The vision portion of a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical helps determine whether a driver meets the FMCSA vision standards used during the certification process. Over 12 million people over 40 in the U.S. have vision impairment, so it’s not uncommon for vision issues to come up during a DOT physical. The DOT physical includes an eye exam to help medical examiners assess whether drivers meet the FMCSA vision standards for operating a commercial motor vehicle. FMCSA’s vision standards are outlined in 49 CFR § 391.41(b)(10) and supported by guidance in the 2024 Medical Examiner’s Handbook. If you’ve noticed your vision changing, or if you’re preparing for your first DOT physical, understanding how the DOT vision standards are applied may help drivers feel more prepared for their exam. If you’re not sure what to expect from the full exam, you may also find Foley’s overview of the DOT physical helpful, but if you specifically want to know what the DOT physical eye exam involves, read on. What Eye Chart is Used for the DOT Physical? The DOT physical eye chart is usually the familiar Snellen eye chart – the one with the big “E” at the top that you’ll find in most doctor’s and optometrist offices. You’ll stand or sit a set distance away (often 10 or 20 feet, depending on the setup) and be asked to read letters on progressively smaller lines. Some medical examiners may use a Titmus Vision Tester, a small tabletop device that measures visual acuity, depth perception, and sometimes peripheral vision. This is less common but still acceptable. Both tools measure visual functions that medical examiners reference when applying FMCSA’s vision standards. What Are the DOT Vision Requirements for a Physical? FMCSA’s vision standards, as outlined in 49 CFR § 391.41(b)(10), generally include the following elements, which medical examiners reference during certification decisions: Distant visual acuity of at least 20/40 (Snellen) in each eye, with or without corrective lenses. Binocular visual acuity of at least 20/40 in both eyes together, with or without corrective lenses. A field of vision of at least 70 degrees in the horizontal meridian in each eye. The ability to recognize the colors of traffic signals and devices showing standard red, green, and amber. If a driver meets these parameters, a medical examiner may determine that the vision standard has been met. The medical examiner will simply note that you are: “Qualified only if wearing corrective lenses” on your medical examiner’s certificate (med card), which means you must wear those lenses any time you’re driving a CMV. IMPORTANT: FMCSA’s current regulations do not include telescopic (bioptic) lenses as part of the standard vision qualification criteria. Learn more about NRII and the transition to digital med cards Where Do These DOT Eye Rules Come From? DOT vision evaluations reference two primary sources: 49 CFR Part 391.41(b)(10) – The regulation that sets the minimum visual acuity, field of vision, and color-recognition standards for CMV drivers. FMCSA Medical Examiner’s Handbook 2024 Edition – The current reference for certified medical examiners, published January 2024, which replaces all prior handbook editions and provides guidance on how to apply these standards in practice. Together, they guide how DOT physicals—and specifically, the vision portions—are carried out in 2025 and beyond. What Is the DOT Eye Test For? The DOT vision exam helps medical examiners assess whether a driver meets FMCSA’s vision standards related to distance vision, peripheral vision, and color recognition. It focuses on three main areas: Distance vision – Can you clearly read signs, see hazards, and react in time at highway speeds? Peripheral (side) vision – Can you detect vehicles, pedestrians, and obstacles approaching from the sides? Color recognition – Can you correctly distinguish red, green, and amber traffic signals and devices? The examiner’s job is to match what’s on the eye chart (or vision testing machine) with these DOT requirements. Should I Wear My Glasses or Contacts for the DOT Vision Test? In most cases, drivers who normally use corrective lenses choose to wear them during the vision portion of the DOT physical. If you usually wear glasses or contact lenses to see clearly, you should: Wear them to the exam just like you do when driving. Tell the medical examiner that you use corrective lenses regularly. Most examiners will test your vision with your glasses or contacts on. As long as you meet the 20/40 and field-of-vision requirements with correction, you can still be certified—as long as there are no other disqualifying medical conditions. What Does Your Eyesight Have to Be to Pass a DOT Physical? To pass the DOT eye portion of your physical, the regulations state you must meet all of the following, with or without corrective lenses: At least 20/40 in each eye individually (right and left). At least 20/40 binocular vision (both eyes together). A horizontal field of vision of at least 70 degrees in each eye. Ability to correctly identify red, green, and amber traffic signal colors. Drivers whose vision meets the FMCSA standard with corrective lenses may be certified at the medical examiner’s discretion, and the examiner typically notes when corrective lenses are to be used during CMV operation. Monocular Vision and the New Alternative Vision Standard (2025) FMCSA adopted an alternative vision standard in 2022. Under this process, drivers who do not meet the vision standard in one eye may be evaluated through a vision specialist’s report and the certified medical examiner’s review. Medical examiners use this information to determine qualification in accordance with FMCSA’s guidance. What Changed? On March 22, 2022, FMCSA’s final rule on the Qualifications of Drivers; Vision Standard took effect. Key points: The Federal Vision Exemption program was phased out; FMCSA no longer processes new requests under the old exemption system. A new Alternative Vision Standard (§ 391.44) allows individuals who don’t meet the standard in one eye (the “worse eye”) to be physically qualified, under specific conditions and medical review. Under the alternative vision standard, a driver with monocular vision may be certified if they: Have at least 20/40 vision in the better eye, with or without corrective lenses. Have a field of vision of at least 70 degrees in the horizontal meridian in the better eye. Can recognize standard red, green, and amber traffic signal colors. Have a stable vision deficiency and sufficient time to adapt. Complete a Vision Evaluation Report (Form MCSA-5871) from an ophthalmologist or optometrist, which is then reviewed by the certified medical examiner. FMCSA guidance explains that the Vision Evaluation Report must be completed and signed by the eye specialist, and the DOT physical must begin within 45 days of that signature. This process must be repeated at least annually for drivers qualified under the alternative vision standard. So Can I Pass the DOT Eye Exam with Monocular Vision? Many drivers undergo vision procedures such as LASIK or PRK. Medical examiners typically review post-procedure stability and current visual acuity when making a qualification decision. As long as: Your vision stabilizes at 20/40 or better in each eye (with or without additional correction), and You meet the field-of-vision and color-recognition requirements, you can typically pass the DOT vision test after procedures like LASIK or PRK. Most examiners will want to know: When the surgery occurred. Whether you’ve had any complications (halos, glare, double vision, etc.). Bring any paperwork from your eye doctor if your surgery was recent or if you’ve had any lingering issues. What Happens if You Don’t Meet the DOT Vision Standard? If a driver does not meet the vision standard, the medical examiner may request additional documentation, updated corrective lenses, or follow-up evaluation. The examiner makes a determination based on FMCSA regulations and the Medical Examiner’s Handbook: Mildly reduced vision that’s correctable – The examiner may advise you to see an eye doctor for updated glasses or contact lenses. Once your corrected vision meets the standard, you can return for another exam. Significant or progressive eye disease – The examiner may request additional documentation from your eye specialist or delay certification until your condition is better understood or treated. Doesn’t meet the standard in one eye – Instead of a Federal Vision Exemption (which is no longer issued), you may be evaluated under the alternative vision standard, using the Vision Evaluation Report (MCSA-5871) and annual follow-up. In all cases, the medical examiner is required to make a safety-focused determination based on FMCSA regulations and the 2024 Medical Examiner’s Handbook. What Does the DOT Physical Eye Exam Involve Step-by-Step? During the vision portion of the DOT physical, you can generally expect: Medical history questions: The examiner will ask about: Recent changes in vision Difficulty seeing at night Eye pain, double vision, or frequent headaches History of eye disease (glaucoma, macular degeneration, retinal problems, etc.) External eye exam The examiner checks for obvious abnormalities—such as drooping eyelids, visible inflammation, or other signs of disease that could impact vision over time. Distance visual acuity test Using a Snellen chart or similar tool, they’ll: Test each eye separately and together. Confirm whether your distant vision is at least 20/40. Peripheral (side) vision test Typically done via: A simple confrontation test (you look at the examiner’s nose while they hold up fingers in your peripheral vision), or A device like a Titmus or other visual-field tester. FMCSA’s vision standard includes a horizontal field of at least 70 degrees in each eye. Color vision test The examiner confirms that you can distinguish red, green, and amber—often via small cards, charts, or lighted devices that mimic traffic signals. Should I Get an Eye Exam Before My DOT Physical? Some drivers choose to have an eye exam before their DOT physical, especially if they’ve noticed recent vision changes. Consider scheduling with an optometrist or ophthalmologist beforehand if: You’re squinting more to read signs. You have frequent headaches after driving. Your last eye exam was more than 1–2 years ago. Benefits of a pre-exam eye appointment: You can update your glasses or contact prescription ahead of time. You’ll know whether you are likely to meet the 20/40 and 70-degree field requirements. You reduce the chance of failing the DOT physical just because you need new lenses. The DOT physical eye exam doesn’t need to be stressful. For most drivers who maintain their eye health and use appropriate corrective eyewear, passing the test is very achievable. Tips to Prepare for Your DOT Eye Exam Many drivers bring their corrective eyewear, avoid excessive screen time beforehand, or bring documentation from their eye specialist if they have an existing condition. How Foley Simplifies DOT Vision & Physical Compliance Foley’s DOT physical management tools help carriers organize upcoming medical certificate renewals, maintain digital records, and stay aware of approaching deadlines. Automated scheduling workflows, centralized documentation, and optional reminders can support a more streamlined approach to managing DOT physicals across a fleet. That’s where Foley’s DOT physical software comes in. With Foley, you can: Automate DOT physical scheduling – Foley can automatically trigger a DOT physical order up to 60 days before a driver’s medical certificate expires, including exams where vision needs closer monitoring. Maintain a single digital archive of every driver’s medical certificate and exam history—no more digging through paper files during an audit. Use alerts and notifications to flag drivers whose health conditions (including vision issues evaluated under the alternative vision standard) may require more frequent review or documentation. Tap into a nationwide referral network of FMCSA-certified medical examiners so your drivers can complete their physicals, wherever they’re based. The result? A streamlined, audit-ready process for DOT physical management that helps reduce missed appointments, expired med cards, and DOT audit risk. Click here to schedule a free demo of Foley’s DOT compliance platform, and see how our solution supports your hiring, safety, and DOT compliance programs from end to end. Learn more about Foley's DOT Exam Software for DOT Physical Automation.

What Fleet Compliance Management Really Means Fleet compliance management is more than just checking boxes for the DOT. It’s the foundation that keeps your business safe, your vehicles on the road, and your reputation intact.

All the programs you need to be DOT compliant, all in one platform. Get Compliant Now

California’s commercial driver’s license program is facing heightened federal scrutiny — and thousands of drivers and fleets are feeling the impact. Following a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) audit, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced that the California DMV will revoke approximately 17,000 non-domiciled Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs) that were issued in violation of federal requirements. Those drivers have been notified that their CDLs will no longer meet federal standards and will expire within a set period. For carriers that rely on non-domiciled drivers, especially in California, this is a critical moment to recheck licenses, documentation, and monitoring processes. Quick Refresher: What Is a Non-Domiciled CDL? As of September 29, 2025, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) put new restrictions in place for non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) and permits (CLPs) — licenses issued to individuals whose permanent home is outside the United States. The rule significantly tightens eligibility and renewal requirements, creating new challenges for drivers who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents and the fleets that employ them. Under federal rules, when a state issues a non-domiciled CDL, it must: Verify the driver’s lawful presence using unexpired documents (such as an Employment Authorization Document or a foreign passport with I-94). Make sure the CDL does not extend beyond the expiration date of those documents. Follow specific rules when issuing to certain foreign nationals. In short: the CDL and the immigration/work-authorization timeline must always match and align under the updated federal framework. What Went Wrong in California? FMCSA’s annual review of California’s non-domiciled CDL program uncovered multiple issues, including: CDLs that remained valid past the expiration of the driver’s work authorization. Inadequate verification of immigration status. System gaps that allowed improper issuance or renewal of limited-term CDLs. When FMCSA dug deeper into a sample of recent non-domiciled CDL records, it found a significant share that did not comply with federal standards. Regulators then pushed California to address these issues, resulting in the revocation of about 17,000 non-domiciled CDLs. USDOT has also put federal funding on the line, signaling that sustained non-compliance could jeopardize tens of millions of dollars in highway safety funds. Even beyond California, FMCSA has been scrutinizing non-domiciled CDL programs in multiple states. The message to states and fleets is clear: non-domiciled CDL compliance is now a high-priority enforcement area. Who Is Affected? This enforcement action primarily impacts: Drivers With California Non-Domiciled CDLs Drivers who hold a California non-domiciled CDL and received a notice from DMV are directly affected. Once those licenses expire or are deemed out of compliance, they cannot be used to legally operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). Fleets Employing Non-Domiciled Drivers in California Carriers employing these drivers may face immediate operational and compliance risk. Dispatching a driver with an invalid CDL can lead to violations, out-of-service orders, and liability exposure in the event of a crash or audit. Multi-State Fleets Even if your fleet isn’t based in California, FMCSA’s actions there are a warning sign. If you rely on non-domiciled drivers licensed in any state, you should assume regulators may expand their reviews and tighten expectations. Immediate Next Steps for Fleets If you employ non-domiciled drivers — especially those licensed in California — here’s what to do now: Identify All Non-Domiciled CDL Holders: Many fleets begin by reviewing their current driver rosters and identifying: Those with California CDLs, and Any CDL noted as non-domiciled, limited term, or tied to temporary lawful presence. Note the issuing state and expiration dates for each driver. Request Driver Notices and Update Files: Fleets may choose to confirm whether affected drivers have received any DMV notice about their CDL. Keep a copy of these letters in the Driver Qualification File (DQF) and record any new expiration or disqualification dates. Learn more about everything that goes into creating a compliant DQF. Pull Fresh MVRs and Enable Continuous Monitoring: For impacted drivers, some fleets opt to obtain updated MVRs and use continuous monitoring so they are alerted quickly if a license is suspended, revoked, or expires. Depending solely on annual MVR pulls can increase the chance that a status change goes unnoticed. Learn why continuous MVR Monitoring isn't optional for employers in 2025. Build a Coverage Plan: If a portion of your California driver pool loses CDL eligibility, some operations teams plan for alternatives, such as: Identify backup drivers or reroutes now. Prioritize key lanes and customer commitments. Coordinate with recruiting to proactively fill gaps rather than reacting in crisis mode. Compliance & Monitoring Best Practices Beyond immediate triage, this situation is a chance to strengthen long-term compliance practices. Tie CDL Tracking to Work Authorization Some fleets track both CDL expiration dates and work-authorization documentation timelines to help identify gaps early. Set internal reminders for both timelines so you can validate updated documents before they lapse, not after. Tighten DQF Management DQFs typically include: Which drivers are non-domiciled. Current copies of licenses and any required supporting documents. Dates of your last review and any follow-up actions. Centralized, organized files are crucial during an audit — and they make it easier to spot problems earlier. Standardize Hiring & Screening Recruiting and HR teams may benefit from guidance on: Recognizing non-domiciled CDL situations during application and onboarding. Escalating complex cases to compliance, rather than making ad-hoc decisions. Avoiding giving immigration advice, while still ensuring work authorization documentation is properly collected and reviewed. Learn how leading fleets are overcoming the most prevalent hiring and onboarding challenges. Strengthen English Language Proficiency (ELP) Practices FMCSA is also focused on English Language Proficiency requirements. Hiring and training processes often include steps to confirm that drivers can: Read and understand traffic signs and signals. Communicate with enforcement officers. Complete required reports and records. Document your evaluations and any remedial training efforts. How Foley Can Help Regulatory expectations are shifting quickly, but your fleet still has freight to move. Foley's all-in-one compliance platform can help you: Centralize DQFs, track key expirations, and keep files audit-ready. Monitor licenses continuously with near-real-time alerts for suspensions, revocations, and expirations. Streamline hiring and onboarding while embedding compliance checks into your workflows. The Bottom Line The revocation of 17,000 non-domiciled CDLs in California is more than a local news story — it’s a signal that FMCSA expects tighter controls, better documentation, and proactive monitoring from both states and fleets. Now is the time to: Know exactly which drivers in your fleet hold non-domiciled CDLs, Strengthen your document tracking and MVR monitoring, and Put systems in place so regulatory changes don’t catch you off guard. If you’d like support evaluating your current risk and building a monitoring strategy that fits your operation, Foley is ready to help. Speak with a compliance specialist today.

Leaves are falling, freight is spiking, and weather’s about to get real. Whether you’re moving holiday parcels, running storm-response crews, or switching to winter service routes, seasonal drivers can make or break Q4/Q1 operations. The key is speed without skipping the DOT and risk-control steps that keep your authority (and brand) protected. Below is a practical checklist-driven guide—built for mixed fleets—to help you recruit, screen, and onboard seasonal CDL and non-CDL drivers the right way.

Running a mixed commercial fleet (CDL and non-CDL) means juggling vehicle classes, endorsements, and a lot of documentation. The core idea behind driver qualification is straightforward: prove—on paper and in practice—that every person you dispatch is eligible, trained, and fit to drive. That proof protects your operating authority, insurance standing, and brand—and skipping it can trigger costly penalties and business risk.

You’ve probably been there — 3 a.m. on an empty stretch of highway, headlights cutting through the dark, music up just to stay awake. You tell yourself, “Just one more hour.”

Why DOT Compliance Matters The Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) require every motor carrier to meet strict safety and documentation standards. Whether you manage one truck or a full fleet, DOT compliance protects your business from fines, shutdowns, and lost contracts.

The economy’s still in the driver’s seat — but compliance may be your best co-pilot. Each fall, the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) releases its Top Industry Issues Report — one of the most-watched publications in trucking. The 2025 edition has arrived, and once again, the findings reflect the state of an industry navigating high costs, changing regulations, and fast-moving technology.

Commercial Carrier Journal’s recent article underscores how non-compliance now threatens fleet survival—via nuclear verdicts, rising insurance exposure, and steep regulatory penalties. But the most fixable risks are also the most common. Foley CEO Joel Sitak calls out three hotspots and a modern playbook to address them:

In today’s transportation industry, data isn’t just for audits or compliance reports — it’s a powerful tool for smarter operations, safer drivers, and stronger bottom lines. The FMCSA’s focus areas are shifting, and every carrier — from small operations to nationwide fleets — is feeling the impact. To stay competitive, visibility into your data isn’t optional anymore. It’s essential.

Safety leaders are surrounded by data. Between telematics, dash cams, and in-cab alerts, you can see exactly when a driver hits the brakes too hard, edges over the speed limit, or reaches for their phone. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day monitoring of those events. But here’s the thing: all those small moments ultimately feed into one score that matters far more than the blips on your telematics dashboard — your CSA score. That number is how regulators, insurers, and even your customers measure the safety of your fleet.

Each year, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) conducts its annual International Roadcheck — a 72-hour inspection blitz across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico that provides a real-time snapshot of commercial motor vehicle safety.

Is FMCSA Eliminating MC Numbers? Short answer: Not yet. FMCSA has discussed stopping the assignment of new MC numbers, but there’s no official date for eliminating them. Multiple trusted industry sources have mentioned Oct. 1, 2025, but FMCSA hasn’t set that as a cutoff.

Your Fleet Metrics Tell a Bigger Story Every fleet has data—but the fleets that grow are the ones that know how to use it. Two metrics in particular reveal more than most: time-to-hire and compliance score. These numbers don’t just measure performance; they expose bottlenecks, hidden risks, and untapped opportunities within your operation. Whether you’re managing a small fleet of trucks, running a mixed fleet with both regulated and non-regulated drivers, or overseeing a large private fleet in manufacturing, distribution, or construction, these indicators show where efficiency thrives and where small gaps could grow into costly problems. Let’s explore how tracking these metrics—and acting on them through Foley’s new software platform—can improve safety, compliance, and profitability across your entire organization. What Time-to-Hire Really Tells You About Your Fleet

The long and winding road to digital med cards, or Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Medical Examiner’s Certification Integration Rule / Rule II / National Registry II (NRII), has been notoriously bumpy. If you’re a commercial driver, a fleet manager, or anyone dealing with DOT compliance, you’ve probably heard about this transition – potentially since the rule was first proposed about a decade ago.

Important update relating to the transition to the Medical Examiner's Certification Integration (NRII) final rule:

Why Compliance Technology is Essential for Fleets Managing a commercial fleet today, no matter the size, means navigating stricter DOT and FMCSA regulations, maintaining driver safety, and staying audit-ready. Relying on spreadsheets and manual processes puts companies at risk of violations, lost efficiency, and higher costs.

