🚨NEW MOTOR CARRIERS: Your FMCSA New Entrant Safety Audit Is NOT the Time to Start Getting Compliant.
Getting your USDOT number and operating authority is only the beginning.
One of the biggest mistakes I see new carriers make is waiting until they receive notice of their New Entrant Safety Audit before they start organizing their safety and compliance program.
By then, you may already have a problem.
From the beginning, carriers need to have the proper systems and documentation in place, including:
• Driver Qualification Files• Drug & Alcohol Testing Program and Clearinghouse requirements• Hours of Service and ELD compliance• Vehicle maintenance and inspection records• Accident Register, when applicable• Required insurance and operating documents• Policies, procedures and supporting records
And simply having a folder labeled “Safety” isn’t enough.
Your records need to show that your company has actually been operating in compliance.
The goal isn’t to prepare for an audit. The goal is to operate every day as though an audit could happen tomorrow.
If you’re starting a new trucking company, build your compliance program before the first truck starts running — not after FMCSA comes knocking.
Your DOT Compliance Gal Navigating Regulations So You Can Drive Forward.
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