Threats of DOT audits for trucking compliance have a way of getting people's attention and forcing them to start doing things the right away. It's understandable, given the huge and scary four page audit checklist. The list includes checks for required safety measures and federal FMCSR standards under six separate categories.
The basic requirements are classified under the driver and vehicle categories. Three more are related to transportation of hazardous materials (Hazmat), accidents, and operational aspects of the transport business. The DOT will ask for at least nine different files and documents, although the process may vary slightly by state.
Driver-related requirements can be further sub-classified under duty status and qualifications. The latter includes the CDL, a medical certificate, and the DOT application. The company must have a driver qualification file, which should have everything from the initial employment application to the CDL and road test certificate. It must include the background investigation report and the medical examiner's certificate provided after a DOT physical.
The duty status sub-category requirements include the driver logbooks and the company's duty status records for each driver. This includes things such as bills of lading, fuel and toll receipts, weight tickets, invoices, etc. The driver needs to keep these things on hand for the last seven days, while the company is expected to keep these records for at least six months.
Separate drug and alcohol testing files are required to be kept for all drivers. The actual testing has to be done in accordance with federal standards and mechanisms for workplace alcohol and controlled substances testing. Accident registers must be maintained, also in accordance with a format provided by the DOT. Most transporters do not have the in-house capability or expertise to do all this, so this work is generally done by transportation safety consultants.
Vehicle inspection and preventive maintenance is a whole new category. The records need to include the date and nature of the last inspection and maintenance done on the vehicle. There has to be a records and notification system that clearly specifies the next upcoming due date for an inspection, along with the nature of the repairs and maintenance to be performed on the vehicle.
Records of daily vehicle inspections conducted for the last three months by the driver are required. The transporter is expected to have the receipts for parts purchased and bills for inspections, repair and maintenance work done at the dealership or garage. All of this is just the routine day-to-day measures the DOT expects all transporters to take as part of their trucking compliance. Trucking consultants can help create a better and customized solution that takes into consideration the transporter's specific operational methods, drivers and vehicles.
The basic requirements are classified under the driver and vehicle categories. Three more are related to transportation of hazardous materials (Hazmat), accidents, and operational aspects of the transport business. The DOT will ask for at least nine different files and documents, although the process may vary slightly by state.
Driver-related requirements can be further sub-classified under duty status and qualifications. The latter includes the CDL, a medical certificate, and the DOT application. The company must have a driver qualification file, which should have everything from the initial employment application to the CDL and road test certificate. It must include the background investigation report and the medical examiner's certificate provided after a DOT physical.
The duty status sub-category requirements include the driver logbooks and the company's duty status records for each driver. This includes things such as bills of lading, fuel and toll receipts, weight tickets, invoices, etc. The driver needs to keep these things on hand for the last seven days, while the company is expected to keep these records for at least six months.
Separate drug and alcohol testing files are required to be kept for all drivers. The actual testing has to be done in accordance with federal standards and mechanisms for workplace alcohol and controlled substances testing. Accident registers must be maintained, also in accordance with a format provided by the DOT. Most transporters do not have the in-house capability or expertise to do all this, so this work is generally done by transportation safety consultants.
Vehicle inspection and preventive maintenance is a whole new category. The records need to include the date and nature of the last inspection and maintenance done on the vehicle. There has to be a records and notification system that clearly specifies the next upcoming due date for an inspection, along with the nature of the repairs and maintenance to be performed on the vehicle.
Records of daily vehicle inspections conducted for the last three months by the driver are required. The transporter is expected to have the receipts for parts purchased and bills for inspections, repair and maintenance work done at the dealership or garage. All of this is just the routine day-to-day measures the DOT expects all transporters to take as part of their trucking compliance. Trucking consultants can help create a better and customized solution that takes into consideration the transporter's specific operational methods, drivers and vehicles.
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