Foley's Apply by License feature helps you get qualified CDL candidates in the door faster—but what happens after the scan?

DOT Physical: Diabetes Guidelines 2025 To drive a commercial vehicle over 10,000 pounds, you need to pass a DOT (Department of Transportation) physical. The DOT physical isn’t something you need to be afraid of, but if you have diabetes or high blood sugar levels (or suspect you do), you may have some concerns about your ability to pass. DOT regulations and medical guidelines regarding diabetes continue to evolve. Below is an updated and clarified guide, incorporating the 2024/2025 changes and best practices. Why Diabetes is Critical in DOT Physicals Diabetes—especially when uncontrolled—can cause fatigue, dizziness, blindness, kidney disease, neuropathy, or episodes of hypoglycemia, all of which can compromise a driver’s safety. Drivers with undiagnosed or poorly managed diabetes are at increased risk of events that may impair their ability to safely operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). Because of this risk, DOT physicals scrutinize diabetes status closely. If you have a known diagnosis—or clinical signs or lab values suggest diabetes—the examiner will dig deeper. What the FMCSA / DOT Actually Requires Insulin-Treated Diabetes (ITDM) Is No Longer Automatically Disqualifying Key requirements under the rule include: The driver must otherwise meet the standard physical qualification criteria under § 391.41. Before the DOT physical exam, the individual must be evaluated by their treating clinician, who must complete the Insulin-Treated Diabetes Mellitus Assessment Form (MCSA-5870). The completed MCSA-5870 (signed by the treating clinician) must be provided to the medical examiner no later than 45 days before or after the physical exam (per the statute). The medical examiner must review the MCSA-5870, consider the driver’s glucose records and control, and determine whether any complications of diabetes might impair safe driving. For drivers using insulin, self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) data from an electronic glucometer (with timestamps and downloadable data) is required. The driver must provide at least 3 months of compliant SMBG data for a 12-month certification; if SMBG records aren’t available, only a 3-month certificate may be granted. Anyone with severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy or proliferative diabetic retinopathy is disqualified from operating CMVs. If a driver experiences a severe hypoglycemic episode (e.g. requiring assistance, loss of consciousness, seizure), that event must be reported, evaluated by the treating clinician, and a new MCSA-5870 completed before returning to duty. Until then, they may not legally operate. Thus, insulin use is no longer an automatic “no,” but it requires stricter documentation, data, and oversight. Non-Insulin Diabetes & Lab Work For drivers with diabetes managed by diet, oral medications, or non-insulin injectables: You must bring recent labs to your DOT physical (fasting blood glucose, HbA1c). The DOT physical examiner will check whether your diabetes is controlled, and evaluate for complications (e.g. kidney disease, neuropathy, vision issues). The maximum valid period for a medical certificate remains 12 months for drivers with diabetes. It’s worth noting that the FMCSA rule itself does not mandate a specific A1c cutoff as a rigid threshold. The treating clinician and medical examiner may use HbA1c as one factor, but must jointly determine whether control is adequate. The article’s statement that drivers must have an A1c < 10% is a practical guideline many examiners use—but it is not explicitly required in the federal rule. New or Recent Updates to Watch Updated forms expiration: The FMCSA updated the OMB expiration dates on key medical forms (MCSA-5875, 5876, 5870, 5871) to December 31, 2024. Medical examiners are encouraged to switch to the newer versions as soon as possible. Partnering with a third-party compliance expert can help ensure you're working with FMCSA-certified physicians who are trained to follow DOT protocols. Medical Examiner’s Handbook 2024: The 2024 edition of the Medical Examiner’s Handbook is now the authoritative guide for examiners and health professionals. Greater scrutiny on comorbidities: Drivers with diabetes often have coexisting hypertension, cardiovascular disease, kidney impairment, or retinopathy. Examiners are increasingly vigilant in reviewing medical history, labs, and evidence of complications when certifying drivers. This makes it even more important for you to keep organized, compliant driver files to reduce the risk of failing safety audits. Data expectations: Electronic SMBG records are not just “nice to have”—they are a regulatory requirement for drivers on insulin. Examiners expect downloadable readings with dates and times. Proper DOT recordkeeping is essential for compliance. Related guide: Compliant Driver Qualification Files (DQFs) Made Simple How to Improve Your Chances of Passing with Diabetes If you have diabetes (or suspect you might), here are best practices to reduce friction at your DOT physical: Keep your blood sugar consistently controlled. Avoid wide swings or frequent hypoglycemic events. Use an electronic glucometer that stores readings with timestamps, and maintain at least 3 months of data if on insulin. Visit and coordinate with your treating clinician to complete the MCSA-5870 well ahead of your physical. Bring all relevant lab results (fasting glucose, HbA1c, kidney function, etc.) to the exam. Address and document any diabetic complications (eyes, kidneys, nerves) clearly. Follow a healthy diet, regular exercise, and maintain other cardiovascular risk factors (BP, lipids). Stay current on medication adherence and document it. If you initially fail or are denied certification, work with your provider to bring your control into range—and document improvements—before retesting. How a Compliance Partner Can Help With Foley’s DOT physical software, managing diabetes compliance becomes part of an automated and audit-ready workflow. Foley can auto-order a driver’s DOT physical up to 60 days before their medical certificate expires, ensuring no lapses in certification. Once the exam is completed, the new medical certificate is uploaded and stored alongside prior ones in a single digital archive, giving you a “source of truth” that helps avoid missing or expired documents during safety audits. Learn how Elberta Logistics eliminated manual DOT compliance management with Foley You can also set up alerts or notifications for drivers whose health clearance require more frequent review, so your team never overlooks a borderline case. And if drivers are spread across the country, Foley’s referral network of FMCSA-certified medical examiners helps you steer them to approved providers no matter where they’re located. Questions? Reach out to speak with a Foley compliance specialist today.

Why Blood Pressure Matters in DOT Physicals Hypertension remains one of the most common and consequential medical issues among U.S. adults. Elevated blood pressure (BP) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, stroke, and kidney damage—conditions that can impair a driver’s ability to safely operate commercial vehicles. In the DOT (FMCSA) physical, blood pressure is a critical screening element. Drivers must meet specified thresholds to be medically certified for a certain duration. This ensures drivers are not endangering themselves or others due to underlying health risk. Because the medical and regulatory landscape evolves (e.g. new clinical hypertension guidelines, updated FMCSA examiner handbooks), it’s important to keep this article refreshed with the latest data and rules. What the FMCSA / Medical Examiners Handbook Now Says The 2024 Medical Examiner’s Handbook is the current reference for certified medical examiners. It replaces all prior editions. The handbook includes updated guidance on medical conditions, examiner discretion, and qualification criteria. While the handbook doesn’t itself “set new blood pressure limits,” certified examiners must follow it, and the FMCSA’s regulation § 391.41(b)(6) is still the legal basis for medical qualification. So far, there has been no official public announcement from the FMCSA revising the hypertension thresholds beyond what is already practiced (see next section). Media posts about “new DOT blood pressure guidelines” should be taken cautiously unless tied to official FMCSA or Federal Register changes. Current DOT / FMCSA Blood Pressure Guidelines (as of 2025) According to FMCSA guidance (e.g. via § 391.41(b)(6) and the Medical Examiner’s Handbook), and consistent with commonly used interpretations by examiners and DOT-physical providers: BP Category What It Means for DOT Certification < 140 / 90 mmHg Eligible for 2-year certification (if no other disqualifying condition) 140–159 / 90–99 (“Stage 1 hypertension”) Certification limited to 1 year; requires annual monitoring 160–179 / 100–109 (“Stage 2 hypertension”) One-time 3-month certificate (to allow time for treatment); if BP is controlled to ≤140/90, then a 1-year certificate may be granted ≥ 180 / ≥ 110 (“Stage 3 hypertension”) Disqualification until BP is controlled; after control, possible six-month certification or more frequent review Notes / nuances: Some providers and industry commentary term Stage 3 as “automatic fail,” though in practice examiners may provide conditional clearance once BP is brought under control. Drivers under treatment (on antihypertensive medication) can be certified — but usually only on a 1-year basis (even if BP is optimal) unless there is a longer-term clearance protocol in place. “White coat hypertension” (elevated readings due to exam stress) is a recognized issue; some examiners may take multiple readings or ask for home monitoring data. Some drivers with coexisting conditions (e.g. kidney disease, diabetes) may be subject to more stringent BP goals from their primary physician, but DOT limits remain as above for certification purposes. Thus, the thresholds stated in the original article remain largely correct under current practice. To be safe, always consult your certified medical examiner or the latest FMCSA guidance. What’s New or Worth Emphasizing No formal new BP rules yet: Although some third-party articles (e.g. “2025 MCSA Physical Standards Update”) suggest updates, they mostly focus on administrative changes (updated forms, documentation) rather than changed BP thresholds. Revised examination forms: As of 2025, new versions of Form MCSA-5875 (Medical Examination Report) and MCSA-5876 (Medical Examiner’s Certificate) are required. Examiners must use the updated forms to avoid rejections. Partnering with a third-party compliance expert can help ensure you're working with FMCSA-certified physicians who are trained to follow DOT protocols. Increased regulatory scrutiny on comorbidities: The 2025 “standards update” commentary suggests more focus on conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular events, and mental health. While not directly changing BP thresholds, this means examiners may request more documentation, clearances, or medical oversight in borderline cases. This makes it even more important for you to keep organized, compliant driver files to reduce the risk of failing safety audits. Hypertension guidelines from the medical field are evolving: New hypertension guidelines (2025) emphasize earlier and broader treatment for high BP, with lower target goals in many cases. For drivers, this means medical expectations may shift over time, and examiners might increasingly expect tighter control. If a driver’s treating physician holds to a more aggressive target (<130/80), this may influence documentation and perceived driver fitness. Emphasis on preventive care and monitoring: Industry experts suggest drivers should proactively monitor BP, carry a portable cuff, and act early. In fact, many companies increasingly view health programs (wellness, telehealth) as part of fleet risk management. Related guide: Compliant Driver Qualification Files (DQFs) Made Simple How to Pass (or Retake) the DOT Physical When BP is Elevated Short-term strategies (days to weeks before the exam): Reduce sodium intake (processed foods, high-salt restaurant meals) Increase water intake to flush sodium Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and heavy exertion immediately before exam Practice relaxation / deep breathing to lower “white coat” effect Monitor BP at home (or using reliable cuff) and bring readings/printouts to the exam If under medical supervision, ensure medication compliance Long-term strategies: Adopt a heart-healthy diet (DASH diet, fruits, vegetables, lean protein) Regular cardiovascular activity (walking, cycling, resistance) Weight reduction if overweight Limit alcohol, quit smoking Regular primary care / cardiology monitoring Adjust medications in coordination with doctor Maintain driver medical documentation (labs, BP logs, physician notes) If a driver initially fails or is restricted, the goal is to bring BP under control, document consistent improvement, and reschedule a re-examination (or provide clearance to the examiner). How a Compliance Partner Can Help With Foley’s DOT physical software, managing blood pressure compliance becomes part of an automated and audit-ready workflow. Foley can auto-order a driver’s DOT physical up to 60 days before their medical certificate expires, ensuring no lapses in certification. Once the exam is completed, the new medical certificate is uploaded and stored alongside prior ones in a single digital archive, giving you a “source of truth” that helps avoid missing or expired documents during safety audits. Learn how Elberta Logistics eliminated manual DOT compliance management with Foley You can also set up alerts or notifications for drivers whose BP readings or health clearance require more frequent review, so your team never overlooks a borderline case. And if drivers are spread across the country, Foley’s referral network of FMCSA-certified medical examiners helps you steer them to approved providers no matter where they’re located. Questions? Reach out to speak with a Foley compliance specialist today.

As of September 29, 2025, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) put new restrictions in place for non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) and permits (CLPs) — licenses issued to individuals whose permanent home is outside the United States.

Navigating the intersection of prescription medicine and federal safety regulations can feel like walking a tightrope—especially for commercial drivers who must remain DOT-compliant. With updates to the FMCSA Clearinghouse and evolving medical review practices, the key question in 2025 remains: Which drugs can disqualify a CDL/CMV driver — even when legally prescribed?

How often do you check the Commercial Driver’s License Information System (CDLIS) for new information on your drivers? As it turns out, you should do it more often than you think. The FMCSA violation data highlights the importance of rescreening drivers’ CDLIS records on a regular basis to ensure they aren’t operating with more than one CDL. For several years running, it’s been among the most common acute violations – hitting carriers with fines of at least $3,000 per occurrence. And these fines continue to rise. Bottom line: It's a little extra effort to ensure you're in compliance. What the Regulation Says Regulation Section 383.37(b) states that “No employer may allow, require, permit or authorize a driver to operate a CMV in the United States if he or she knows or should reasonably know that” the driver has more than one CLP or CDL. When a driver goes to get a CDL or CPL, the state is supposed to query the CDLIS to ensure the driver doesn’t have an active commercial driver’s license or permit in another state. However, as the violation data above shows, this process doesn’t always uncover the needed information. And because a CDLIS screen isn’t a required part of the driver hiring process, these multiple CDL drivers are often able to get behind the wheel pretty easily – putting themselves and their employers at risk of a hefty fine if they’re stopped for either a traffic violation or roadside inspection. Questions About DOT Background Checks and Screening? We Can Help! What the CDLIS Shows A CDLIS report includes information on the driver’s current Commercial Driver’s License number and the issuing state, as well as up to three prior CDLs held by the driver – including those held under an alias or former name. In addition to keeping drivers with multiple CDLs off the road, this information also gives you a more complete picture of your driver’s history. If the report shows that they held CDLs in states you weren’t made aware of, this will allow you to run a motor vehicle report (MVR) to ensure there were no serious infractions or safety issues that you’d want to consider prior to making a hiring decision. Related Article: Are Your MVRs FCRA Compliant How to Protect Yourself from Violations, Fines & Litigation In addition to the fines, any trace of violating this code can and will be held against you in court if the driver with multiple CDLs is involved in an accident that results in a lawsuit. Even though the driver’s license may not have had a direct impact on the accident itself, attorneys are on the lookout for any hint of motor carrier negligence – especially in nuclear verdict cases. If you haven’t heard about these multi-million dollar cases, we have a few resources available to help you get up to speed: White Paper: Your 6-Step Nuclear Verdict Protection Plan (Plus FREE Checklist!) Webinar: The Connection Between Driver File Compliance & Nuclear Verdicts Blog: Are Your Driver Files Putting You at Risk? Doing the bare minimum to comply with FMCSA requirements simply isn’t enough anymore. If you want to avoid facing hefty price tags – both from the DOT and the judge who may rule a case against you – going above and beyond to ensure your driver files contain accurate, comprehensive employee information is how you can reduce risk. The best way to protect your business from a violation is to run a CDLIS rescreen on your drivers on a regular basis to ensure they’re operating with a single commercial driver’s license. If multiple CDLs are found, the driver must be pulled from the road until the issue is fixed. Partner with the Right CDLIS Check Provider Keep in mind that because the CDLIS rescreen is a background check, it’s important to work with a DOT background screening company like Foley to help ensure that all CDLIS reports, MVRs, and other screens are run both accurately and compliantly. To learn more about how Foley can help you set up a compliant rescreening program, please reach out.

Ensuring DOT Compliance with Accurate Driver Screening Both Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) and Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) reports are crucial tools for ensuring compliance with Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, but they serve distinct purposes and provide different types of information. In this blog post, we'll explore the key differences between MVR and PSP reports, their significance in the hiring process, and how they help organizations maintain a safe and compliant fleet. What is a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR)? A Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) is a report that provides a driver's history, including their license status, traffic violations, and accidents. MVR reports can help you identify high-risk candidates and drivers and make smarter hiring decisions, and regular checks can help you keep tabs on your drivers' habits so you can take corrective action, if ever needed. IMPORTANT NOTE: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires annual Motor Vehicle Record checks for all drivers of commercial motor vehicles, and this applies nationwide in all states. MVRs are typically obtained from state motor vehicle agencies and are used by employers to screen potential drivers and ensure they meet the necessary qualifications. The information contained in an MVR can vary by state, but it generally includes: Driver's license status Traffic convictions Accidents License suspensions or revocations IMPORTANT NOTE: Since an MVR check is a consumer report, employers must comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, including disclosure and authorization requirements and adverse action procedures. An Aside on Continuous MVR Monitoring While an MVR is a static report that captures a driver’s history at a single point in time, MVR monitoring goes a step further by continuously tracking each driver’s motor vehicle record. With monitoring in place, any changes—often called “hits”—trigger a new report that is uploaded, scanned for accuracy, and followed by an immediate notification. By law, MVRs only need to be pulled once a year, but a lot can happen in 12 months. Without monitoring, an employer might not learn about violations or incidents until the next annual report. A monitoring program ensures that any updates are captured in real time, providing a much more proactive approach. A PSP, on the other hand, is only pulled during the hiring process. It is continually updated through the MCMIS, so when a driver changes jobs, the new employer can access the most current record of that driver’s safety and inspection history. What is a Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) Report? A Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) report, on the other hand, is a comprehensive report that provides a driver's safety history, including data from the DOT's Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS). PSP reports are designed to help employers make informed hiring decisions by providing a more detailed picture of a driver's safety record. A PSP report typically includes: Driver's identification information Safety ratings Five years of crash data Three years of roadside inspection history Violations NOTE: A PSP is not federally mandated by the DOT. The FMCSA makes it available, but employers can choose whether to order a PSP report when screening a driver. Key Differences Between MVR and PSP Reports While both MVR and PSP reports are used to screen drivers, there are significant differences between the two: Source of Information: MVRs are obtained from state motor vehicle agencies, while PSP reports are generated from the DOT's MCMIS database. Scope of Information: MVRs provide a more limited view of a driver's history, focusing on license status and traffic violations. PSP reports, by contrast, offer a more comprehensive picture of a driver's safety record, including crash data and inspection history. Purpose: MVRs are typically used to verify a driver's qualifications and ensure compliance with state regulations. PSP reports are used to assess a driver's safety risk and make informed hiring decisions. Why Both MVR and PSP Reports are Essential for Compliance To ensure DOT compliance, organizations must use both MVR and PSP reports as part of their driver screening process. Here's why: Comprehensive Screening: Using both MVR and PSP reports provides a more complete picture of a driver's history and safety record. Regulatory Compliance: The DOT requires employers to review a driver's PSP report before hiring them, and to maintain accurate records of their safety performance. Risk Management: By using both MVR and PSP reports, organizations can better assess a driver's safety risk and make informed decisions about their hiring and retention. Best Practices for Using MVR and PSP Reports To get the most out of MVR and PSP reports, organizations should: Use both reports: Combine MVR and PSP reports to get a comprehensive view of a driver's history and safety record. Verify driver information: Ensure that driver information is accurate and up-to-date to avoid errors or discrepancies. Maintain accurate records: Keep accurate records of driver safety performance, including MVR and PSP reports. By understanding the differences between MVR and PSP reports, and using both as part of a comprehensive driver screening process, organizations can ensure DOT compliance, reduce risk, and maintain a safe and compliant fleet. Your Compliance Partner At Foley, we're committed to helping organizations navigate the complexities of DOT regulations and maintain a strong compliance posture. We offer multiple platform packages designed to meet the needs of commercial fleets of all sizes with a range of screening solutions, including MVRs, PSPs, CSA monitoring, and more. If you have questions about MVR and PSP reports, or need guidance on ensuring DOT compliance, we're here to help. Contact us to speak with a compliance expert today.

