I have heard in Alabama approximately 90 days after getting your DOT numbers, you get a appointment set up for a DOT Officer to meet with you and check everything out to make sure you are for real and legit.

Does anyone know what happens during the initial D.O.T. Audit? I have asked around from people in my profession (hauling logs) and no one has ever had this happen to them?

I just want to be ready in case they do come calling.

I appreciate the advice and wisdom of this forum.

They are supposed to and I would be prepared, what I hear they do is check to make sure you are doing things right and if anything is wrong they kind of tell you how to do it correctly etc. and then come back to make sure you tried to improve things
Now my friend has been running I believe @ least 7 trucks for @ least 2 years and has not been checked once by DOT.

Good luck, I would be as clean as possible so they don't come back! That is usually the goal!

GOOD LUCK WITH THE BUSINESS, I hope everything goes W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-L-L!

A Safety Audit (SA) is conducted on any new carrier within the first 18 months of operation. The SA reviews:

1. Part 382 to ensure the carrier has a D & A program
2. Part 383 to ensure the carrier uses drivers with a CDL
3. Part 387 insurance
4. Part 390 General operating, i.e. vehicle marking
5. Part 391 DQ files
6. Part 392 Vehicle operation
7. Part 395 HOS
8. Part 396 Vehicle maintenance

If a carrier transports HM compliance with the HMR are also checked.

If a carrier has been in operation for 2 years and has not received a safety audit the carrier is probably OOS and needs to reschedule their SA.

Be safe.

A Safety Audit (SA) is conducted on any new carrier within the first 18 months of operation. The SA reviews:

1. Part 382 to ensure the carrier has a D & A program
2. Part 383 to ensure the carrier uses drivers with a CDL
3. Part 387 insurance
4. Part 390 General operating, i.e. vehicle marking
5. Part 391 DQ files
6. Part 392 Vehicle operation
7. Part 395 HOS
8. Part 396 Vehicle maintenance



Myth Buster, where did you find the information that you put in for me?


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Does anyone know where would be a good place to look for advice in making sure you were in compliance with D.O.T. regulations, as far as starting your own business.

I know this may sound stupid, but I want to do the right thing. I started my trucking company in Oct of 06, and just want to be correct in what is required of me. I only have 1 truck that I run myself.

1. Ensure you have a pre-employment drug test and are enrolled in a US DOT random drug testing consortium. Contact a local occupational health clinic for more information.

2. Ensure you have a copy of your MCS Form 90 from your insurance agent and the required levels of insurance based on the type of material you transport IAW Part 387.9

3. Make sure your vehicle is properly marked.

4. Have a full driver qualification file with all of the required files IAW Part 391.51

5. Ensure you have your log books for the previous six months with all supporting documents, i.e. toll receipts, repair receipts, fuel receipts. Know the HOS and don't falsify your log book

6. Ensure you have a current periodic inspection from a reputable shop on your truck and trailer and you have a scheduled maintenance plan and maintenance file IAW Part 396.3

If you transport HM there are additional requirements such as additional insurance requirements, security plans, HM training, etc.

The Safety Audit is an educational tool to ensure th motor carrier is complying with the FMCSR. Currently there are proposals to revise the Safety Audit. However, that will take a year or three.

Be safe.