Latest from the blog.

You can request a safety upgrade at any time if you’ve taken the appropriate action to fix what caused your rating of “Conditional” or “Unsatisfactory.” To request a safety rating upgrade, the DOT requires a specific format. Here’s what you should do to update a “Conditional” safety rating. 1. Submit a Safety Management Improvement Plan…

Building off our previous post discussing how to develop a Corrective Action Plan (CAP), there are a few things we would like to bring up that go right along with a Corrective Action Plan. When a company gets flagged for DOT violations, or receives a safety rating that they would like to get rid of,…

Staying compliant with DOT regulations is a crucial part of running your trucking operation. In the event that you fail a DOT audit or compliance review, you may receive a notice of violation. When this happens, they require you to submit a written corrective action plan. This corrective action plan has to follow very specific guidelines…

CDL operators of vehicles carrying a combined GVWR over 26,001 pounds are required to submit quarterly IFTA fuel tax reports. These IFTA fuel tax filings reconcile how much diesel you purchased in each state and how many miles you traveled in each state. These quarterly filings can be very time consuming. With the owner/operator in…

Membership in a drug and alcohol consortium is required for CDL operators of vehicles carrying a combined GVWR over 26,001 pounds. Failure to participate can result in fines of up to $10,000. Making sure you are compliant with the DOT drug and alcohol regulations can be a tedious and expensive process. Progressive Reporting is here…

The beginning of a new year is a popular time for people to make big life changes, like getting your DOT Authority and starting a new trucking company.  It is a big life change and can be a scary step to take, but the rewards can be well worth it.  I am a big fan…

Few things disgust me or get my blood boiling more than seeing other companies using deceptive business practices to prey on the unsuspecting.  And it is so common in the Transportation Industry to see businesses take advantage of people by playing on their fears; using scare tactics and making themselves appear to be the US…

Who needs a DOT Number?, is probably one of the most common questions we get asked.  If you are operating one or more vehicles that are being used to conduct business and you can answer yes to any of the following questions listed below, you need a US DOT Number. Does your vehicle or vehicle…

Knowing what a Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) score is and what it can mean for your trucking company is crucial to keeping your business on the road. Your CSA score can determine how often your company will be pulled for inspections and help the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) decide if your company is…

The DOT New Entrant Safety Audit timeline was shorted from 18 months to 12 months by the FMCSA for interstate motor carriers in July of 2013.  That means all companies with a new motor carrier authority or new MC Number will receive their first DOT Audit within one year of having their authority granted.  With…