You’re juggling driver files, drug testing deadlines, DOT requirements, maintenance records—and still trying to sleep at night knowing your company is audit-ready. Sound familiar? Even on the best-run teams, things fall through the cracks. Maybe you're tracking everything in spreadsheets. Maybe you’ve got an all-star employee handling files manually. But in a fast-moving, regulation-heavy environment, it only takes one missed signature, one expired license, or one delayed test result to trigger serious consequences. That’s why we built the Foley Compliance Score within our enhanced platform. It’s not a government standard. It’s a Foley-created tool designed to solve the real problems that safety and compliance managers face every day: the pressure, the complexity, and the fear of unpleasant surprises at work. What Is the Compliance Score? Your Compliance Score is a real-time, data-backed snapshot of how well your team is keeping up with compliance tasks across your workforce—how close you are to full compliance. It pulls directly from the data and alerts generated inside the Foley platform—things like expiring medical cards, incomplete applications, overdue screenings, or unsigned disclosures. Every item requiring your attention is factored into your score and organized by priority so you can focus on what matters most. And because this isn’t just about your score in isolation, we added two more layers: Peer Benchmarking: See how your company compares to others like yours. Are you keeping pace? Falling behind? Outperforming your industry peers? It's a great tool to help you prove your trustworthiness in relation to similar companies to both potential customers and insurance carriers. Week-over-Week Progress: Track how your team is doing over time. If your score dropped 10 points since last week, it's time to take a look at your alerts and get to work. What Counts as an “Alert”? An alert is any compliance-related action your team needs to take. These can include: A license that’s close to expiring A missing medical certification A driver profile that needs document updates A pending drug or alcohol test An unsigned disclosure or release form In other words, alerts are the tasks standing between you and 100% compliance. Inside the Foley platform, alerts aren’t just thrown into a list. They’re structured and easy to act on—complete with in-platform prompts, linked documents, and status filters so you don’t have to hunt around for the next step. For a deeper dive into all the features of Foley's enhanced platform, check out our new product guide. Built-in Motivation (And a Little Healthy Competition) We added peer benchmarking to the Compliance Score because it’s not just about checking boxes—it’s about raising the bar. Knowing how your company stacks up against others of similar size gives you valuable context. It helps you: Spot areas where you’re falling behind Celebrate progress with your team Stay competitive in a safety-driven industry A higher Compliance Score doesn’t just feel good. It shows the world—your customers, your insurers, your leadership team—that you’re serious about safety. That kind of visibility pays off. Safe companies win more contracts. They have lower insurance premiums. They attract higher-quality candidates. And they spend less time hiring, onboarding, and retraining because their teams stay longer. In other words, safety isn’t just a culture—it’s a strategy. And the Compliance Score helps you drive it forward. Quick Tip: Log in weekly and make the Compliance Score part of your routine. Not only will it keep your alerts in check—it helps you stay focused, stay ready, and stay in control of your compliance goals. Real-time Value Just imagine... you’re prepping for an internal review. Instead of chasing down paper files or scanning for updates across four different systems, you open your Foley dashboard. Your Compliance Score is high. Your Alert count is low. Everything is sorted, prioritized, and one click away from being resolved. You know which drivers are clean. You know which ones need a follow-up. You’ve already handled the risks—because the platform showed them to you early. You can rest easy. Want to See Your Score? If you’re already a Foley customer, your Compliance Score is waiting on your dashboard—simply log in and it'll be the first thing you see. Not yet a customer? We’d love to show you how it works—and how it can bring clarity to your compliance process, no matter what industry you’re in. Contact us today to see Foley's industry-leading platform in action.

BOSTON – September 23, 2025 – Foley, a leading provider of compliance and monitoring solutions for commercial fleets, has been named to the 2026 FreightTech 100, FreightWaves’ annual list recognizing the most innovative and disruptive companies in transportation and logistics.

Foley recently announced the launch of its completely reimagined compliance platform — an end-to-end solution for recruiting, onboarding, and monitoring drivers. To better understand what this means for fleets and the industry as a whole, we sat down with Foley’s CEO, Joel Sitak, for an in-depth conversation.

What FMCSA regulations do school bus companies need to follow?

No matter the size, running a fleet means constant demands: hiring drivers, managing DOT compliance, staying audit-ready, and monitoring safety data. For many fleets, that translates into endless paperwork and chasing deadlines with limited visibility. Foley’s new compliance platform changes that—making it easier than ever to stay compliant, hire faster, and manage risk in real time. Following are a few highlights that set our technology apart. Read the official platform launch announcement

BOSTON — Sept. 10, 2025 — Foley announced today the launch of its completely reimagined, all-in-one software platform designed to solve one of the biggest challenges facing fleet and safety managers and owner-operators: managing recruiting and compliance without drowning in paperwork. Built for fleets of all sizes, Foley’s AI-ready platform simplifies hiring, onboarding, and DOT compliance—giving users more control, better visibility, and fewer headaches.

Boston, MA — Sept. 3, 2025 — Foley, a leading provider of compliance, hiring, and monitoring solutions for commercial fleets, is proud to announce the appointment of Laura Stapleton as its new Vice President of People.

As fall approaches, fleet managers are gearing up for one of the busiest and most important months in the transportation industry. From national safety observances to major conferences, September 2025 is packed with opportunities to sharpen your compliance strategy, celebrate your drivers, and stay ahead of regulatory changes.

Fleet management is evolving rapidly, driven by the need for greater efficiency, compliance, and safety. One of the most significant shifts is the move from paper-based systems to digital solutions—highlighted by the FMCSA’s Medical Examiner’s Certification Integration (NRII) rule, which aims to digitize med card submissions. However, the rollout has faced challenges, including several states that have yet to adopt the rule, prompting FMCSA to issue a temporary waiver allowing continued use of paper cards. This situation underscores the complexities fleets face during the digital transition. In this article, we’ll explore why this shift is happening and how digital tools are reshaping the future of fleet operations. Why Paper-Based Processes Are Holding You Back For years, fleet managers have used paper for hiring, onboarding, keeping records, and staying compliant. But paper systems can be slow, messy, and hard to manage. They often lead to: Time wasted on paperwork, data entry, and document management Mistakes and missing information Trouble finding records when you need them Limited access to important details Why Going Digital Makes Life Easier Digital tools help solve these problems by keeping everything in one secure, easy-to-use place. Here’s how they help: ✅Save Time: Automating tasks means less paperwork and more time for what matters. ✅Stay Compliant: Digital systems keep your records accurate and up to date, helping you avoid fines. ✅Boost Safety: With better tracking and alerts, you can spot issues early and keep your drivers safe. A real-world example: While NRII adoption lags for many, the transition is a breeze for Foley's customers. The platform's compliance dashboard and alerts give fleets real-time visibility into upcoming med card and CDL expirations — helping them stay ahead of requirements without waiting on state systems to catch up. Foley's Digital Solutions for Fleet Management At Foley, we understand the significance of digital transformation for fleet management and safety across various industries. Our comprehensive, all-in-one platform is designed to help companies like yours streamline operations, improve compliance, and enhance safety. Some of our key offerings include: Mobile-First Job Application: Our DOT-compliant job application is designed to increase application submissions by 33% and provide a seamless candidate experience. Digital Driver Qualification Files (DQFs): Foley's digital driver files eliminate compliance gaps and reduce the time spent managing driver records by up to 50%. Electronic Custody & Control Forms: The platform's fully electronic CCF process ensures a faster and more accurate drug and alcohol testing program, reducing omissions and the potential for re-tests. Comprehensive DOT Recordkeeping: Our DOT compliance software platform securely stores records and notifies you when updates are required, ensuring you're always compliant. Case Study: DNC Logistics Our digital solutions have already made a significant impact on companies like DNC Logistics. By implementing Foley's digital DQFs, they were able to cut their driver file management time by 50%. As Rich Hodnicki, Compliance Manager at DNC Logistics, noted, "The process is so much more efficient. If a CDL needs to be renewed or a driver needs his DOT physical, I can see that right from my Foley dashboard. Everything is right there in one place." Rich’s experience reflects what many Foley customers see: not just centralized access to driver records, but faster turnaround times for everyday compliance tasks, like scheduling screenings or managing random drug and alcohol tests. With workflows consolidated in one platform, fleets spend less time chasing paperwork and more time focusing on driver safety, operational improvements, and growing their business. Read the full case study. Embracing the Future of Fleet Management The shift to digital processes is not just a trend; it's a necessity for fleet management companies looking to remain competitive and compliant. By adopting digital solutions, you can improve efficiency, reduce risk, and enhance safety. At Foley, we're committed to helping you navigate this transition and achieve your business goals. Ready to experience the benefits of digital processes for yourself? Request a demo of our hiring and DOT compliance software today and discover how Foley can help you thrive in the evolving fleet management landscape.

September 14–20, 2025 marks National Truck Driver Appreciation Week—a time to recognize the hardworking drivers who keep our supply chains moving and our businesses thriving. At Foley, we know that drivers aren’t just employees—they’re the backbone of your operation. And in today’s competitive market, showing appreciation isn’t just thoughtful—it’s strategic. Here are fresh, meaningful ways to celebrate your drivers this year:

From August 24–30, commercial motor vehicle inspectors across North America are conducting roadside inspections as part of CVSA’s Brake Safety Week. This annual initiative focuses on the importance of properly functioning and well-maintained brake systems—and this year, inspectors are zeroing in on brake drums and rotors. These components are critical to brake efficiency and safety. Cracked or broken drums and rotors can lead to catastrophic failures, including debris dislodging during travel and causing damage or injury.

With many industries facing a persistent driver shortage—estimated to exceed 80,000 drivers this year—carriers are under pressure to recruit faster and more efficiently. In a market where drivers have multiple job options, companies that streamline their hiring process gain a clear advantage.

At Foley, we know that no two industries are alike. Each faces its own set of regulations, risks, and operational demands. That’s why we offer customized solutions designed to help businesses stay compliant, streamline operations, and thrive in competitive markets.

Amazon is one of the most widely known companies offering local and long-haul delivery opportunities for trucking companies, especially owner-operators, as part of its Amazon Relay program. But the world's largest online retailer doesn't accept just anyone to haul their freight. Effective in early August 2025, Amazon will be enhancing its safety standards for the Amazon Relay program by introducing standardized background checks for drivers onboarding to the platform. This change aims to ensure consistent safety standards for drivers hauling Amazon Relay loads and working in Amazon yards.

The commercial fleet industry faces unique hiring and onboarding challenges that can significantly impact operations and compliance. Foley's comprehensive hiring and onboarding platform is designed to address these challenges head-on, providing a streamlined and compliant solution for fleet managers. Common Hiring Challenges in Commercial Fleets Commercial fleets often struggle with attracting qualified candidates, managing the hiring process efficiently, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. Traditional hiring methods can be time-consuming and prone to errors, leading to delays in onboarding new drivers. Moreover, the lack of a centralized system can result in disorganization and increased risk of non-compliance. Foley's Hiring and Onboarding Solutions Foley's platform offers a suite of tools designed to tackle these challenges. Key features include: Streamlined Job Posting: Create and manage job postings across popular job boards, reaching Foley's database of safety-sensitive job seekers. Mobile-First Application: A mobile-friendly application process that has been shown to increase applicant numbers by over 11%. Candidates can start their application by simply taking a picture of their driver's license. Phased Background Screening: Execute critical background checks first, providing insight into candidates' histories without unnecessary expenses. Full Compliance Management: Manage driver files, motor vehicle records (MVRs), drug tests, and FMCSA Clearinghouse queries in one system, ensuring audit readiness. Benefits of Foley's Platform By utilizing Foley's hiring and onboarding platform, commercial fleets can: Reduce Time-to-Hire: Streamline the hiring process, reducing data entry errors and improving communication. Improve Candidate Quality: Attract more qualified candidates with a user-friendly application process. Simplify Compliance Management: Keep your records current and organized to help minimize the risk of violations and fines. [RELATED ARTICLE] Consolidating Tech Vendors for Commercial Fleet Management Real-World Success Foley's platform has already made a significant impact for companies like Koppers, reducing their time-to-hire by 85%. By simplifying the hiring process for CDL drivers across multiple locations, Koppers was able to cut their hiring time from four weeks to just two days. Getting Started with Foley Foley's experts are available to provide personalized demos, showing how to keep hiring, screening, and onboarding organized and compliant. By leveraging Foley's comprehensive platform, commercial fleets can build a strong safety-first foundation and improve their overall hiring and onboarding processes. Discover how Foley can tailor solutions to your industry needs and start building a more efficient and compliant hiring process today. Schedule a demo to see our platform in action.

As an owner-operator or other employee with the critical role of helping manage commercial fleets, ensuring compliance with federal regulations is crucial to avoiding costly fines, maintaining a good safety record, and protecting your company's reputation. However, navigating the complex landscape of compliance requirements can be challenging, and even experienced managers can make critical mistakes. In this article, we'll explore the top five compliance mistakes made by commercial fleet operators who are federally regulated and discuss how to avoid these pitfalls. Mistake #1: Inadequate Driver Qualification File Management One of the most significant compliance mistakes commercial fleet managers make is failing to properly maintain driver qualification files (DQFs). DQFs are critical documents that contain information about a driver's qualifications, including their license, medical certification, and employment history. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires that DQFs be accurate, complete, and up-to-date. Defining a clear process for creating and proactively managing your files or leveraging specialized DQF management software to do so will help ensure compliance. On-demand Webinar: 9 Expert Tips for Managing Driver Qualification Files Mistake #2: Insufficient Drug and Alcohol Testing Another common compliance mistake is inadequate drug and alcohol testing. The FMCSA requires that commercial drivers be subject to regular drug and alcohol testing, including pre-employment, random, post-accident, and return-to-duty tests. That's a lot to keep up with. Many successful fleet managers outsource their drug and alcohol testing program management to external partners who can take this burden off their plates and ensure there are no costly mistakes. Related Blog Post: DOT Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse Compliance Basics Mistake #3: Failure to Monitor Driver Safety Data Commercial fleet managers often overlook the importance of or don't have the time to proactively monitor driver safety data, which can lead to unnoticed safety issues and increased risk. Today's leading CSA data monitoring software provides safety and fleet managers with greater visibility and enables quicker responses to any issues. In a single platform, you can track your driver and risk data in real-time, and receive alerts on crashes, inspections, and violations for every driver. This allows you to identify potential safety issues early and take proactive steps to mitigate risk. On-demand Webinar: Understanding CSA Data & How It Works Mistake #4: Inaccurate or Incomplete FMCSA Clearinghouse Queries The FMCSA Clearinghouse is a critical tool for ensuring compliance with drug and alcohol testing regulations. However, many commercial fleet managers struggle to accurately and completely query the Clearinghouse, which can lead to compliance issues. Fleet managers must either become experts on this task or work with a trusted Third-Party Administrator (TPA) to run FMCSA Clearinghouse Compliance queries and report drug and alcohol violations on their behalf. Free Guide: Queries & Consents: Everything You Need to Know About DOT Clearinghouse Recordkeeping Mistake #5: Inadequate Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) Monitoring Finally, commercial fleet managers often fail to properly monitor their drivers' motor vehicle records (MVRs), which can lead to unnoticed safety issues and increased risk. MVR monitoring is a critical part of a driver safety program that can help you identify high-risk candidates and drivers, fulfill annual DOT MVR check requirements, reduce your company's risk profile, and comply with state and federal regulations. The best MVR monitoring software alerts you when a driver receives a new violation, license suspension, or other reportable event, enabling you to respond quickly and reduce risk across your fleet. Learn more: Why Continuous MVR Monitoring Isn't Optional for Employers in 2025 Knowledge is Power By understanding common compliance mistakes, fleet operators and their teams can develop strategic, proactive programs that meet their specific needs and identify potential gaps in their existing safety plans. Foley's comprehensive suite of compliance solutions can help you stay on top of your compliance obligations, from driver qualification file management to drug and alcohol testing, safety data monitoring, FMCSA Clearinghouse queries, and MVR monitoring. By leveraging Foley's expertise and technology, you can mitigate risk, improve safety, and drive business success, whether you're a small fleet or a large enterprise. We are here to help you achieve a safer, more efficient, and more successful fleet management operation. See our platform in action.

As a commercial fleet manager, staying on top of compliance requirements can be a daunting task. The ever-changing landscape of regulations, coupled with the complexity of managing a fleet, can lead to increased risk of violations, fines, and DOT audit issues. Serving a wide range of federally regulated industries, Foley's compliance and monitoring software is designed to help alleviate these challenges and provide peace of mind. We Feel Your Pain Our team of experts understands fleet managers face numerous challenges when it comes to compliance. And with 50,000 customers — many of whom are trying to run a business on top of managing their risk — we've heard it all. It can feel overwhelming just trying to keep up. Some of the most significant pain points we hear include: Managing multiple compliance tasks, such as FMCSA Clearinghouse checks, DOT physical management, and drug and alcohol testing Managing multiple compliance tasks, such as FMCSA Clearinghouse checks, DOT physical management, and drug and alcohol testing Ensuring accurate and timely submission of required documents and reports Maintaining up-to-date records of driver qualification files and motor vehicle records Mitigating the risk of violations, fines, and increased DOT audit risks How Foley's Compliance Software Solves These Challenges Foley's compliance and monitoring software is designed to address these challenges head-on. The platform provides a comprehensive suite of tools to help fleet managers stay on top of compliance requirements, including: FMCSA Clearinghouse: Manages Clearinghouse queries and ensures compliance with FMCSA regulations DOT Physical Management: Streamlines the process of managing occupational health, including scheduling and tracking Drug and Alcohol Testing: Helps manage drug and alcohol testing programs, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) Monitoring: Provides real-time monitoring of MVRs, helping to identify potential issues before they become major problems Driver Qualification Files: Helps maintain accurate and up-to-date driver qualification files, reducing the risk of non-compliance Benefits of Foley's Compliance Monitoring Platform By using Foley's compliance monitoring software, commercial fleet managers can enjoy numerous benefits, including: All-in-one Platform: Access all the programs you need to be DOT compliant in a single location Reduced Risk: By staying on top of compliance requirements, fleet managers can proactively reduce the risk of violations, fines, and increased DOT audit risks Increased Efficiency: The software automates many compliance tasks, freeing up time for more strategic safety work Improved Accuracy: Foley's platform helps ensure accurate and timely submission of required documents and reports Enhanced Peace of Mind: With Foley's software, fleet managers can have confidence that their compliance requirements are being met Related blog post: A Strategic Approach to Consolidating Tech Vendors The Future of DOT Compliance is Here It's past time to simplify your compliance program and make proactive risk reduction a priority. By providing the most comprehensive suite of tools and features available, Foley's DOT compliance software can help you stay on top of compliance requirements, saving you time and money, reducing your audit risk, and lowering your insurance premiums. And that's not all - learn how we can help with hiring and onboarding, data monitoring, and background checks, too! See our platform in action.

The landscape of commercial fleet safety is ever-changing, yet one priority remains constant: safety. With operations and technology offerings becoming increasingly complex, fleet and safety managers face a crowded landscape of vendor relationships. The strategic turn many are taking? Combining tech vendors for all their fleet management needs. It's a route that promises to streamline operations, cut costs, and level up safety performance and risk reduction. The Challenges of Multiple Vendors Managing multiple tech vendors for fleet management can be cumbersome. Different vendors may offer various solutions for hiring and onboarding, Department of Transportation (DOT) compliance, data monitoring, drug and alcohol testing, and background checks. While each of these solutions is valuable, having multiple vendors can lead to: Increased Complexity: Combining different systems from different companies can be difficult, time-consuming, and, ultimately, inefficient. Higher Costs: Managing multiple contracts and support systems can drive up operational costs. Data Fragmentation: Safety and compliance data scattered across different platforms can make it difficult to get a comprehensive view of fleet and individual driver performance. Benefits of Merging Tech Vendors Consolidating tech vendors can address these challenges and offer several benefits: Simplified Operations: Working with fewer vendors simplifies the integration process and reduces the administrative burden associated with managing multiple relationships, staff training, and technologies. No more bouncing between systems to try to find the most accurate information. Cost Savings: Consolidation can lead to cost savings through reduced contract management overhead — and potentially even better pricing from vendors. Unified Data Insights: A single, integrated platform can provide a more comprehensive view of fleet performance, enabling better decision-making. Consistent Documentation: One solution serving as your single source of truth can make sure safety regulations are followed more closely by giving you one way to track and report. Strategies for Consolidating Tech Vendors To successfully evaluate and merge tech vendors for commercial fleet management, consider the following strategies: Define Requirements: Clearly outline your fleet management and compliance needs. Consider the features and functionalities required from a consolidated solution. Assess Current Vendor Landscape: Evaluate your current vendors and the services they provide. Identify areas of overlap and opportunities for consolidation. Ask Your Peers: Seek out others in your industry, including at conferences or at your state association or its local chapter, to get their tech recommendations and learn more about best practices. Research Integrated Solutions: Look for vendors that offer comprehensive, integrated fleet management solutions. Consider their reputation, customer support, and the scalability of their solutions. Listen to the Market: Read online reviews. Ask vendors for case studies or customer referrals to talk 1:1 with similar-sized companies in your industry and hear about their experience. Plan for Implementation: Develop a detailed implementation plan, including timelines, resource allocation, and staff training. The Path Forward While operating the same way you always have may seem like the easiest path, combining tech vendors for fleet management is a smart, proactive move that can have a big positive impact on your organization. It can make operations simpler, cut costs, and improve safety. By understanding the challenges of managing multiple vendors, recognizing the benefits of consolidation, and following a structured approach to implementation, fleet and safety managers can create a more efficient and effective compliance strategy. As the fleet management landscape continues to evolve, adopting a more strategic, unified approach to safety and compliance technology will better position you for long-term success. Have You Discovered the New Foley? For over three decades, Foley Carrier Services has been a trusted partner to fleets nationwide, providing support in hiring qualified drivers, maintaining compliance, and minimizing costly infractions. As the transportation, construction, distribution, and utility sectors continue to accelerate and become more digitally integrated, we've adapted our approach to meet these evolving demands. Foley has transformed from a traditional services provider into a cutting-edge software platform designed to enhance your operational efficiency, intelligence, and safety. Through this evolution, our dedication to serving as your compliance partner remains unwavering, guiding you down a path of sustained success and forward momentum. From hiring and onboarding to compliance and data monitoring, our platform has you covered. And we’re rolling out new features that give you more control, better visibility, and less risk — without adding complexity. Explore the Foley platform.

