Fleet Compliance Library

What should I do after receiving an FMCSA investigation notice?

Use the actual request to organize records, assign responsibilities, and manage the deadline.

What does a conditional safety rating mean?

Start with the deficiencies behind the rating and the evidence that your corrective actions are working.

CURRENT UPDATE

Red-dyed diesel: can you use it, and will it save money?

What changed, one fill-up example, and checks for drivers and fleet managers.

AT THE GATE

“Bad tire” is not a complete chassis report

Read the explanation, worked example and official sources.

AT THE GATE

The container matches. The chassis does not.

Read the explanation, worked example and official sources.

AT THE GATE

Returned does not mean the defect is closed

Read the explanation, worked example and official sources.

Texas intermodal overweight permits: can you haul 93,000 pounds?

Compare the gross, axle, and group limits. Check the container, equipment, permit records, and Houston-area route before dispatch.

Texas weight and permits: what should dispatch verify?

Check the actual load, axle weights, permit type, and authorized route before releasing a Texas movement.

What belongs in a driver qualification file?

A CDL is only one part of qualifying a driver. The file needs to show the carrier has completed the applicable qualification steps.

What's the difference between Level I and Level II inspections?

Both cover the driver and vehicle. The key distinction is how far the vehicle examination goes.

How do I prepare for a new entrant safety audit?

Start with records that demonstrate how your safety program operates. Follow the specific document request from your auditor.

What vehicle maintenance records should we keep?

Make it possible to trace the work on a vehicle, see what is due, and find the supporting records.

Does every truck and trailer need an annual inspection?

The periodic inspection requirement covers each vehicle in a combination, not just the tractor.

What belongs in a DOT accident register?

An organized register makes required accident information easier to retrieve and review.

How should intermodal equipment defects be handed off?

Connect the driver report, equipment identifier, provider, and corrective follow-up.

When do employers need Clearinghouse queries?

Know the difference between a hiring check and an annual query.

What should a carrier check beyond installing an ELD?

Account access, onboard instructions, backups, and retrieval all need attention.

What should a driver check before taking a chassis over the road?

The handoff at the terminal needs a real equipment check.

What do the 11-hour and 14-hour limits mean?

Separate driving time from the driving window before planning the next load.

Does being local automatically qualify a driver for the short-haul exception?

The route, return time, rest, and carrier records all matter.

Can a driver start after a drug-test collection but before the result?

A collection receipt and a verified result serve different purposes.

What should a hazmat training record show?

Connect the employee’s job functions with training, testing, and the record.

What should I gather before requesting a DataQs review?

Start with the disputed record and the evidence supporting the requested correction.

Are OSHA recording, reporting, and electronic submission the same thing?

Give each obligation a separate check in your workplace safety process.

Annual MVR reviews: what must the carrier check?

An MVR order and a completed annual review are separate steps.

DVIRs: what happens after a driver reports a defect?

Connect the driver’s report to the repair decision and the correct vehicle.

Roadside inspection reports: deadlines and follow-up

Separate the vehicle’s operating status from the paperwork response.

HOS supporting documents: which records should you keep?

Use trip and business records to check the log, while preserving the originals.