DOT Post Accident Drug Testing Simplified
What is DOT Post Accident Drug Testing? DOT Post Accident Drug Testing is a specific type of drug testing that the US Department of Transportation (DOT) requires commercial drivers to undergo following a DOT recordable accident. This type of DOT drug testing is intended to help ensure that drivers were not impaired by drugs or alcohol when…
FMCSA CSA Changes
The FMCSA just announced their PROPOSED changes to the way their CSA system will prioritize trucking companies for intervention (see Compliance Review or DOT Audit). Now what? First, don’t panic. These changes were required to be made and nothing is set in stone yet. It will take at least 3 to 6 months for any changes…
Short Haul Exemption: Ultimate Guide
What is the Short Haul Exemption? The FMCSA hours of service (HOS) short-haul exemption allows certain commercial drivers to be exempt from some of the HOS rules that apply to long-haul truckers. The most important relief being that these drivers don’t have to log their hours of service with an Electronic Logging Device (ELD ). These…
Adverse Driving Conditions (Ultimate Guide)
What is the FMCSA adverse driving conditions exception? The adverse conditions exception to the standard Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) hours of service regulations refers to a regulatory provision that allows commercial truck drivers to exceed the maximum number of hours they can drive in a day by up to 2 hours under certain road…
Personal Conveyance: Ultimate Guide
Personal conveyance is when a truck driver uses their truck for personal purposes when they are not “on-duty”. According to FMCSA, personal conveyance is “the movement of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) for personal use while off-duty that does not benefit the company financially.” While the statement may sound simple, navigating the requirements may be…
Level 3 DOT Inspection (Ultimate Guide)
A level 3 DOT inspection is a type of inspection conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and its state partners. It is also known as a Driver-Only Inspection. This roadside inspection is the least intrusive of the six levels (or 8 levels) of DOT roadside inspections. What is Level 3 Inspection? Basically, a…
Preventing Air Brake System Leaks
Did you know that air brake system hoses and tube violations are the second most common vehicle maintenance DOT violation? In fact, almost 200,000 trucks or trailers a year are cited with a violation of 49 CFR 393.45. Let’s review the most common violations and find out how to prevent them from hurting your CSA…
Avoid These 5 Deadly DOT Violations
Avoiding DOT violations is harder than ever for truck drivers and trucking company owners. The key to avoiding DOT violations is to avoid unwanted attention from law enforcement! Sounds easy enough, right? I know it’s not as easy as it sounds. Here, we’ll outline 5 of the most common DOT violations and share some actionable…
How Long A Return To Duty Process Takes
Did you or one of your truck drivers just fail a DOT drug test or alcohol test? If so, one of the most important questions that you probably have is ” How long does a return to duty process take? “ The FMCSA Return To Duty process takes at least 12 months from start to…
What is a Mock DOT Audit?
What is a mock DOT audit? A mock DOT audit is a simulation used to test a trucking company’s compliance with the FMCSA/ DOT regulations. The audit typically consists of a review of your company policies and procedures and a review of DOT recordkeeping. Mock audits can help a motor carrier ( trucking company or…