As fall approaches, fleet managers should begin preparing for the annual Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) period, which opens on October 1, 2025, for the 2026 registration year. Companies looking to get a jump on registration, however, can begin the process early by working through a trusted compliance partner. In fact, UCR registration through Foley begins Aug. 1, 2025.

When an organization is considering hiring a job applicant, the decision is often contingent upon the results of a criminal background check. While employers can attempt background checks on their own, due to the magnitude of the subject matter and potential for inconsistent, unreliable data, many prefer to work with a background screening partner for this service. By understanding how they are run and what shows up on a criminal background check, you will be better equipped to make the decision whether to go it alone or work with a screening provider.

Are you running background checks on your new drivers? If not, you should be.

In January 2020, in an effort to reduce commercial motor vehicle crashes and fatalities, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) activated the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse (Clearinghouse). The rule established that all DOT-regulated businesses, as well as the Third Party Administrators and Medical Review Officers who manage the details of their testing program, adhere to a set of responsibilities and maintain regulations for safety-sensitive drivers and motor carriers. What is the DOT Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse? The Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse is a centralized online database that houses drivers’ non-negative drug and alcohol test results, as well as information about their participation in a return-to-duty program. Under the rule, Third Party Administrators, employers and Medical Review Officers are required to report all DOT drug and alcohol violations to the Clearinghouse for FMCSA-regulated drivers. Employers are required to check this database before hiring a new safety-sensitive driver, as well as annually for the remainder of each driver’s employment. All information regarding drug and alcohol violations will stay publicly available in the Clearinghouse for five years or until the return-to-duty process is complete (whichever is later). Employers Responsibilities for Compliance All DOT-regulated companies are required to register for the Clearinghouse so they have the ability to conduct queries and report drug and alcohol violations. Businesses with drivers also need to designate a Third Party Administrator (TPA) so they have access to your account and can conduct queries on your behalf. Please note that for owner-operators, this is not an optional step. By registering for an account and designating a TPA, your company is ready to begin using the database. If you have a DOT number, you can register right from your FMCSA Portal account. Under the rule, employers must: Query the Clearinghouse both before hiring a new CDL driver and then annually throughout their employment. Report all violations, including refusals and known substance use. Immediately act if a driver is flagged as prohibited. Failure to comply can result in civil penalties or contract loss. Update a driver’s Clearinghouse record about their progress through the return-to-duty and follow-up testing process or the driver’s license may be suspended. Drivers: How to Maintain Compliance If you’re a safety-sensitive driver, you’re required to create a Clearinghouse account where employers can both report and check for drug and alcohol violations (you’ll need to give consent within the portal before they can pull a full report). Your account will also allow you to review your Clearinghouse record at any time to see if any violations have been reported by an employer. If you find information that is inaccurate, you’ll have an opportunity to have it removed. Once you register for a Clearinghouse account, you can login to give your consent prior to an employer running a full query of your record. If you receive a drug and alcohol violation in the future, you’ll also be able to select a Substance Abuse Professional from within your account, which will allow them to update your record with information on your return-to-duty program. If you’re an owner-operator, keep in mind that you will be required to designate a TPA to manage your drug and alcohol testing program within the Clearinghouse. Related Article: Understanding the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse The information contained herein is for informational and educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult with their own legal counsel before acting on any information provided herein.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) uses seven Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs) to determine a motor carrier’s safety performance and compliance in comparison with other carriers. Five BASICs are available to the public online in the Safety Measurement System (SMS) – one of them being the Controlled Substances/Alcohol BASIC. This BASIC refers to regulation 49 CFR Parts 382 and 392.

From trusted compliance partner to leading-edge software provider, Foley is proud to announce a bold new chapter in our journey. Say hello to our modernized brand identity—and welcome to the new Foley. A Legacy of Trust, a Future of Innovation Since the 1990s, Foley Carrier Services has stood by fleets across the country, helping them hire qualified drivers, stay compliant, and avoid costly violations. That legacy remains—but the road ahead demands more. Today’s transportation, construction, distribution, and utility industries are fast-moving, data-driven, and digitally connected. So we’ve evolved to meet that challenge. Foley is no longer just a services provider. We’re a software platform built to help you move faster, smarter, and safer. The one thing that will never change is our commitment to you as a compliance partner, ensuring you stay on the right path and moving forward. What’s New? Here’s what you’ll notice as part of our transformation: A New Name: We’ve officially dropped “Carrier Services” from our name. We’re now simply Foley—a streamlined identity that reflects our focus as a modern SaaS provider. A New Domain: Our new digital home is foley.io. You’ll see our emails, links, and materials coming from this address going forward. A Bold New Look: We’ve traded in OSHA orange for Victory Green—a color that symbolizes progress, safety, and success. It’s what we want for every customer: clear alerts, clean records, and confident audits. A Smarter Platform: We’re rolling out new features that give you more control, better visibility, and less risk—without adding complexity. Why It Matters (for You) We know what’s at stake for safety managers and fleet leaders like you: Delays in hiring the right drivers Surprise audits, fines, and violations Skyrocketing insurance premiums Foley’s all-in-one platform helps you monitor, hire, and stay in the clear—faster and safer than ever before. Our mission is simple: Get you to Green. What Does “Getting to Green” Mean? It means your path is clear. You’re confident, prepared, and proactive. You have the tools and insights to mitigate risk, keep your fleet on the road, and get the job done—without the guesswork. Our Promise Smarter data. Safer fleets. Lower risk. That’s Foley. We’re still the trusted experts you’ve relied on for decades—but now, we’re delivering even more value through connected data, real-time insights, and relentless innovation. We’re not just keeping up with the future—we’re building it. Let’s get you to green. Explore the Foley platform.

Wondering how to run a Clearinghouse query? The process may be much easier than you think.

Below is a full transcription of our popular webinar on maintaining a strong CSA Score called, “CSA Success Strategies: How to Stay Off the FMCSA’s Radar by Maintaining a Low CSA Score.” Hi, welcome to Foley’s webinar on “CSA Score Success Strategies.” We have some folks that are still joining us, so we’ll give them a couple more seconds if you don’t mind, for some folks to jump in, but we’ll get started here shortly. Thanks. Well, it looks like it’s slowing down, so everybody seems to be in. We’ve got a bunch of people. Thanks for joining us today. I see a lot of names that I recognize. So it’s nice to have you back and certainly welcome to everybody who’s joining us for the first time or joining me for the first time to do one of these. As you know, today’s session is going to be on CSA Score Success Strategies, and as you see there in the subtitle, it’s very appropriate – how to stay off the FMCSA’s radar – by maintaining a low CSA score. This is what we’re going to cover here today. My name is Steven Harz, and at Foley, I am an enterprise compliance consultant. I’ve been here for about a half a dozen years or so. I have worked with some of you before, and it is great to see you folks here. Hopefully, I will get a chance to work with some more of you down the road. What we do is work with all manners of driver compliance, whether it’s driver files, drug testing, physicals monitoring, what have you. So, we are very familiar with our topic today and have assisted a lot of folks with it over the years. About Your CSA Score: What is Your CSA Score? I want to start off with just getting into what your CSA score actually is. Some folks are very knowledgeable on this. Some folks are still a little curious about the ins and the outs, so that might be why some of you have joined us here today. The CSA score is a very important thing within DOT compliance. It stands for compliance, safety, and accountability, which says it all. And it is used to ensure that you are operating a program that is both safe and compliant with the DOT. Also, as you can see, there are a few things that make up your CSA score. It’s safety measurement system interventions and then a safety fitness component as well. So, we’ll get into these things as we move along here today. How the Score is Measured The score is measured or gathered from a few different components. Roadside inspections are a very big part of this, crash reports are too – we’ll spend a little more time later on this too. They’ve always carried weight, but they seem to be carrying a lot more weight recently than they had in the past. And then of course, there’s always information gathered from audits, whether they’re onsite audits or the new offsite audits. So, these are the things that make up your score. And as you can see down at the bottom, violation data that is gathered from these areas are organized into seven categories that the FMCSA calls BASICS. The Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICS) BASICS stands for Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories, so that’s what we’ll get into here in a bit. These are the seven things that make up the BASICS process: unsafe driving, crashes – as we talked about before – hours of service, maintenance, which is obviously important as well, substance abuse, things having to do with carrying hazmat, and then also driver fitness is a very big important topic as well. These are the things that we’ll expand upon as we go through this session today. How Are CSA Scores Calculated? As far as how the scores are compiled, again, violations and crash data are a big part of it. They’re really paying a lot of attention to crash data. Again, as I said before, they always have, but it seems to have ramped up quite a bit. The data is grouped by category within BASIC. Again, we saw them on the prior slide; we’ll get into them a little bit more. This information is available to enforcement officials, certainly it’s available to you as well, and they’ll ask you to use it to make yourselves comply better. How Is CSA Score Date Used? So with that being said; how’s the information used? Obviously, you want to keep a low score; the higher the score that you have, the more likely that you’ll be flagged for an intervention. And with regard to the interventions themselves, there are many forms of intervention; again, these help you comply with various safety requirements put forth by the FMCSA or the DOT. The process is really meant to determine why safety issues arise and to suggest ways to fix them. So you’ll want to use this information to see if there’s a pattern of violations that you have, or your drivers have. We mentioned crashes a couple of times. Is there any commonality among the crashes that you’ve had? Hopefully, you haven’t had any, but if you have: Is there any pattern, and if there’s a pattern, maybe use that pattern to help fix this from occurring in the future. Interventions also encourage corrective action, and stiff penalties will be enacted for companies that don’t comply. That’s just flat out how it is. But again, if you meet the threshold for intervention, that little symbol will appear on your CSA score. And if it’s an acute or critical violation, it’s definitely going to be there. Getting into what these mean, I’ll give you a couple examples of acute violations and then critical ones. Acute violations – one of the big ones is companies that fail to implement a drug and alcohol testing program. One of the others is kind of piggybacked on this; it’s a company that doesn’t have a random program in place. Another acute violation is allowing a driver to operate with a license that’s suspended or revoked. This happens a lot. One other acute violation would be allowing a new driver to get behind the wheel prior to getting back the results of their pre-employment drug test. So, those are examples of acute violations. Critical violations – using a driver that has multiple licenses, not making inquiries into employment records, or the results of these inquiries aren’t housed in their driver qualification file; maybe doing randoms, but not doing them at an applicable annual rate. These are things that would fall into a critical violation. And I have to correct myself. I mentioned using a driver before their pre-employment test comes back. That’s actually a critical violation, not an acute one, I apologize. So anyway, these are things that you want to steer clear of, obviously. You can go on to the DOT website and get the complete list of these acute violations and critical violations. I believe there’s a section on the website for that if I’m not mistaken. A High CSA Score = Increase Audit Risk I kind of referenced this before; a high score equals an increased risk for an audit – this goes without saying. We’ll also get into here, momentarily, the surprise enforcement events that occurred last year, and I’m sure are going to occur this year. And again, companies with issues are the companies that were subjective to these surprise events. The Impact of a High CSA Score: A Push for Safety Obviously, we want to go into what impacts the safety score has, so that you have a better chance of keeping it low. First of all, the reason for it – a huge push for companies to run a safer program and for drivers to operate more safely. With the industry, there’s a current push to improve the safety and compliance of any operator or company. They really want to take any unfit company off the road, and drivers as well. I mean, we’ve seen a push with that with things like the Clearinghouse; and not too long ago, a number of companies that were in danger of an intervention were sent warning letters. Hopefully no one here on this session had received those, but that was part of the processor or the beginning of this enforcement or greater enforcement situation. Another Surprise Blitz A minute ago, we talked about the surprise blitz that happened last year. Over a course of about seven weeks, the FMCSA contacted a lot of companies that they deemed to be unsafe. They were selected based on past history, large numbers of crashes, and a lot of drivers that were operating in an unsafe manner. These events were conducted both onsite, and most of them were done in an offsite fashion, which also created an issue for companies, because we still find a lot of companies out there have a paper compliance driver file process. If that’s the case, it’s going to be awfully hard to comply with the digital offsite audit. On top of being targeted for running a program that might not be as safe as it needs to be, it was compounded by having a paper process, so they’re not messing around. 1 in 3 carriers audited during the blitz were given a safety rating downgrade During these audits, during the blitz, one in three carriers were given a rating downgrade. Makes sense. They were deemed to be unfit as it is, so it would stand to reason that you’d have a high percentage of them that would have their score further lessened. Why Safety Ratings Matter For safety ratings themselves, there are a number of reasons that you want to be able to keep your rating in an appropriate manner; the main thing is, if you do get into trouble, if you are deemed unfit, if you have an unsatisfactory rating, it takes a long time to dig out of that hole. It’s a tough process, and it’s not a guarantee that you will. There’s a department here within Foley that works with companies on corrective action, and we will always tell them, we will work our darndest, but it’s not a guarantee. So obviously, you certainly want to make sure that you keep your score at an acceptable level. Other Considerations Other things that you want to keep in mind: CSA scores are used to determine what an insurance rate would be. Also, it may be hard to find customers if your CSA score is low. So, there are many things to keep in mind with this whole CSA score situation. Nice little quote here: “Certainly a solid program that allows you to keep an appropriate CSA score also means you’re going to be audit ready as well.” The Basics of the CSA BASICS Basics of BASICS. I mentioned before, we saw the seven bullet points with the different programs or the different aspects that make up BASICS. We’ll go through them a little bit more in depth. I will point out at this point in time that our marketing group does a great job. You’ll probably get a follow up after this session, and it may include a link to this presentation. There’s going to be information on the coming screens, specifically the last bullet point where there’s record-keeping requirements. These are really important, and these are things that you want to make sure that you have kept track of, so that if you are subjected to a surprise blitz event, or you are called for an audit, you have these things in place. So, we will get you the link to this, and you can go and take these down at that point in time. You can do it now, obviously too, but I wanted to point that out to you. I should also point out too, if you have any questions, throw them in the chat, I’ll try to get to a couple at the end of the session. In other sessions that I’ve done like this, I couldn’t get to all of them, but I’ll try to pick out a few that maybe are recurring. Other than that, we will get back to everybody’s question after the event, so don’t worry about that if I don’t get to yours at the end of the session. #1: Vehicle Maintenance So, vehicle maintenance – again, a big part of the compliance process. I think, based on conversations that I have, sometimes it’s overlooked. So obviously, it’s something that you want to make sure your drivers are on top of, you as a company are on top of, and your maintenance department is on top of. #2: Unsafe Driving Next would be unsafe driving. And this is just basic – unsafe driving is unsafe driving. So speeding, driving recklessly, and texting and driving which is gigantic one that will heavily impact your score if your drivers are caught doing that. So again, we reference patterns of behavior. If you see patterns in the driving, some commonality in what the violations are, often that’s an easy way to fix it. If you see texting and driving a lot, that’s an easy one to fix; you know what you’re going after, and the same goes for speeding, etc. At the bottom, you see the various recordkeeping items. #3: Crash Indicator We’ve touched upon this a couple of times. They’re going to look at any type of crash history. I’ve referenced patterns. If there’s some commonality in any type of crashes that you or folks have had, you want to try to mitigate that as quickly as possible. There’s an important note at the bottom to do with your MCS-150 biennial update; make sure that that’s up to date too. #4: Hazardous Materials Compliance Hazmat compliance – now, not everybody who is DOT regulated is hauling hazardous materials, obviously, but for those who are, it’s a big deal. Drivers need to be educated; they need to have their hazmat endorsement. We do sometimes see drivers pulling hazmat that don’t have the endorsement; obviously that is going to weigh heavily on your score in a negative fashion. And you want to make sure the drivers understand what it is that they’re carrying, what the material is; so if there is a leak, a spill, a crash, what have you, they can lend a hand to first responders. I’ll give you an example from my own experience. When I’m not here at Foley, I’m a firefighter. And we certainly go to our share of hazmat incidents. Sometimes, it’s simple, a motor vehicle accident. It’s gasoline. We know what it is, or its antifreeze, etc. However, we also have a highway that runs through our town, and we will have some larger hazmat situations. There have been times that the driver was helpful, letting us know what it was, and had their data sheets available. It always made the situation, which was bad in and of itself, not quite as horrible. So, drivers really have to be knowledgeable with that. You have to make sure that they’re actually allowed to be pulling hazmat. #5: Driver Fitness Next is driver fitness. The driver needs to be healthy enough to do this job; they have to be physically qualified. Obviously, they’ve got to, at least every two years, if not more frequently, have their physicals. And I do want to point out the record keeping requirement here on this slide because we see that this is oftentimes missing. You want to make sure that the meds cert is in the driver file, and it is up to date. One of the things that we do here at Foley when we bring on a new client is we take their current driver files and import them onto our driver compliance portal. And I can’t tell you the number of times that we get the med card and the driver’s license for that matter, and they’re already expired before they get to us. This is critical because in the last 18 to 24 months, this is one of the big things that the DOT or the FMCSA have been cracking down on; folks operating with licenses or med cards that are already expired, and also licenses that are in the wrong class do fall into that as well. #6: Controlled Substances/Alcohol Controlled substances are certainly an issue – one of the reasons we now have to comply with the DOT Clearinghouse. You certainly want to make sure that your drivers understand the situation. To me, one of the bigger things in the last few years that’s popped up is the use of CBD products, and the fact that in many States now marijuana is legal to use. Drivers have been warned about CBD products. And even if the label says, hey, there’s no THC in this, don’t believe it because many drivers have taken CBD products, usually for joint pain or things like that, and then have been dinged at a drug test because it actually did have THC in it, and now they’ve failed a drug test. The other thing, and I get conversations like this once in a while, is folks not understanding the marijuana situation. Thinking, well, hey, I’m in Massachusetts or here in Connecticut where I am or Colorado or wherever. And the assumption is because marijuana is legal in a State where the driver is, is that either the company, or the driver, or both think that it’s okay to use marijuana. And that’s not the case. We have to remember that you and the drivers are under US regulations, not State regulations, and at a federal level, marijuana is illegal so you cannot use it. Sometimes, it’s confusing for folks, but you want to make sure that your drivers are aware of that. #7: Hours of Service Hours of service is another big one. Obviously, we had a bump in this a few years ago, but it is still in play. You just want to make sure that, again, the drivers understand what their requirement is as it pertains to hours of service, and they have to keep their record of duty status up to date and accurate. It’s not anything new, but it is a critical part of this. Violations Will Negatively Impact Your SMS Results for 24 months: Improving Your Score I referenced this a bit ago. You have a violation; you have an impact to your safety management results; it is going to haunt you for quite some time. Let’s get into maybe what it is that we can do to improve a score. Hire Safe & Experienced Drivers First thing, driver hiring. You want to make sure that you hire safe drivers and experienced drivers. I mean, this is not rocket science, I know. However, we have found that this practice, in and of itself, will assist quite a bit. What else can you do? Hair follicle testing. It’s certainly going to catch a lot more incidents of drug use. The next two bullet points, a CDLIS or a PSP, cover this, although not required by the DOT. When I’m working with clients, whether current or new ones here at Foley, I’m always discussing this with them. It is a very good way to ensure that the driver is operating or has operated safely. And as you can see down at the bottom, companies that use a PSP have 17%, fewer incidents, and 8% fewer crashes than a company that just runs an MVR. It’s cheap, it’s easy to do, and you can find a lot of good or bad, I guess, depending upon how you look at it, information on the driver that will be critical to assisting you down the road with your safety score. Monitor Drivers’ MVRs MVR monitoring – many of you I’m sure are familiar with this. I’m sure a lot of you do it already. We’ve been doing it here at Foley for, I don’t know, five years, maybe a little bit more than that. And just like the CDLIS and the PSP, it’s a relatively inexpensive way to ensure that your drivers are operating safely. Certainly, if you’re just using an MVR alone and you ran a driver’s MVR today and he had a DUI tomorrow, you’re not going to find that out for 364 days. But with monitoring, as soon as that infraction hits the State’s system, you’ll know about it. So, it is something that you may want to consider. Sometimes, an insurance carrier will even provide a discount to you if your drivers are enrolled. So if you are doing motor vehicle report monitoring now; it might be worth making a phone call to your insurance company. I’m not telling you that they’re going to give you a discount, but it certainly does occur, so it’s probably worth making that call just to see. We even have people call us here at Foley because their insurance company has told them they have to enroll their people in motor vehicle report and monitoring programs; sot is a great tool. With what we do here at Foley, we’ll find any change in the status of their license, whether it’s driving-related or non-driving related. As you can see at the bottom of the screen, 34% of common violations can be prevented with this type of program. So this is something, that if you’re not doing, is certainly worth looking into. Automate Your Compliance Other items that will assist with the process, assist with your score – automating your compliance program. There are still folks out there, as I had alluded to earlier, that have a paper program, and everything’s done manually. It’s just tough. You want to make sure that you have something that’s automated. You want to make sure that you have a system that will notify you ahead of time when a driver’s license is due to expire, when their med card is due to expire, when a motor vehicle report needs to be run. Also from an automation perspective, you can manage your drug testing and alcohol testing program this way. It just makes life easier, less things fall through the cracks than in a manual program. And again, it can obviously impact your score in a positive fashion. Recordkeeping Is Key We had mentioned record keeping a while ago and were saying that you want to maybe look at with the seven aspects of BASICS regarding what the recordkeeping requirements are. Record keeping is key. You want to keep track of everything. Going into an automated process on the prior slide – piggybacking on that – having a digital process and an online process these days is critical. First of all, if you’re called for an offsite audit, everything’s going to need to be digital anyway, so you probably should do it if you haven’t already. But, it also allows you to keep your documents in one location. And we certainly had a situation two years ago when COVID first brought itself to us, and everybody was forced to go home and work; not many people anywhere, and not many people stayed in the office. We saw, all over the place, folks that had a paper process – their driver files were back in the office, yet all the personnel were working remotely, so they couldn’t do anything with the driver files. They couldn’t keep them updated; they couldn’t do anything. They couldn’t create new files. And it was bad. A lot of folks just assumed that the DOT was going to lighten up on them because COVID had hit. And that was not the case. So, to have the files in a digital online program would make it easy. If everybody’s working remotely, they can still have access to the files and do the work that they need to do on the files from wherever they are working remotely from home. It just makes for a quicker process, it makes for a more thorough process, it makes for a stronger safety program. Foley’s Solution: Foley’s Platform So, that’s our industry information as it has to do with CSA scores. If you’ll bear with me for a minute, I wanted to get into just some of the things that we do in this area. Some of you know already, but for those that don’t, first of all, there is our platform; we have of a driver compliance and qualification portal. This is where all of our clients’ information is housed. It’s all online. The entire program is run from here – drug testing, alcohol testing, MVR monitoring, Clearinghouse, program management, and driver files, obviously. Everything is in this Foley portal that we work in on behalf of our clients, which obviously our clients also have access to. A minute ago, we talked about automation; our program certainly does this. We keep track of expiration in information, random drug and alcohol testing, what have you. Our clients don’t have to manually keep track of anything. They’re going to be notified; we do it 60 days in advance of expiration. They’ll be notified, and we find that a two-month window is plenty of time to make sure that the document can be renewed and uploaded. Now, sometimes we get asked questions about security. Our platform is secure. Nothing gets in or out of the portal in an unsafe fashion. We’re not exposing your applicants’ or employees’ information. We take this part of the process very seriously; as a consumer reporting agency, we have to. And we see out there, within the compliance industry, situations where a vendor might ask an applicant or an employee to scan and email personal information. So if I’m an applicant, I fill out my application and then I scan a copy of my med card and my driver’s license and I email it to the vendor. That’s a violation of Federal Law, and here at Foley, we’re not going to subject anybody’s personal information to that type of exposure. Fully Electronic MVR Monitoring Again, this is something that we do. It has become much more prevalent, I think, in the last 18 to 24 months. It’s probably the number one thing that our existing clients add to their program, and we’ve had many inquiries in the last couple of years for companies that hadn’t been doing business with us that wanted to do a monitoring program. Again, it’s a relatively inexpensive program that can really ensure that you’re keeping track of what’s going on with your drivers from a safety perspective. Have a Question? (860) 815-0764 So that’s our presentation. I appreciate your joining us today. I’m going through the questions here. Let me get to a couple of them. I can’t get to them all, but I appreciate you guys asking them; we’ll get back to you with answers. But let’s see if there some commonality among them/ A couple on the surprise blitz. I would say that a couple of months ago we did a webinar on the surprise enforcement events. I actually did that one. And if you would like a link to it to listen to that session, let me know, you can send me an email directly – it’s steven.harz@foleyservices.com. If you send me a note and ask for that link to the surprise enforcement event webinar, I’ll send it to you. Again, we put them on YouTube for folks who want to listen to them afterwards. One of these events happened for seven weeks last year – everything points to the thought that it’s going to occur again this year. It was, I was going to say successful. I don’t know if that’s the right word. I guess it was successful for the FMCSA and maybe not successful for the folks that they targeted. But again, they went after companies that they felt were on the verge of being unfit. And they weren’t just going after companies; they were going after drivers as well. So you might be a company with a pretty good safety rating, but maybe you have a few drivers that aren’t operating as safely as they need to be. They went after the drivers. It almost seemed to me like it was a Trojan horse. Hey, let’s get to this driver so we can get into the company. But again, I think it is a safe bet that they’ll do that again this year, so certainly you want to make sure that you’re off their radar there. We had a couple questions that came in to do with the Clearinghouse. One of them said: ”Does the Clearinghouse play into this?” And it certainly can. Going through the presentation here, we saw a number of times drug and alcohol was brought up. You want to make sure you’re doing your due diligence with the Clearinghouse; you’re running your pre-employment queries, you’re running your annual queries, you’re reporting everything that you need to, to the Clearinghouse – any infraction, you’re keeping track of the results of all your queries. And if you’re audited, just like drug and alcohol testing has always been a big part of an audit, Clearinghouse is now too. And believe it or not, I still talk to people today, 25 months into this regulation who haven’t registered. I can’t even imagine what’s going to happen to them when and if they get audited. But absolutely, the Clearinghouse and your adherence to the regulation can positively impact your score. You’re going to have drivers that are safe, you’re not having anybody behind the wheel that shouldn’t be there. One other thing that just came to with the Clearinghouse is I even have clients that do annual queries more than annually. They’ll do them two, three times a year just to make sure. You could have a situation where somebody’s driving for you and maybe they go and apply somewhere else, and during that application process they fail their pre-employment test, so now they just stay driving with you. That’s obviously going to show up the next time you run a query, but because of that, sometimes companies will run a query more often than once every 365 days. So I’ll keep it at that. I want to be cognizant of the time commitment that you’ve put in here today. Again, I thank you for your participation. Any of the questions that you did submit that we didn’t get to, we will. And other than that, I hope you have a very good rest of the day. Thanks.

