Truckers and Travelers

A US DOT number is required for all companies utilizing commercial vehicles in interstate commerce, while operating authority is only required for “for-hire” operations.  You are a “for-hire” operation if you are hauling other peoples’ goods.    When it comes to the Department of Transportation (DOT) rules and regulations, there is much work to be done in regards to regulatory compliance once you receive your USDOT number and/or operating authority.

Regulations implemented in recent years require “new entrants” in trucking to undergo a DOT Safety Audit within 18 months of obtaining their US DOT number.  Submitting to, and passing, this mandatory Safety Audit is required in order to be permitted to continue to operate.  All records and documentation required for the Safety Audit must be made available for inspection during this mandatory audit.  (The Safety Audit could be performed in as few as 3 months of receiving your DOT number)  The audit will be performed by either a state official, a federal DOT agent or a third party contractor working under the authority of the US DOT.

Your company’s internal records to be reviewed during the Safety Audit include; substance & alcohol testing records, driver qualification files, driver log books / time records, vehicle maintenance records, hazardous materials records if applicable and various registration requirements.  If there is a pattern of non-compliance with the regulations or the discovery any particular egregious violation, your company will lose its ability to continue to operate until you can prove to the DOT that you have corrected the discovered deficiencies.  Following a failed  Safety Audit, you will have as few as 45 days and as many as 60 days, to demonstrate compliance to the DOT.  The number of days is predicated on the type of operation you have.

If the DOT determines that proper evidence of corrective action has not been submitted after a failed Safety Audit, your right to operate will be revoked and you will have to wait at least 30 days to resubmit evidence of corrective action.  Ask yourself this:  If you have been in business approximately 12 months, then fail the mandatory DOT Safety Audit, then fail to submit proper corrective actions to the DOT in a timely manner, can you afford to shut down your business for at least 30 days while waiting to hear back from the DOT on whether you can even reopen your operation?  The answer is likely no, so don’t risk it – be in compliance!  Compliance is your responsibility.