitters in your CSA scores. A single OOS violation can send your scores through the roof, flagging you for a full-blown FMCSA audit and almost certainly jacking up your insurance premiums.

Every single violation, OOS or not, adds points to your company’s safety profile. This is exactly why a proactive maintenance program and a strong culture of HOS compliance are non-negotiable. The winning strategy is always to find and fix issues before an inspector does. If you feel like a violation was issued in error, you can submit an appeal through the FMCSA DataQ system to try and have it removed or changed.

DOT Compliance for Trucking Companies FAQ

What is DOT compliance for trucking companies, in plain English?
DOT compliance means following the FMCSA safety rules that apply to your drivers, trucks, and records. If you’re operating a CMV in interstate commerce, you’re expected to meet these standards every day—not just when an audit happens.

What’s the difference between a USDOT number and an MC number?
A USDOT number identifies your company and ties you to your safety record (inspections, crashes, audits). An MC number is your operating authority—your legal permission to haul freight for hire across state lines. Many for-hire carriers need both.

How long do I need to keep key DOT records?
Core retention timelines include: DQ files for the entire employment period plus 3 years after separation; HOS logs/supporting docs for 6 months; annual inspection reports for 14 months; DVIRs with defects for 3 months; drug/alcohol records from 1 to 5 years depending on the type of record.

What are the biggest things auditors look for first?
Auditors typically start with Driver Qualification Files, Hours of Service/ELD records, vehicle maintenance and inspection documentation, and your drug & alcohol testing/Clearinghouse compliance. Missing or disorganized records in any of these areas are quick ways to rack up violations.

When is a pre-employment drug test and Clearinghouse query required?
Before a new driver performs any safety-sensitive work, you must have a verified negative pre-employment DOT drug test on file and complete a full Clearinghouse query showing the driver is not “prohibited.” If either piece is missing, the driver can’t legally be dispatched.

What happens if a driver or truck fails a roadside inspection?
If violations are serious enough, the officer can place the driver or vehicle out of service on the spot until the issue is corrected. Even non-OOS violations add CSA points, so repeated inspection problems can raise scores and trigger audits.

What usually triggers an FMCSA audit?
High CSA BASIC scores over time, a serious crash, repeated roadside violations (especially OOS), citizen complaints, or random selection can all put you on the audit list. The best defense is consistent compliance and audit-ready records year-round.

Regulatory References

These Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and FMCSA programs govern the core DOT compliance areas covered in this guide.

Stop chasing paperwork and start focusing on your business. Working with a great DOT compliance consultant like My Safety Manager provides complete DOT compliance for a trucking company and fleet safety services for just $49 per driver, with no hidden fees. Let our experts handle the details so you can stay on the road with confidence. Learn how we can help you today at https://www.mysafetymanager.com.

About The Author

Sam Tucker

Sam Tucker is the founder of Carrier Risk Solutions, Inc., established in 2015, and has more than 20 years of experience in trucking risk and DOT compliance management. He earned degrees in Finance/Risk Management and Economics from the Parker College of Business at Georgia Southern University. Drawing on deep industry knowledge and hands-on expertise, Sam helps thousands of motor carriers nationwide strengthen fleet safety programs, reduce risk, and stay compliant with FMCSA regulations.