What is the FMCSA’s CSA Program? The CSA program (Compliance, Safety, Accountability) is designed to improve the safety of all drivers on the road. Each motor carrier has a CSA score that represents how well they meet the established requirements. While your CSA score may feel like just another compliance matter you need to worry about, with the right mindset, you can turn your CSA score into one of your best business assets. FMCSA's Safety Measurement System The FMCSA SMS assesses the safety and compliance of motor carriers by calculating their performance in seven Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs). This performance is based on the number of safety violations, severity and recency of crashes, and how many trucks operate under the carrier's name. What is a CSA score? The CSA program launched in November 2010, and it is a program run by the FMCSA that’s designed to encourage carriers to be aware of their responsibility to keep our roadways safe. Each carrier has a CSA score that represents how well they’ve maintained that road safety. The score is calculated on a 0-100 scale, with higher numbers indicating a worse level of safety. CSA scores are updated through the FMCSA’s Safety Measurement System (SMS) each month. Since 2010, the CSA point system has gone through some changes to make the system fairer to drivers who were involved in accidents that were not their fault. And as you'll read later in this post, more changes could be coming down the line. How is a CSA score calculated? The core metrics are called the BASIC scores, which stands for Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories. They’re calculated using crash report and roadside inspection data that’s collected in the FMCSA SMS, and will differ depending on factors like how long ago an incident occurred (only the last 24 months contribute to your score), the severity of a crash, and annual miles driven. The 7 BASICs are defined as: Crash Indicator: the frequency and severity of crashes. Controlled Substances and Alcohol: having a driver found to be operating a CMV under the influence. Read more about the Controlled Substances and Alcohol BASIC. Driver Fitness: having a driver who has failed to maintain qualification files or is operating without a CDL. Read more about the Driver Fitness BASIC. Hazardous Materials Compliance: handling hazardous materials in an improper manner, such as failing to label materials or having leaky containers. HOS Compliance: driving while sick or tired, or failing to maintain records of duty status for at least 6 months. Read more about the HOS Compliance BASIC. Vehicle Maintenance: failing to maintain vehicles, such as faulty lights, brakes, or improper load securement. Read more about the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC. Unsafe Driving: speeding, improper lane changes, not wearing a seatbelt, and driving in a dangerous manner. Read more about the Unsafe Driving BASIC. What is a bad CSA score for a driver? Drivers do not get individual CSA scores, only carriers do. But if you’re an owner-operator, then your CSA score will reflect your driving and safety habits, as well as those of any other drivers for your company. What is a good CSA score? The closer you can get your CSA score to 0, the better. If you have a good CSA score you can benefit from fewer DOT audits, lower insurance premiums, and may find it easier to land more clients as a responsible and trusted carrier. What is a bad CSA score? Generally, any score that’s 50 or over needs to be taken seriously. If you have a score of 65% or higher in Crash Indicator, HOS Compliance, or Unsafe Driving you’ll be subject to an FMCSA investigation (this lowers to 50% if you transport passengers or hazardous materials). If you reach a score of 80% in any of the other BASIC categories, you’ll also be subject to an investigation. How CSA Scores Impact Truck Drivers While truck drivers don't earn individual CSA scores, their decisions behind the wheel can impact the safety events or accidents that contribute to their employers' CSA scores. Some employers may choose to take disciplinary action if their drivers' choices or habits lead to DOT violations or crashes. What happens if you get a DOT violation? Any violation remains on your record for two years. If your CSA score becomes too high, the FMCSA may decide to give you a compliance review, and if your score suggests that you are a danger on the road, an out-of-service order may be issued (this should only happen after multiple violations and warning letters, so it won’t come out of the blue). How severe is each potential violation? Starting on page 49 of the SMS Methodology handbook, you’ll find a full breakdown of the severity of each violation and how much it may affect your score. How to Improve CSA Scores It’s best to approach your CSA score proactively – meaning you should try to prevent incidents that would affect your CSA score rather than reacting when something bad does happen. You should make sure you do background checks when hiring drivers and make sure your drivers prioritize safety while on the road. If you can, try to keep drivers connected to your main office so they can call in for advice if they are in a potentially risky situation, such as feeling ill or facing adverse weather conditions. But accidents DO happen. If you need to improve your score, here are some tips. Hire Drivers Carefully With the current driver shortages, it can be tempting to onboard drivers quickly without doing the proper background checks. However, try to balance getting trucks out on the road with making sure your drivers don’t have any red flags that may cause your score to suffer in the future. Foley's new hiring, screening, and onboarding software, Dash, helps ensure you put quality employees behind the wheel of your company vehicles. Train Your Drivers Properly Make sure your drivers understand how to handle difficult situations, and review any incidents to understand what happened and if they can be prevented. Maintain Your Trucks and Other Vehicles Drivers should report any vehicle issues requiring repair immediately, and carriers should have the resources to complete the repairs as quickly as possible. Don’t Skip Pre-Trip Inspections Maintenance is always important, but a quick check of a vehicle before leaving for a trip (or even during trips for a long haul) can help ensure you aren’t cited for a violation that could have been easily fixed, like a broken light. What's changing with CSA scores in 2024? In a February 15, 2023 notice, the FMCSA proposed multiple updates to SMS, which is the part of the CSA program that evaluates the crash risk rates of motor carriers and prioritizes them for safety interventions (such as roadside inspections or compliance reviews) based on their performance in the BASICs we covered above. The FMCSA is considering the following changes. Consolidating the BASICs to better pinpoint those that have the largest impact on crash risk. Revising the severity weights of violations to eliminate any unnecessary bias from deciding compliance officials. Adjusting intervention thresholds to focus on carriers that have committed recent violations and have the highest crash rates. Click here for an in-depth review of the proposed updates from Foley's compliance experts. How to Check Your CSA Score You can get daily updates on your CSA score delivered directly to your inbox when you sign up for Foley's CSA Monitor. Whether your score (and your risk of a DOT audit) increases or decreases, you'll be the first to know. Depend on Foley for Daily CSA Score Updates Staying on top of your vehicle maintenance, driver training, and pre-employment background checks will help ensure you keep your CSA score low and take advantage of all the benefits of operating a safe and compliant business. Foley's CSA Monitor can keep you updated on your CSA score on a daily basis, including a breakdown of crash, inspection, and violation reports for every driver so you can see where your business is staying safe and what areas may need attention. You'll receive a comprehensive report that details any changes to your CSA score, what safety events caused the changes, and how to recover your all-important compliance performance. Get your FREE demo of Foley’s CSA Monitor and DOT compliance software today to start taking charge of your CSA score, driver qualification files, and overall DOT compliance. 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It’s no secret that the trucking industry is currently under strain. With driver shortages and an ever-increasing demand for shipping, things are feeling tight. Add to that the astronomically high driver turnover rates we’re seeing, and you can quickly understand why so many companies are starting to struggle when it comes to staffing — both in driver acquisition and driver retention. In fact, driver retention was the #2 issue for motor carriers, according to the 2023 American Transportation Research Institute’s (ATRI) annual survey. Just as we see with customers, driver retention is much easier and cheaper than constantly trying to find new staff to replace those you’ve lost. With some companies finding it difficult to hold onto drivers for more than a few months — or even weeks — driver retention must become a priority. The good news is that improving truck driver retention will trickle down (just as it does with customer retention) to improve your ability to attract and acquire new drivers. As you can see, driver retention should not be overlooked! In this article, we’ll guide you through the best truck driver retention ideas, programs, and strategies to reduce your turnover rate. Driver Retention Meaning: What are We Talking About? First, let’s get clear on what exactly driver retention means. Truck driver retention means that you retain (as in keep) employed drivers for the long term. Many companies in the trucking industry are experiencing high turnover, which means drivers are leaving almost as frequently as they’re coming. Any company’s goal should be to improve its driver retention rate and reduce its driver turnover rate. Why is Driver Turnover So High? The reasons for driver turnover being high vary from company to company, but there are a number of common factors. One reason for driver turnover is, of course, the pandemic. COVID-19 has undoubtedly been felt in the trucking industry, just as it has in all others. The National Institute of Health estimates that over 50% of all truck drivers are “obese,” which puts them at a much higher risk of severe or even life-threatening conditions that would make them more likely to stop driving. Of course, this isn’t the only reason for a high turnover rate. Some of the other reasons include: Feeling like they’re treated like a machine, not a person Finding their company has no work-life balance culture Spending too much time away from their family Poor management and scheduling Overwork (ironically, often due to the high turnover in the first place) Only hearing about their failings, never getting praise Underpaid or under-benefitted Concerns about poorly maintained equipment Knowing they are in demand and accepting better terms at another company Truck Driver Retention Statistics The trucking turnover rate rose to 91 percent in 2019, according to American Trucking Associations. This number suggests that if a company has 100 drivers, only nine of them would stay with them through the next year. Considering that each new hire costs an average of $8,000 just to get them in the driver’s seat, not including their wage or fuel in the vehicle, losing and replacing all those drivers isn’t something you can ignore. If you were to hire 90 new drivers, it could cost you a whopping $720,000. You could spend a fraction of that figure generating and implementing driver retention programs and strategies, and still walk away with money in your pocket. Another statistic you need to know is about driver shortages. We know they’re happening, but the ATA’s statistics are chilling. The ATA projects that we may be 1,000,000 drivers short in the next 10 years. That makes it more important than ever to develop truck driver retention strategies while working on new ways to foster new, talented drivers. What are Truck Driver Retention Programs? A driver retention program is designed to encourage drivers to stay with them long-term. We’ll discuss strategies you can use within your driver retention program shortly, but it’s important to understand that any program must be built on a foundation of honesty while aiming to constantly improve as a team. If you bait and switch new drivers (purposefully or not) with a rosy outlook of how it will be to work for you, only to drop the façade a few weeks in, you’ll find your new drivers leave almost as quickly as they come. You have to avoid having a “honeymoon” phase and maintain a positive work environment at all times. That doesn’t mean it has to be unrealistically positive all the time, but it does mean that the teams supporting and managing your drivers need to be organized and understand what is important to your drivers. Your drivers also need to be thought of as part of the team, not as someone who simply turns up, checks in, and checks out. They need to be aligned with the company’s values and understand the goals of the company. Now we understand what a driver retention program is, let’s dive into the strategies you can use to put together a winning program. How to Retain Truck Drivers: 7 Driver Retention Strategies 1. Understand the Value Exchange Money alone is rarely the answer. Yes, truck drivers want better pay (who doesn’t?), but we all know that money alone is not always the best motivator. If bills will still be paid, no amount of money will keep someone in a bad situation for long. That said, the exchange of value is important. Your drivers need to feel like they’re being compensated fairly for their time and skill. This shouldn’t just be the money that is deposited in their account at the end of each pay cycle, you also need to consider benefits that will make them feel safe and secure. Remember that drivers have other options, so being a full-time (or part-time) employee needs to be the easier option. That means you should ensure or consider offering an employment package that makes your drivers feel nurtured. This may include: Diverse pension options Health care (most people will switch jobs for this, especially if it covers their family) Dental and eye care Better, or more flexible hours Sufficient time off Free gym memberships (or similar offerings) Free phones/devices Bonuses and rewards If you’re not sure what would make your drivers happier, a raise, or an added benefit, ask them. It’s also worth checking that your pay is in line with what others are paying, or a little better. If they know they’re being well-compensated, they’ll be far more inclined to stick around. 2. Cultivate a Feedback Culture If you want to improve driver retention rates, you’ve got to get feedback from your drivers so they can tell you what you’re doing right (and wrong), and also complain when necessary. Give them an anonymous channel to speak to HR. There are some sophisticated solutions for this, but a Google Form will work just as well. Once you’ve opened channels to receive feedback, make sure you act on it. The feedback you gather is valuable data that can help you retain truck drivers for longer and save money. It can cost up to $25,000 to replace a driver, so take this feedback seriously. It’s important not to dismiss drivers’ gripes — make sure you have your ear to the ground and listen for potential problems. If you notice a pattern, take note and take action when necessary. Making changes can do wonders for improving your driver retention rate. But, you can’t keep everyone. Sometimes people will decide to move on to something different or move home to be closer to family, but sometimes, they’ve realized they’re just not a good fit for your company. No one likes the conflict of employees leaving, but you must know why drivers are leaving. Don’t be afraid to ask them to give you feedback — ideally, don’t do this face-to-face with a manager, since this can feel too intense. Instead, ask them to answer a few questions on their last day. 3. Make Health & Safety a Priority Trucking is a relatively high-risk profession, often making the Most Dangerous Job in America list. The more you can do to emphasize that you’re taking every (reasonable) precaution to keep them safe, the better. Schedule regular maintenance, get their concerns checked out when they tell you about them and invest in safety features. Don’t forget that health and safety isn’t just about the equipment and staying alert, but also mental health. For many, mental health is still difficult to talk about publicly, so try to encourage good habits that help drivers stay healthy, physically and mentally. Encourage drivers to take regular time off, get exercise and fresh air (whether it be lifting weights or going hunting, it all counts), and use techniques to lower stress. While suggesting they take up meditation may be a hard sell to some, make sure they have the tools to manage their mental health in whatever way works for them. Sometimes, simply ensuring they have a good Wi-Fi connection on the road (for long-haul) is enough to help them stay connected. For others, having the option to take a pet along for the ride will greatly improve not only their mental health but also their job satisfaction. 4. Recognize Stellar Performance No matter the industry, feeling like you’re undervalued or in a thankless position destroys job satisfaction and can quickly become a primary motivator for why an employee looks for a new position. Simply saying “thank you” every time they climb out of the truck isn’t enough. Instead, consider creating milestones and awards for your drivers. Offer gifts (can be small!) for longevity, and make sure you recognize when a driver goes above and beyond. Even just a quick text from a manager to say that they appreciated what they did will go a long way to keeping your drivers around. Make sure you don’t overlook introverted, quiet drivers who are always punctual and get the job done. These reliable drivers will leave if they feel overlooked and underappreciated for their natural ability to just get on with the job. Consider hosting an award ceremony at the end of the year (ideally at the end of the year party — more on that shortly) to recognize the employees that have excelled. You can also give out funny awards, just make sure they’re all in good humor. 5. Build a Team, Find a Family Using the word “family” to describe company culture can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, calling your team your “family” can accurately represent how you look after one another, but it can also represent a negative work environment. There’s a lot of businesses that call their team culture a “family” but weaponize the word to mean that everyone must do as everyone else does (no individualism) or keep quiet if they’re unhappy about something. Fortunately, you can have a positive family culture if you cultivate a team that looks out for one another, shares the same values, and works to excel individually and as a team. Done right, it means that you are happy to see workplace friendships and have yearly events, especially if you value being family-oriented. Arranging yearly events such as an Easter egg hunt for your employee’s children (or grandchildren) in spring, a BBQ in the summer, a Halloween costume competition in the fall (for adults or kids), and an annual end-of-year party in December will help bring your team together for fun a few times a year and start an annual tradition that will encourage longevity and excite new staff. 6. Make Work-Life Balance a Priority We’ve touched on this before, but work-life balance is one of the key reasons why drivers leave. They want to work reasonable hours and get to spend time with their families. How you manage your drivers will depend on the type of work they’re doing and your needs, but try to create an environment in which your drivers can thrive. First, try to optimize their routes. This has become the standard for delivery drivers who deliver to the end customer’s door but isn’t always done in other areas. Try to shorten trip times and keep in touch with your drivers to help them reduce their time on the road so they can get home quickly, without cutting corners. Next, talk to your drivers and ask them about their ideal working schedules. You may find that some would love to work early morning until early afternoon every day and never do late shifts. For long haul, you may find your drivers would prefer to do a few back-to-back trips and then have more time off to spend with family. This can take some scheduling, but if you get it right while working with your company's needs and regulations, you can find your stride and become the company to work for in your area. 7. Invest in High-Quality Equipment Where possible, invest in high-quality equipment. Truck drivers take pride in what they drive, so if they’re the only ones on the road driving around in an old truck or dealing with old equipment, it will reflect badly on your company. Keeping things well maintained is another part of this, which we already touched on in the health and safety point above. BONUS! 8. Set Up Drivers for Success from the Start with Better Onboarding Your drivers are a direct reflection of your company values. If you don't present yourself as a quality employer, they will likely hold themselves to a lower standard. The best way to prevent this is with a seamless, enjoyable onboarding process that gives them the best possible first impression of your HR and safety department, and your company as a whole. Using a mobile-friendly onboarding software solution makes it easy for drivers to provide you with all the necessary qualification information you need to get them behind the wheel legally (and quickly!). Not to mention, the ideal platform will keep you compliant with DOT and FMCSA requirements. Retaining More Drivers in 2025 The number one driver retention strategy is to speak to and listen to your drivers and be open to their honest opinions. If your retention rates are low, this can be a painful process, but it will pay dividends in the long run. Remember, if your drivers are happy, feel valued, and love working for you, they’re not only not going to want to leave, but they’ll attract other truck drivers who also want to work for a company like yours. With time and effort, you can become one of the sought-after trucking companies with low turnover rates everyone in the area wants to work for.

The next Operation Safe Driver Week is scheduled for July 13-19, 2025. This annual event of Safe Driver Week event is conducted in Canada, United States, and Mexico. This year the focus will be improving driving behaviors through education, traffic-enforcement strategies and driver interactions with law enforcement. “Data shows that traffic stops and interactions with law enforcement help reduce problematic driving behaviors,” said Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) President Sgt. John Samis with the Delaware State Police. “By making contact with drivers during Operation Safe Driver Week, law enforcement personnel aim to make our roadways safer by targeting high-risk driving behaviors.” What Happens During the CVSA Operation Safe Driver Week? During Operation Safe Driver Week, law enforcement officers across Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. will be monitoring both commercial and passenger vehicle drivers for unsafe driving practices including speeding, distracted driving, tailgating, and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Drivers found engaging in these behaviors will be stopped by law enforcement and could receive a warning or citation. Why Does Operation Safe Driver Week Matter? According to the American Transportation Research Institute, a truck driver with a reckless driving violation is 114% more likely to be involved in a crash. Initiatives like Operation Safe Driver Week emphasize the importance of driving safely throughout the year and the consequences of not doing so. To help your drivers prepare for Operation Safe Driver Week, and every day they're on the road, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has free resources for commercial drivers available. Check out the printable materials on defeating distracted driving, safety tips for professional drivers, and videos from actual truck drivers and commercial vehicle inspectors on their website. How Driver Data Helps You Get Ahead of Driver Violations & Crashes By monitoring your drivers' behaviors behind the wheel, you can be alerted to new violations that increase their risk of being involved in an accident. Violations including speeding, DWI/DUIs, and license and DOT medical card downgrades, are all visible with a motor vehicle record (MVR) monitoring solution. After you're notified of a new violation, you can take the appropriate corrective action to help prevent these violations from turning into crashes — or expensive lawsuits — both of which can increase your commercial insurance premiums. Start tracking your employees' habits in the driver's seat with Foley's MVR Monitor before they're caught during Operation Safe Driver Week 2025. Get a free demo of the program by clicking here or filling out the form below. News Update: June 17, 2025 - Check out the news update from the CVSA directly citing Nearly 400 Commercial Motor Vehicles Removed from North American Roadways in One Day Due to Brake Violations Source: https://cvsa.org/news/2025/

Motor vehicle reports (MVRs) give you key insight into anyone's driving record. But these MVR reports are also protected by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). As a DOT-regulated employer, you run motor vehicle reports at various intervals during a driver’s employment: at the time they’re hired and every year thereafter. It’s a standard DOT compliance practice that helps protect the safety of our roadways — and your company’s compliance. However because an MVR check is a consumer report, there are additional requirements that must be met each time you request a new MVR compliance check for a driver — whether it’s run as part of the pre-employment background screening process or their annual review. Failure to follow these requirements can lead to big fines. Introduction to FCRA Compliance for MVR Reports Before you order an MVR report on an applicant or current employee, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the applicable federal regulations. From how to notify individuals about an MVR compliance check to disposing of sensitive information, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) has steps you must take to stay compliant. The steps below deal only with the FCRA and do not address applicable state laws. Employers should familiarize themselves with the laws in their governing state, as well as other applicable state law. Before you order an MVR report, you must provide a disclosure that a background check will be done and get permission from the applicant or employee before the MVR is ordered. In total, the driver will need to be supplied with three documents: Disclosure: This notice must be given to the applicant or employee independently of other paperwork. For applicants, for example, you cannot include the disclosure statement on the application. The disclosure must be clear and conspicuous, in writing and consist solely of the disclosure. If you intend to run periodic MVRs on a driver after they’re hired (as part of an MVR Monitoring program, for example), that information must be very clearly stated within the disclosure. Authorization: You must receive authorization from the driver that acknowledges they received the Disclosure. The driver must also give their consent before you can obtain their motor vehicle report. Summary of Rights: The driver must be provided with a copy of the “Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.” Additionally, you must certify that you’re running compliant motor vehicle reports with the background check company that is running your searches. Through this process, you must certify you’ve provided the consumer with the disclosure, received authorization, and will not misuse the information or discriminate based on the results. Run Compliant MVR Checks with Foley Sound confusing? It doesn’t have to be. When you order your MVR reports through a DOT background check company that understands all of your federal regulatory requirements, they’ll ensure that all of your requirements are met — so that both your Part 391 and FCRA compliance requirements are fulfilled. To learn more about Foley’s DOT background screening service, including our MVR Monitor program, give us a call at (860) 815-0764 or click here for more information. FAQ 1. Do I need to notify a driver before ordering their Motor Vehicle Report (MVR)? Yes. The FCRA mandates that employers must give a clear and conspicuous written disclosure, in a standalone document, before obtaining a consumer report like an MVR. Notice cannot be embedded within application materials . Source page: Using Consumer Reports: What Employers Need to Know – FTC 2. Is written consent required before pulling an MVR? Yes. Employers must get written authorization from the applicant or employee before obtaining any consumer report. If planning periodic checks (e.g., part of "MVR Monitoring"), that must be stated clearly in the authorization (ftc.gov). Source page: Using Consumer Reports: What Employers Need to Know – FTC 3. Can I include the MVR disclosure within the job application form? No. The FCRA requires that the disclosure be a separate document—not embedded in a job application. Doing so would violate federal regulations (ftc.gov). Source page: Using Consumer Reports: What Employers Need to Know – FTC 4. Do I have to provide a copy of the applicant’s rights when pulling an MVR? Yes. Employers must furnish the consumer with a copy of the “Summary of Your Rights Under the FCRA” any time a report is obtained . Source pages: Fair Credit Reporting Act – FTC (PDF section § 604) A Summary of Your Rights Under the FCRA – CFPB PDF 5. Am I responsible if the background check company makes a mistake? Yes. Employers must certify compliance with FCRA steps—that disclosure and authorization were obtained, and that reports will be used lawfully. You remain responsible for FCRA compliance even if the vendor errs (ftc.gov). Source pages: Using Consumer Reports: What Employers Need to Know – FTC Background Checks: What Employers Need to Know – EEOC

Are you sure your driver files are compliant? To maintain files that are compliant with Regulation Part 391, there are a few key items you must track and update for the duration of each driver’s employment: Track and Update DOT Medical Certificates Every driver must complete a DOT physical exam at least once every 24 months (or more frequently if required by the medical examiner). After each exam, place the updated medical certificate in the Driver Qualification File (DQF). Monitor CDL License Validity and Endorsements Drivers must always maintain a valid CDL license with any necessary endorsements. Since CDL expiration periods vary by state, you must track license expiration dates and ensure timely renewals. Example: CDLs expire every 4 years in Connecticut, every 8 years in Ohio. Conduct an Annual Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) Check Once a year, obtain and review an updated MVR for each driver. Document the reviewer’s name and review date, and keep both the MVR and review note in the DQF. Collect and File Annual List of Driving Violations Each driver must submit a yearly list of moving violations from the past 12 months (excluding parking tickets). If no violations occurred, the driver must submit a certification stating that. This list must be filed with the updated MVR in the DQF. Protect Your Business- Download Your FREE Driver File Maintenance Guide Today! The Cost of Getting it Wrong Although many of the above tasks may seem basic, they are some of the most common driver and carrier violations. In 2017, over 70,000 drivers were cited for not having a valid medical certificate. According to information in the FMCSA database, a single violation for a missing, altered or falsified medical certificate often exceeds $2,000. Similar fines were issued for drivers caught operating a commercial motor vehicle without a valid CDL – another top violation that results not only in hefty fines, but out-of-service orders. Reducing Risk Through Automation The more drivers you employ, the more time and resources it consumes to manage the above tasks (as well as your other compliance activities). In an effort to streamline these processes, and ensure that the business is always audit ready, many carriers are choosing to work with a third-party compliance partner to automate these tasks. In the Foley Portal, for example, we’ll set up each driver with a fully-compliant file and will then keep track of important expiration dates and alerts on an ongoing basis so that you always know when a DOT physical or CDL renewal is due. We’ll also automatically run a Motor Vehicle Report to ensure compliance with the annual review process. As DOT off-site audits become more common, these electronic driver files have another benefit: they can be immediately downloaded and sent to the DOT officer upon request. To learn more about the Foley Portal, and how it helps employers create and maintain compliant driver files, click here or call (860) 815-0764.

Passenger vehicles may be subject to the same DOT compliance standards as commercial vehicles.

Obtaining your authority to operate can be a lengthy and complex process, but here's how to get your DOT operating authority quickly, compliantly, and affordably.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced that 14 electronic logging devices were removed from its Registered Devices list this month.

Below is an excerpt from our new ebook, “The Motor Carrier’s Guide to Hiring Drivers.” If you’re carrying freight on U.S. roadways, there are specific rules you must follow, as stipulated by the FMCSA, to ensure that you are employing qualified drivers and running a safe and compliant business. Prior to hiring, carriers must do the following, and keep copies for their files: Obtain motor vehicle records from each state in which an applicant held a license or permit in the preceding three years. Copies of those records must be added to the driver qualification file within 30 days of employment. If none are received, that effort must be documented, and/or carriers must certify that no record exists. Investigate the driver’s past three years of safety performance history with all DOT-regulated employers. Correspondence with previous employers can comprise of letters, personal and telephone interviews, or other methods as determined by the hiring carrier. Everything must be recorded, documented and kept in the driver investigation file – including any good-faith effort to contact a previous employer that was unsuccessful. This history must include: General identification and employment verification Details on crashes the driver was involved in over the previous three years Any other information involving minor accidents that the previous employer wishes to provide Verify any previous drug or alcohol violations over the past three years. That includes: whether the driver has violated alcohol or controlled substances prohibitions over the past three years; whether they completed or failed to undertake a rehabilitation program prescribed by a substance abuse professional; whether they had positive test results or refused to be tested; and any testing violations following referral. Conduct a pre-employment drug test through which the driver must test negative. Drivers may be exempt if they have participated in a drug testing program in the past 30 days and were either tested for drugs in the past 6 months or were involved in a random drug screening in the past 12 months. Verify that that the driver has been certified by a medical examiner listed on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners. An original or legible copy must be kept in their file. Certificates are valid for 24 months, although drivers with specific medical conditions may require more frequent checks. Ensure that the driver has successfully completed a road test and has been issued a certificate. Applicant Rights Drivers have the right to review information provided by previous employers, as well as to dispute any findings. This could require a previous employer to resend the correct information, or, if an agreement can’t be made, allow the driver to include a rebuttal statement with the information. Drivers can submit a written request immediately upon applying or up to 30 days after being employed or denied employment. Prospective employers must provide information within 5 business days of the request. To read more about simple steps you can take to increase productivity, decrease risk and stay compliant, download the full ebook here.

Starting a new trucking company and doing all the administrative tasks that come with it can be stressful, overwhelming, and difficult to figure out on your own.

Summer 2025 is almost here, and so is a long list of safety awareness initiatives, fun and informative industry events, and an important DOT compliance registration deadline.

Summer 2025 is almost here, which means seasonal businesses will be ramping up their workforces. Think farms and orchards, amusement parks, landscaping companies, construction sites, golf courses — the list goes on. Some businesses hire the same seasonal workers year after year, while others hire new people each year, or a combination of new and old. For college kids, a summer job is an annual rite of passage. For other seasonal workers, the gig might supplement a full-time job.

You can still pass a DOT physical and legally operate a commercial vehicle, even if you have been diagnosed with a health condition. Driving a commercial motor vehicle can be a physically demanding job. It not only requires long hours behind the wheel but also the ability to perform truck inspections, secure loads, and make adjustments to freight that may have shifted during transport. To ensure drivers can handle the demands of the job, all DOT-regulated drivers who operate a vehicle that weighs at least 10,000 pounds (GVWR/GCWR) are required to have a DOT physical once every two years. These physical exams are conducted by a certified medical examiner who reviews the driver’s medical history, discusses any medications they take, and performs a general physical exam to check for potential issues with the person’s eyes, heart, lungs, abdomen, spine, and other body systems. Read the full overview of the DOT Physical exam here. Finally, A Better Way to Manage DOT Physicals If the exam goes well, the examiner will issue a DOT medical card that is good for the next two years. In some cases, however, medical conditions are identified during the physical exam that disqualifies a driver from operating a commercial motor vehicle — or require more frequent monitoring. When a Medical Condition is Found During a DOT Physical: Four Things to Know 1. The Medical Examiner Will Determine Whether You’re Qualified to Drive If a medical condition is identified during your DOT physical, the examiner has a decision to make: Is the condition serious enough to prevent you from resuming your driving duties, or does it simply require the right treatment? If it’s the latter, your medical examiner should discuss possible treatment options with you so that you can reverse or control the underlying issue and stay on the road. 2. A Driver Disqualification May be Temporary Depending on the severity of your condition, the medical examiner might temporarily disqualify you from driving for a period of time. In this case, a reexamination would be required (perhaps in a few months) before a medical card could be issued. 3. You Might Need to Apply for a Medical Exemption The FMCSA has identified certain conditions that disqualify drivers from operating CMVs. These include hypertension, respiratory dysfunction, diabetes, vision impairment, epilepsy, and mental disorders. If you have one of these conditions, and both you and your medical examiner believe that you’re well enough to drive, you can apply for one of the FMCSA’s Driver Exemption Programs. Once your application is submitted, you can expect a decision within 180 days. 4. Missing or Impaired Limb? You’ll Need a Skill Performance Evaluation Certificate. If you have a missing or impaired limb and want to drive a CMV, you’ll need a Skill Performance Evaluation (SPE) Certificate. You’ll find an application on the FMCSA website, along with information on renewing a current SPE. A road test that proves your ability to safely operate your CMV is part of the application process. Pass DOT Physicals & Continue Operating Commercial Vehicles Safely If concerns come up during your DOT physical examination, it’s best to discuss them honestly with your medical examiner, especially if they don’t intend to give you the clearance you need to drive. This can help you make the health decisions needed to get back on the road as quickly as possible. Remember, roadside inspection season is at its peak. Inspectors will check to ensure drivers have valid medical certifications. Now is the time to review your drivers' DOT medical cards to verify they're not expired. Have questions about the DOT physical process? Talk to one of our DOT compliance experts today. Links to Related DOT Physical Articles in This Series: The DOT Physical: Everything You Need to Know DOT Physicals: Can Chiropractors and Other Doctors do DOT Physicals? DOT Physicals: Vision Requirements for the Eye Exam DOT Physicals: Can You Pass with a High BMI or While Overweight? DOT Physicals: Can I Get a DOT Physical in Any State? DOT Physicals: Can You Pass with a Hernia? DOT Physicals: Will I Pass with Diabetes? DOT Physical Blood Pressure: Requirements & Tips for Passing DOT Physicals: Can I Pass With Sleep Apnea? DOT Physicals: Do They Include a Drug Test? How to Prepare for Your DOT Physical? DOT Physicals: What Happens When You Fail? Fail a DOT Physical? You Have a Right to a Second Opinion DOT Physicals: Understanding Medical Variances

Most FMCSA-regulated business owners understand that drivers are required to take a pre-employment drug test. Although pre-employment drug testing is a relatively uncomplicated process, there are specific requirements that must be met. What is a DOT Pre-Employment (PE) Drug Test? This is the initial urine drug screen that should be given after you have decided to hire an applicant or re-hire a driver who previously worked for you. Who is Required to Take a DOT Pre-Employment Drug Test? Drivers are required to take a pre-employment drug test if they: Operate a vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) of at least 26,001 pounds Operate a vehicle that can transport at least 16 passengers, including the driver Transport hazardous materials that require placarding Newly hired drivers and returning drivers who have been excluded from a random drug and alcohol testing program for 30 days or longer must complete a pre-employment drug test before operating a commercial motor vehicle. This includes owner-operators and employees of family-run operations. When Does a DOT Pre-Employment Drug Test Have to be Completed? The drug test must be completed before a driver begins operating a commercial motor vehicle. This doesn’t mean a driver can go to a collection site, take the test, and immediately hop in a truck to start driving. Before they can legally drive, the entire testing process must be completed. In other words, the urine specimen must be sent to the laboratory and a verified negative result must be received first. After the drug test is completed, the driver must then be added to a random drug and alcohol testing pool within 30 days. Related Foley Article: What Drugs Will Disqualify You from Driving a CMV? Can a Pre-Employment Drug Test That Was Taken with a Different Company Be Used? Although there are circumstances in which previous drug test results can be used, there are complex stipulations and requirements that must be met to do so. We always recommend completing a new pre-employment drug test any time a driver is hired or rehired. Where Do You Go to Take a Pre-Employment Drug Test? Most DOT-qualified collection sites are walk-in medical centers. For example, Foley offers a network of collection sites located across the country to companies enrolled in our drug and alcohol testing program. What Happens if a Pre-Employment Drug Test Comes Back Positive? If a test produces a positive result, the driver may not begin operating for any company until the entire return-to-duty process is complete. Read more about the return-to-duty process and what it involves here. Keep in mind that the FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse makes it nearly impossible for drivers to apply at various companies without disclosing a past positive drug test result. What are the Consequences of Not Completing a Pre-Employment Drug Test? If, for whatever reason, a pre-employment drug test is overlooked, it must be completed as soon as possible. That being said, an incomplete DOT drug test can cause serious problems when an FMCSA audit occurs. In the case of a New Entrant Safety Audit, an incomplete pre-employment drug screen will result in an automatic failure. If it’s discovered during a Compliance Review, significant fines will be issued. Ensure Your DOT Pre-Employment Drug Testing Program is Accurate & Compliant The importance of pre-employment drug testing cannot be overstated. If you have questions or concerns, contact us here at Foley and our team of DOT compliance experts will walk you through the process. If you're ready to enroll your drivers in a DOT drug testing program to meet the latest federal regulations, request a free demo of our software solution that automates these complex requirements and makes it easier for your company to stay compliant.

Random roadside inspections aren’t so “random” after all, according to Mike Yonka, Director of Safety Services for Transportation at Sentry Insurance. In an interview with FleetOwner, the former truck driver, fleet safety director, and human resources director shared, “Drivers don’t understand that every time you are getting inspected or there’s a violation, depending on what category it is, it drives up your score.” What score is he talking about? It’s often referred to as the ISS, which is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Inspection Selection System. Safety inspectors use it as a guide when selecting which commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) to inspect. Based on carriers’ safety performance data, ISS scores are based on crash history, inspection history, driver history, and safety management experience. ISS values are lumped into three different categories: Inspect (inspection warranted); scores between 75 and 100 Optional (could be worth a look); scores between 50 and 74 Pass (no inspection required); scores between one and 49 The lower your score, the less likely you are to face an unplanned inspection. On the other hand, if you’ve earned a score of 75 or above, you should expect to face one sooner rather than later. “Inspectors already know by looking at the profile of the carrier that they have an issue with inspections and vehicle maintenance,” said Yonka. Informing Your Fleet Can Save Your Score If you’re a safety manager, terminal manager, or hold any other influential position at your company, the responsibility of preparing your fleet for inspections weighs heavily on your shoulders. And if you’re not sharing your company’s ISS information with your drivers, you’re missing out on a key component of preventing future violations. Openly discussing out-of-service violation numbers and ISS scores with drivers can help them understand why they have been flagged and are being inspected more often. In addition, keeping up on regular preventative maintenance (PM), as well as reminding drivers to perform quality pre- and post-trip inspections goes a long way. The Payoff of Preventive Vehicle Maintenance Kevin Pfost, technical service coordinator for Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, firmly believes in the power of conducting PMs regularly to avoid issues during roadside inspections. He shared with FleetOwner that both technicians and drivers can measure strokes on drum brakes and ensure slack adjusters are all positioned at the same angle. This is also a bigger problem than you may think. According to the results of the 2024 Roadcheck, brake systems were the top violation in North America, accounting for 25% of all vehicle out-of-service conditions. Enforcement Season is Here — Are You Ready? If an officer is looking at these wheel-end components, they’re performing a Level I inspection, which means they’re physically crawling underneath the cab and looking at the slack adjusters and the inside of the brake drums. At this point, any hope of hiding something from the officer is most likely gone. Not only are bad brakes an inspection violation, but they’re also dangerous! It’s crucial to bring any truck with brake issues in for maintenance immediately, especially before it’s rolling down the road at full speed without any way to stop it. The Power of Pre- & Post-Trip Inspections The point of conducting pre-trip inspections is to catch minor quick fixes that could have a major impact on the results of an official inspection. Simple things like checking the headlights, the horn, and whether a fire extinguisher is in the truck should be done every time a driver is about to hit the road. Encouraging drivers to change their mindset about these pre- and post-trip inspections can make a real difference. If they have safety at the top of their priorities, they’re going to look at things differently while on the job. Looking out for themselves, co-workers who may use the same truck, and other drivers on the road should be their focus, and these inspections play a definitive role in that. Get Your FREE DOT Audit Survival Guide Today! Having proper documentation is also a crucial component of the inspection process, Yonka indicated. Drivers should be able to show law enforcement officers the steps that they followed during their pre-trip inspections. “If there is a severe accident and you are going into court, they are going to ask from an insurance perspective what you did,” Yonka said. “Do you have a process? Did you follow a certain way of handling those inspections? Did you do your pre-trip inspection and make sure everything was good before you hit the road?” Yonka often encourages carriers to train drivers on their processes, since high out-of-service violations and ISS scores can cause insurance premiums to skyrocket. And when drivers find a better way to conduct their inspections, carriers should take note and always listen to driver feedback. They’re the best source of on-the-job information. Prioritize Your Fleet’s Safety with the Right Partner “My comment to drivers is whenever you are driving, you have to think of it as your family in that car in front of you.” Yonka urged. Putting things into perspective like this can often remind drivers how dangerous their jobs can be. The last thing you, as a carrier, want to deal with is an accident — or worse — a lawsuit. Nuclear verdicts are taking the industry by storm (not in a good way) and becoming the detrimental fate of countless transport companies. The above advice can help improve your fleet’s safety and success, even if you are entangled in litigation. Having a compliance partner also goes a long way in ensuring you’re following all DOT regulations. Even if you’ve failed an inspection or safety audit, it’s not too late to get back on track. Foley’s experts offer reliable audit support to help you restore your safety rating and avoid future compliance issues. We also provide ongoing MVR Monitoring to keep track of your fleet’s driving habits, which can help save your company if you ever find yourself in a courtroom. Talk with a DOT compliance specialist today or fill out the form below to get started.

Are you prepared to follow the latest DOT drug testing requirements? Foley can help ensure you know if your drivers test positive for any of the substances below. The FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is here to stay, and unfortunately, so are the violations reported to it.

Most Safety Managers and owners of DOT-regulated businesses understand the importance of keeping up with maintaining their commercial vehicles. What is not always clearly understood, however, is the vehicle maintenance records the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires. According to FMCSA regulations, There are specific documents that must be kept for certain retention periods. These regulations apply to any owned or leased vehicle (provided the leased vehicle is being operated for at least 30 days) that meets one or more of the following requirements: Has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) of 10,001 pounds or more Carries hazardous materials and requires placarding Can transport eight or more passengers, including the driver DOT Vehicle Maintenance Files (VMFs) The FMCSA requires that individual files be maintained for all CMVs. Many companies do retain maintenance records, but they are often disorganized and kept in one file. In the event of an FMCSA audit, this can make it difficult for the safety auditor to make an accurate assessment of the company’s maintenance methods, and paper files are not accepted during offsite DOT audits. That means headaches — and possibly hefty fines — for the company. Let's consider a hypothetical situation that is a common scenario with many DOT-regulated businesses: The owner of a home services company undergoes an FMCSA compliance review. When the safety auditor requests to see vehicle maintenance records, the owner is confident knowing that they are on top of maintaining their CMVs. They plunk down a large file that they have been keeping for years, containing repair receipts, DMV records, insurance forms, etc. What they're not prepared for is the excruciating four-hour examination of documents by a stringent DOT auditor who has to rummage through a mass of disorganized paperwork. They received several violations for failing to keep records of inspections and vehicle maintenance. The owner is shocked…they have been maintaining these records for years, isn’t it obvious they take care of their vehicles? Documentation & Filing Methods of Vehicle Repairs & Maintenance To ensure you set up acceptable Vehicle Maintenance Files (VMFs), we suggest putting yourself in the DOT auditor’s shoes for just a minute. Would you want to go through a jumbled mess of years of paperwork, trying to sift out important documents? Here are three steps to keep in mind when creating and maintaining your DOT vehicle maintenance files. 1. Create one separate file for each vehicle (including trailers) A DOT auditor wants to be able to select a vehicle file and be able to immediately and clearly identify the vehicle. Therefore, the first stand-alone document should be a Vehicle Identification Record that contains identifying information such as the make, model, year, and VIN. 2. Clearly identify receipts of repairs and regular maintenance It’s important to keep receipts, but the DOT auditor needs to be able to tell what the receipt is for. For example, you purchased new windshield wipers, light bulbs, and batteries. You also threw in some air fresheners, heavy-duty garbage bags, and a pack of gum. You should keep a document or form of the vehicle purchases and staple the receipt to it, highlighting the date and the purchases that pertain to the vehicle. 3. Document roadside inspections Whenever any of your vehicles are selected for a roadside inspection, whether violations are found or not, you need to keep the roadside inspection report in the vehicle’s file. If defects (violations) are found, it's crucial to get them fixed promptly and to staple evidence of the repair to the inspection report. Your VMFs need to reflect that you are on top of all regular maintenance needs and that you repair all defects promptly. An auditor wants to be certain that your vehicle can be safely operated on public roadways. Therefore, not only do you want to be able to document when you last had maintenance performed, but also when you project it will next be needed. DOT Record Retention Periods All vehicle maintenance records must be retained for a minimum of 12 months, with one exception: Annual DOT inspection reports must be retained for 14 months. DOT Periodic/Annual Inspections and Reports Annual or periodic DOT inspection reports are a crucial aspect of maintenance records that are often overlooked. These are the inspections in which you receive a sticker on the CMV indicating that it has passed its annual inspection. Many DOT-regulated business owners believe that having the sticker is sufficient, yet the hard copy of the report is just as important. Get Your Vehicle Maintenance DOT Records Organized & Digitized Even if you aren't expecting an FMCSA audit soon, do not put off getting organized and implementing an effective vehicle maintenance filing system. As your business grows and you add additional trucks to your fleet, the more difficult it will become to keep up with your DOT recordkeeping requirements. Dash, Foley's DOT recordkeeping software solution, makes it easy to transfer all your paper files to an electronic format, so you're always ready for DOT compliance reviews. Get a free demo of Dash now by clicking here or filling out the form below.

Now that the 2025 CVSA International Roadcheck inspection blitz has concluded, you may think your commercial vehicles and employees who drive are in the clear from federal interventions. If either were cited for violations during the inspection process, this isn’t the case. Companies with drivers or trucks that were cited for violations or placed out of service during Roadcheck inspections will be prioritized for DOT audits, including offsite audits, during the following months. What are Offsite Audits? As the name suggests, offsite audits are held remotely — without the auditor coming to a place of business. Instead, auditors often ask questions over the phone and request various compliance documents be sent electronically using the FMCSA portal. For companies already using a digital recordkeeping system, this process is fairly straightforward—especially if it’s part of their DOT compliance management system. Foley customers, for example, can download files from their company platform and provide them to the auditor in just a few minutes. Those with digital DOT recordkeeping in place are also much less likely to have incomplete files, as the software monitors the compliance of each driver and sends alerts and notifications when files are outdated or incomplete. For companies that are still using paper recordkeeping systems, the process is more tedious. Upon the auditor’s request, all documents must be scanned, saved as digital files, and then either uploaded to the FMCSA portal or emailed directly to the auditor. Companies are typically given only about 48 hours to gather and submit documentation. Maintaining fully compliant files is crucial, as there isn’t a lot of time to locate and provide incomplete files if a document is missing. What are the FMSCA Safety Ratings? Safety ratings are publicly accessible and up-to-date records of a company's compliance with federally regulated safety fitness standards. According to the FMCSA, these ratings are based on the “safety management controls” that companies have in place to maintain their compliance with safety and hazardous materials regulations. These controls must be appropriate to a company’s size and type of operation. After an offsite audit, FMCSA-regulated companies can be assigned one of three safety ratings: satisfactory, conditional, or unsatisfactory. We explain the definition of each rating below. Satisfactory This is the best possible rating, meaning a company has functional and adequate safety management in place. Conditional Conditional safety ratings are given to companies that do not have adequate safety management controls in place or have failed to follow some safety protocols. Companies with this rating are still permitted to operate, but their relationships with customers, brokers, and creditors will likely be impacted (that is, business partners could become wary of working with a Conditional carrier because it could disrupt their business and reputation as well). These companies' insurance premiums are also likely to increase, or they may not be able to secure insurance at all. Unsatisfactory This is the worst possible safety rating, meaning that a company has failed to implement or upgrade compliant safety protocols. It signals that the FMCSA has made a preliminary determination that the company is unfit to continue operating in interstate commerce and is ineligible for federal contracts. The company must make necessary safety improvements in 45 to 60 days to be able to continue operating. The first step to upgrading a Conditional rating is to address issues presented by the FMCSA and formally request a new rating. It is critical that companies document all procedures along the way as proof that they are taking steps in the right direction. If a company receives an Unsatisfactory rating, and they wish to remain in business, they’ll need to immediately create and implement a detailed corrective action plan and submit this plan to the FMCSA. They will then be closely scrutinized by the agency until they request and receive a safety rating upgrade. What Triggers a DOT Safety Audit? While safety audit notifications may seem surprising, they aren't necessarily random. The FMCSA tracks companies that have displayed elevated safety risks on the road. If any of your drivers have been involved in DOT-recordable accidents, your company has a poor CSA score, or any of your CMVs have failed DOT roadside inspections, your company has a higher risk of being audited. What are the Implications of a Poor Safety Rating? The FMCSA now permits auditors to issue Unsatisfactory and Conditional safety ratings during offsite audits. The agency made this allowable in the spring of 2020, but it has become standard practice since then. As a federally regulated motor carrier, you should know that a Conditional or Unsatisfactory designation can jeopardize your business. Recovering, especially from an Unsatisfactory rating, can be a long, challenging, and costly process. Or worse, it could result in you closing your doors for good. In order to reduce their chances of receiving a poor safety rating, federally regulated companies should take every possible step to prepare for offsite audits before they're selected for them. How Can You Maintain a Good Safety Rating? It's much easier for a business to maintain its current Satisfactory rating than to recover from the damage of a poor rating. To avoid slipping into a lower safety rating category, it's essential to always comply with FMCSA and DOT regulations; regularly maintain, inspect, and update equipment; and keep accurate and up-to-date DOT records. Motor vehicle report (MVR) Monitoring can also play a major role in keeping you compliant. Foley's MVR monitoring program continuously monitors your drivers' records and sends alerts whenever new information is detected. This could be a DUI or other driving-related arrest, an accident, a medical certificate downgrade, a speeding ticket, or CDL suspension, revocation, or expiration. Companies are notified of positive changes as well, such as when a driver has renewed their CDL or medical certificate, for example. Foley’s MVR Monitoring solution includes a dedicated online platform you can access from any mobile device. As soon as you receive an MVR notification, you can take immediate action. Essential CDL and medical card expiration dates are also tracked, ensuring your drivers have the correct credentials to operate. Lapses in these areas result in all-too-common FMCSA violations. MVR monitoring also fulfills your annual MVR report requirement by running new reports once per year for each of your drivers’ files and performing annual violation reviews. Simply put, by keeping close tabs on drivers, you’ll be able to operate a safer fleet and maintain a strong safety rating — the ultimate secret to any federally regulated company's success. Interested in learning more about Foley’s MVR Monitoring program and how we can help maintain (or improve) your safety rating? Click here or fill out the form below to schedule a free demo.

HARTFORD, May 15, 2025 — Foley, a pioneering provider of advanced DOT compliance, hiring, screening, and onboarding software solutions, is excited to announce significant leadership additions aimed at accelerating growth and enhancing customer success. Adam Bambrough has been appointed as Vice President of Customer Success, Kevin Donovan as Vice President of Sales, and Bobby Schmidt has been promoted to Vice President of Growth.

Have you renewed your annual hazmat registration yet? The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) requires hazardous material transporters to register and pay a fee each year in return for a certificate of operations. The 2025-2026 registration year covers July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. For the 2025-2026 registration year, payment must be received by July 1. Who Needs to File a Hazmat Registration? The annual hazardous materials registration applies to any interstate or intrastate business that requires a U.S. DOT hazmat placard. Current certificates must be kept in your vehicle at all times. How Much Does a Hazmat Registration Cost? The two-tier fee structure is based on a company’s size, with small trucking companies paying less than their larger counterparts. Whether or not your company qualifies for the lower small business fee depends on if you meet the size standard as set by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Those in the trucking or pipeline industries will typically qualify for the lower fee if they have fewer than 1,500 employees or less than $27.5 million in revenue. If you have questions about whether or not you qualify, you can find out here. What if I Don’t Meet the Hazmat Registration Deadline? Failure to register by the hazmat registration deadline, or failure to produce a current certificate during a roadside inspection, will result in a loss of operating authority in both intrastate and interstate commerce. Failure to produce a current certificate during a roadside stop can also result in a fine of up to $37,500 per day. Because there are multi-year registrations available, you may not need to renew by the July deadline. If you aren’t sure whether your registration is due this year, you can check your registration status here. File Your Hazmat Registration with Foley Now To avoid the steep penalties of failing to file your hazardous materials registration, Foley can help you with a one, two, or three-year hazmat registration now. We can also assist with the creation of a hazmat security plan, which can help you comply with additional hazardous materials transportation requirements. This plan must address topics such as personnel security, unauthorized access, employee training, and en route security. Give Foley a call at (800) 253-5506 to get started with your 2025-2026 hazmat registration, or click here for more information.

Think you know the FMCSA HOS regulations? Brush up on them and some exclusions, like the 16-hour exemption, so you can operate a safe fleet. The FMCSA hours-of-service (HOS) rules are designed to help drivers operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) safely by avoiding excessive fatigue. They regulate how long employees can drive, when they need to take off, and how long they need to rest.

Are your vehicles and drivers ready for this year's CVSA roadside inspections? Starting today, May 13, 2025, through Thursday, inspectors across North America will be pulling over trucks for random roadside inspections as part of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s annual Roadcheck campaign. The focus areas of this year’s event are tires and records of duty status (RODS). What Will Roadcheck Inspections Involve? In most cases, inspectors will conduct a 37-point, Level One – North American Standard Inspection, which will look for both driver and vehicle safety requirements. This will include an inspection of the driver’s CDL, medical card, record of duty status (if required), seat belt usage, and vehicle inspection reports. It will also include a comprehensive look at components such as the vehicle’s brake systems, cargo securement, fuel systems, frames, exhaust systems, steering mechanisms, suspensions, tires, and windshield wipers. Common Reasons for Roadside Inspection Failures During last year's Roadcheck, 13,567 vehicle violations (a 20% increase from Roadcheck 2023), 2,714 driver violations, and 163 hazardous materials/dangerous goods (HM/DG) violations were cited. The top reasons these drivers and vehicles were put out of service were problems with a vehicle’s brake systems, tires and wheels, and cargo securement. For drivers, the top issues involved hours of service, having a canceled or revoked license, and false records of duty statuses. Last-Minute Roadcheck 2025 Preparation is Available Before your drivers head out on the road, it’s a good idea to check your vehicles and driver qualification documents one last time to ensure you’re operating compliantly. If you have any last-minute questions, please give us a call at (800) 253-5506, and one of our DOT compliance experts will be happy to assist you.

Hiring in 2025? Make sure you're hiring qualified drivers who have all the right licensure and endorsements to operate your company's vehicles. Whether you’re a seasoned trucker or you’re considering a new career in trucking, you know that earning your commercial driver’s license (CDL) is the first step toward a promising career as a truck driver. But did you know that a lack of endorsements or having restrictions on your license could be holding you back from various truck driving jobs? The demand for commercial truck drivers is at an all-time high. Having certain endorsements and removing said restrictions can enhance your chances of being hired by a great company where you want to build a lifelong career. License endorsements also allow you to transport special types of goods as opposed to simply running general freight. As you continue driving a commercial motor vehicle (CMV), you should continue to earn endorsements and have restrictions removed. CDL Classes Let’s start with the three different CDL classes you can earn before you can consider adding endorsements. Class A CDL This is the most commonly issued CDL. With a Class A CDL, you have the authority to operate a vehicle with a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, including a towed object/vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) over 10,000 pounds. You can operate the following vehicles with a Class A CDL: Tractor-trailers and flatbeds Livestock carriers Tankers Truck and trailer combinations Tractor-trailer buses Semi-truck with flatbed trailer If you’ve earned the appropriate Class A endorsements, you can even be authorized to operate some Class B and Class C trucks. Class B CDL You can operate a vehicle at or over 26,001 in GCWR with a Class B commercial license. If you are using the vehicle for towing purposes, the GCWR cannot exceed 10,000 pounds. Vehicles you can drive with a Class B CDL include: Straight trucks Public transport and tourist passenger buses Segmented buses School buses Delivery service box trucks Dump trucks with small trailers Tractor-trailers Just like you’re allowed to operate different vehicles with a Class A CDL, you can operate some Class C vehicles with the right Class B endorsements. Class C CDL You must obtain a Class C CDL to drive a vehicle with a GVWR of less than 26,001 pounds, a vehicle towing another vehicle that has a GVWR that does not exceed 10,000 pounds, as well as a passenger vehicle with 16 (including the driver) or more people. You must also hold this CDL class to drive a truck carrying hazardous material (HAZMAT) under federal guidelines. With a Class C CDL (and the right endorsements), you can drive: Small trucks equipped to transport HAZMAT Passenger vans Small trucks towing trailers CDL Endorsements The CDL endorsements you hold determine the different types of CMVs you can operate and the freight you can haul within them. Earning each type of endorsement requires passing its corresponding test. Just like there are different CDL Classes between different states, there are also different endorsement requirements per state. How much do CDL endorsements cost? The price tag attached to most endorsement tests (except HAZMAT, which is more involved) varies by state, but it is relatively affordable. Holding more endorsements only makes you a more desirable hire and increases the likelihood of earning more money and being a successful driver. Once you earn additional endorsements, you need to remember to renew them when you renew your CDL to keep them valid. H Endorsement Also known as the HAZMAT endorsement, an H endorsement is required to operate a vehicle that contains hazardous materials. Applicable CDL classifications: Class A, B, and C Required testing: written knowledge test N Endorsement Drivers with an N CDL endorsement can drive tankers, or vehicles that transport liquids and gases. Applicable CDL classifications: Class A and B Required testing: written knowledge test P Endorsement If you’d like to operate a vehicle or bus that seats upwards of 16 people, you’ll need to earn your P (passenger) endorsement. To be a school bus driver, you will need to fill out separate forms, earn another endorsement in addition to the P endorsement, and pass a federal background check. Applicable CDL classifications: Class A, B, and C Required testing: written knowledge test and road skills test S Endorsement The S (school bus) endorsement is the second endorsement noted above that’s required to be a school bus driver. Applicable CDL classifications: Class A, B, and C Required testing: written knowledge test, road skills test, and background check T Endorsement Once you’ve earned your T endorsement, you’ll be able to haul double or triple trailers. Applicable CDL classifications: Class A Required testing: written knowledge test X Endorsement A combination endorsement by nature, the X endorsement permits you to transport HAZMAT within a tank. Applicable CDL classifications: Class A and B Required testing: written knowledge test CDL Restrictions In contrast to earning endorsements, you can also receive CDL restrictions during the testing portions of your trucking career. It’s best to avoid these as much as possible since they will limit the types of vehicles you can legally operate. The good news is, that most restrictions can be lifted by taking the right restorative actions, but the removal requirements do vary by state. Here are the seven most common CDL driving restrictions you can be marked with. E Restriction The type of transmission the CMV has during your road skill test determines if you’ll receive this restriction. If you complete the test operating a CMV with an automatic transmission, your CDL will be marked with an E restriction, and you will not be able to drive a CMV with a manual transmission. To remove it, you must re-take the road test driving a rig with a manual transmission. L Restriction Having an L restriction on your CDL means you cannot operate a vehicle with a full air brake system. You will receive an L restriction in one of two circumstances: by driving a CMV without a full air brake system, or by failing to pass the air brakes knowledge exam. To remove the restriction, you must pass all sections of the CDL exam relating to air brakes. M Restriction If you have a Class A CDL and passed your P or S endorsements with a Class B or C passenger vehicle, you’ll receive an M restriction on your license, and you’ll be excluded from operating any Class A passenger vehicles. Passing the skills test in a Class A passenger vehicle is required to remove the restriction. N Restriction Like the M restriction, if you have a Class B CDL and obtained your P or S endorsement in a Class C passenger vehicle, you’ll acquire an N restriction on your CDL and be prohibited from operating a Class B passenger vehicle. Removing it involves passing the skills test in a Class B passenger vehicle. O Restriction You will have an O restriction added to your license if you’re a Class A CDL driver and you took your road skill test in a vehicle that did not have a fifth-wheel connection, such as a gooseneck, ball and chain hook up, or pintle hook. From there, you will be able to operate only CMVs without a fifth-wheel connection. Passing the road skills test using a vehicle with a fifth-wheel connection will remove the restriction. V Restriction If you have a reported medical variance as defined by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), your CDL will have a V restriction on it. Medical variances are impairments that can present safety hazards while operating a vehicle. The most common medical variances are: Diabetes Seizures Hearing problems Eyesight impairment As long as your medical certificate states you have any of these conditions, the restriction will remain on your license; however, the FMCSA may provide you with an exemption. Z Restriction You are not authorized to operate a CMV with full air brakes if your license has a Z restriction placed on it. The Z restriction means you performed the road skills test with a vehicle that had a partial air system or hydraulic system. You will need to complete the driving test with a vehicle that has a full air brake system to remove the Z restriction. Be the Best CDL Driver You Can Be Moving forward with your career as a truck driver means knowing which types of vehicles you want to drive and how to legally do so, avoiding license restrictions as much as possible, and working toward the endorsements you can earn along the way. In today’s hot trucking industry, almost nothing can stop you from working for your ideal company and being a safe, successful driver!

Everything you need to know about DOT medical certificates, and then some. The physical toll of driving any vehicle for a living is often forgotten, but that’s why the DOT medical card exists. It is essential to any federally regulated driver’s qualification file.

DOT compliance is key to passing roadside inspections during the annual enforcement event. With the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) annual International Roadcheck coming up, now is the time to check on your vehicle maintenance, driver files, and FMCSA hours of service compliance. The 72-hour enforcement event will be taking place Tuesday, May 13, through Thursday, May 15, 2025. Keep in mind that Roadcheck inspections are meant to evaluate truck parts and DOT compliance, which you should already check and maintain regularly. Failing an inspection will result in time off the road and money lost for your company. To help you avoid violations, expensive fines, and potential out-of-service (OOS) orders, we'll answer the following questions to make sure you are prepared for this year’s event: What should I expect during the 2025 Roadcheck blitz? What paperwork should my drivers have for Roadcheck inspections? How can I prepare for hours-of-service (HOS) and electronic logging device (ELD) checks? What happens after a Roadcheck inspection? What Should I Expect During the 2025 Roadcheck Blitz? If you’ve been through a Roadcheck inspection before, you probably know what to expect by now. But if this is your first one, it’s even more important to take note of all the elements you should be checking and get to know the different CVSA inspection levels. Most roadside inspections are Level One inspections, which involve a 37-step process of checking all areas of the tractor and trailer, along with important driver paperwork. Most of the truck parts that will be inspected during a Level One inspection include: Under the hood (engine, wiring, hoses) Tires, wheels, rims, and hubs Brakes Suspension Lights Windshield wipers Seatbelts Load securement You can learn more about all the CVSA North American inspection levels here. Drivers should check most of these elements during their pre-trip inspection before they get behind the wheel. Over 3,300 out-of-service brake violations and over 2,800 tire violations were cited during Roadcheck 2024 inspections — don't let your fleet be a part of them this year! As a helpful side note, drivers should make sure their trucks are neat and clean before the enforcement event begins! A DOT officer is more likely to look closely for potential violations when they see that the truck has been neglected. What Paperwork Should Drivers Have Ready for Roadcheck 2025? To be prepared for Roadcheck 2025, you will need to make sure your drivers have the appropriate DOT compliance documentation. Inspectors will closely analyze driver operating credentials and requirements, such as whether they have a valid CDL and an updated medical certificate. A few of the documents your drivers should have ready are: Driver’s License/CDL Medical Examiners Certificate Record of Duty Status (RODS) Daily Vehicle Inspection Report Periodic Inspection Reports Shipping Papers Vehicle Inspection Certificate Skill Performance Evaluation Certificate Your drivers having these documents in their possession is just as important as ensuring their trucks and trailers are in order. If your drivers don’t have them with them during the inspection, or any of them are expired, they may be placed out of service. A DOT compliance software solution can easily manage these documents for you by automatically tracking expiration dates and incomplete driver files. It will also alert you to missing documents and outdated medical cards. How Can I Prepare for HOS & ELD Checks? During Roadcheck 2024, over 32% of driver violations were due to hours of service (HOS) issues. This is surprising considering the ELD records your HOS information automatically, and the rules are readily available to any CMV driver. Learning about how specific HOS rules apply to you and if you qualify for any HOS exemptions can help you steer clear of these DOT compliance violations yourself. Foley has numerous resources to help you brush up on FMCSA hours-of-service compliance: What You Need to Know About Spring Storms & the Adverse Driving Conditions Exception Hours of Service: Reviewing Changes to the 100-Air-Mile Exemption Compliance Review: FMCSA Hours-of-Service Rules We also advise you to make sure your ELDs are working properly before Roadcheck 2024 begins. If they're not, you’ll need to report a malfunctioning device and have a copy of the user manual, instruction sheet, and a supply of blank “records of duty” sheets for your drivers to use in each vehicle. What Happens After a Roadcheck Inspection? Once your driver's inspection is completed, they will find out if they/their CMV passed or failed. If they passed, this means the officer did not find any critical violations, and they will receive a CVSA decal to display on their CMV. If they fail, this means critical violations were found, and their vehicle will be placed out of service until you can prove the issues have been resolved. Their freight will be left at the inspection site until you arrange for another driver to pick it up and complete the route. Now is Your Last Chance to Prepare for Roadcheck 2025 More than 47,000 inspections were conducted throughout North America during last year’s International Roadcheck, and the CVSA inspection levels varied. The top vehicle violations cited braking systems, tires, lights, and cargo securement. In terms of top driver violations, hours of service issues, having revoked licenses, falsifying logs, and lack of medical cards were cited. Time is running out to ensure that you and your drivers are running compliantly before International Roadcheck 2025. If you need help, take our quiz to see how Roadcheck-ready you are, or click here to request a demo of our DOT compliance software solution that will help cover your bases for the annual roadside inspections.

The decision to leave behind your role as a company driver and start a trucking company isn't an easy one. If becoming an owner-operator were easy, everyone would do it. But even though getting your business started, complying with federal regulations, and putting in the long hours can be tough, there are many perks to starting a trucking company of your own.

How do you juggle rising insurance premiums, driver qualification files, FMCSA Clearinghouse queries, and other DOT compliance matters? To no one’s surprise, owning and operating a trucking company involves a lot of expensive investments. Insurance is one of the top five vehicle-based costs, according to the American Transportation Research Institute’s (ATRI) 2024 Operational Costs of Trucking report.

Stay up to date with the latest industry happenings, and see how DOT compliance services play a major role in preparing for Roadcheck inspections. May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and National Bicycle Safety Month. With temperatures on the rise, we'll soon see rising numbers of motorcyclists and bicyclists on the roadways. Reminding your drivers to be observant of those they share the road with and avoid driving distracted can save precious lives.

While many assume CVSA roadside inspections will focus only on commercial vehicles, inspectors will also check driver qualification documents during Roadcheck 2025.

A DOT physical is necessary for any commercial driver crossing state lines operating a vehicle over 10,000 lbs to ensure they are healthy enough to operate the vehicle safely without putting themselves or others at risk. If you are new to DOT (Department of Transportation) physicals or have only had them through the companies you worked for in the past, you may be surprised to find that the physicals can be carried out by Medical Examiners who are not Doctors of Medicine (MDs). In this article, we’ll explain who can become a Certified Medical Examiner, whether any doctor can do a DOT physical, and what professionals need to do to become certified. Related: FMCSA Proposes to Remove Non-Compliant Medical Examiners; 15,000 Drivers' Medical Certificates Impacted Can Chiropractors do DOT Physicals?  The question “Can a chiropractor do a DOT physical?” has been debated for a long time — especially before doctors were required to become Certified Medical Examiners by the FMCSA in 2014. The answer is yes, a chiropractor can do DOT medical exams, as long as they are a registered Medical Examiner. The debate and controversy around this question largely stems from the perception that chiropractors are not “real” doctors. However, the FMCSA deems a range of medical professionals eligible to become Certified Medical Examiners. It’s important to remember that while a medical doctor (MD) will have had the most relevant training for diagnosing any health problems you have that may be flagged by the physical, the aim of the physical is not to make this diagnosis, but simply to check a wide range of health markers to ensure you are healthy enough to operate such a large vehicle. There is a wide range of medical professionals who have sufficient knowledge to do this. Can Any Doctor do a DOT Physical?  Before 2014, any doctor could complete a DOT exam, but now the doctor must have completed specific training, passed an exam, and be registered with the FMCSA. This means that you cannot go to your local doctor’s office for your DOT physical unless they have a staff member who is qualified to give the examination.  The different types of medical professionals who are eligible to become a medical examiner are:  Medical Doctors (MD)  Osteopaths (DO)  Physician Assistants (PA) Advanced Practice Nurses (APN)  Chiropractors (DC) Naturopathic Doctor (ND) Other highly trained nurse roles (DNP, FNP & CNS) Physical Therapists (DPT) Note that besides a Physician Assistant and most of the listed nurse roles, all listed roles must have a doctorate in their field to be eligible. There are a few other states where another role or two are eligible. If you ever have any doubt about the legitimacy of a Medical Examiner, search for them in the NRCME (National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners) database. If they have passed the relevant certification, they will be listed within that database.  Related: Can I Get a DOT Physical in Any State? What Makes a Doctor Qualified to do DOT Physicals?  To become qualified to do DOT medical exams, a doctor or medical professional must have one of the roles above or one of the additional roles allowed by the state where you’re getting your physical. All of these professions require intensive training to become qualified, often over 7 years, so completing the DOT physical, which is essentially an in-depth health check-up, should not be challenging for them.  The training doctors undergo to become a Certified Medical Examiner involves 8+ hours of study via an accredited training partner, which then allows them to register with the FMCSA so they can book their exam.  The NRCME exam lasts for two hours and contains 120 questions. Approximately 60-70% of those questions will be things they covered in their accredited training program, and the remaining 30-40% are questions that test their general clinical knowledge. The exam takes place in a testing center on a computer, so there is no chance of cheating. Once a medical professional passes this test, they will be registered on the NRCME and be able to complete DOT physicals for drivers.  Will the Type of Doctor Who Does a Physical Make a Difference?  It shouldn’t, and it’s unlikely. As we just covered, all Certified Medical Examiners must have displayed the same level of knowledge to pass the exam, and there are very clear requirements that you must meet to pass. The doctor’s profession shouldn’t make any difference to your results, but if you believe you will only trust the opinion of an MD or highly qualified nurse, choose a provider with those certifications. If you speak to other drivers, you’ll find most have had the same experience regardless of which practitioner completed their physical.  What’s the Difference Between a DOT Doctor and a Medical Examiner?  There’s no difference between these two terms, and you may see them used interchangeably. “Medical Examiner” is the term used by all official documentation.  Can I Go to My Primary Doctor for My DOT Physical, or Do I Have to Use a Different Doctor?  If your doctor is a Certified Medical Examiner, then yes, you can go to them to have your DOT physical. There are no rules about how familiar — or not — you can be with the doctor completing the physical. If they are certified, you can go to them. If they are not a Certified Medical Examiner, then you will need to go to a different doctor or medical professional for your exam. It’s also worth noting that some companies require or prefer you to use “their doctor” (their chosen doctor they work with often, not a doctor who works for them) to streamline the process. If you’re working for a new company, it may be worth checking to see if they have a preferred or recommended doctor for you to go to, and this will likely be the case if they pay for your physical.  How do I Find a DOT Physical Provider? If the company you work for has no preference on which DOT physical provider you go to, the best way to find Certified Medical Examiners near you is to search the NRCME database. Your chosen Medical Examiner does not need to be near your permanent address or even in the same state — you can choose an examiner wherever you are in the country when you need to have your physical done.  When you find a potential certified DOT provider, check out their business the way you would any other. Look at their reviews and check that they have a high standard of patient and customer care. Ideally, the reviews will be related to the DOT physicals they provide, but reviews for any other service should provide a good representation of how they work. Make sure you find out their pricing ahead of your physical, as the cost can vary significantly from provider to provider, so make sure you are aware of the cost and are comfortable with what they’re charging, especially if the physical is being paid for by you.  When you find a provider that ticks all these boxes and you’re happy to move ahead with them, book your physical well ahead of time so you don’t have to worry about getting it before your current medical card runs out.  Any certified Medical Examiner should offer you the same excellent standard of service of care and knowledge as any other, so if a chiropractor is the most accessible DOT provider to you, there is no reason not to book your physical with them. The DOT physical need not be a stressful experience, so if you have any other concerns about whether you can pass or what the DOT physical entails, make sure you check out our other articles and guides on all the requirements of the physical so you can go into it feeling confident.  Links to Related Articles in This Series: The DOT Physical: Everything You Need to Know DOT Physicals: Vision Requirements for the Eye Exam DOT Physicals: Can You Pass with a High BMI or While Overweight? DOT Physicals: Can I Get a DOT Physical in Any State? DOT Physicals: Can You Pass with a Hernia? DOT Physicals: Will I Pass with Diabetes? DOT Physical Blood Pressure: Requirements & Tips for Passing DOT Physicals: Can I Pass With Sleep Apnea? DOT Physicals: What if I Have a Medical Condition? DOT Physicals: Do They Include a Drug Test? How to Prepare for Your DOT Physical? DOT Physicals: What Happens When You Fail? Fail a DOT Physical? You Have a Right to a Second Opinion DOT Physicals: Understanding Medical Variances

Operation Safe Driver Week 2025 is lined up for July 13-19th. The focus area for this year is reckless, careless, or dangerous driving. Drivers of both commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) and passenger vehicles should take extra precautions during Safe Driver Week, and work to become more aware of their driving habits regularly. Throughout the second week of July, law enforcement will be on the lookout for commercial and passenger vehicle drivers engaging in dangerous driving behaviors, such as speeding, distracted driving, following too closely, drunk, or drugged driving. Unsafe drivers can expect to be pulled over and issued a citation or warning. Roadway Fatalities Continue to Plague Our Nation's Roadways According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 42,795 fatal traffic crashes in the U.S. in 2022. “The rising fatalities on our roadways are a national crisis; we cannot and must not accept these deaths as inevitable,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. 2024 Operation Safe Driver Week Results During last year's safety event, law enforcement issued 2,712 tickets/citations and 3,228 warnings to commercial and passenger vehicle drivers. Five warnings and 31 citations were given to drivers for reckless, careless, or dangerous driving. Commercial motor vehicle drivers received 1,221 warnings and 502 tickets/citations for speeding. They also received 328 warnings and 473 tickets/citations for not wearing their seat belt. It’s clear that unsafe driving habits aren't going away. Officers will be on the lookout for offenders in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico during this year's Operation Safe Driver Week to reduce them. Address Reckless Driving Habits Now with an MVR Monitor Program During Operation Safe Driver Week, officers will not only issue warnings and citations for speeding, but also for following other vehicles too closely, distracted driving, drunk or impaired driving, and other unsafe driving practices. Now that this year's enforcement event is less than three months away, it's time to encourage your drivers to be aware of their habits while behind the wheel of your company vehicles, as well as their personal vehicles. Foley's motor vehicle report (MVR) monitor program allows employers to keep track of their drivers' habits while on the roadways. If any enrolled driver receives a citation or is involved in an accident, you'll receive a notification immediately. You can then address the situation and help promote better driving practices across your fleet. Ready to prep for the 2025 Operation Safe Driver Week? Get a free demo of Foley's MVR Monitor today. Or, submit the form below to start putting the safety of your drivers and our roadways first.

Starting a new trucking company or becoming an owner-operator involves countless considerations, from business and profit management to DOT compliance.

What can you expect during this year's CVSA International Roadcheck? It’s nearly time again for the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) annual International Roadcheck. The 72-hour enforcement event is set to take place from Tuesday, May 13 through Thursday, May 15, 2025.

What DOT files do you need to keep and for how long? The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires the companies they regulate to keep records to document their compliance with safety regulations. This documentation must be saved for varying lengths of time as established by the related regulations. During safety audits and DOT compliance reviews, auditors will carefully comb through your DOT records. By purging unnecessary records and properly organizing your files, you will simplify and streamline the review process — which can go a long way with a DOT officer. Below, we cover some of the most important DOT record-keeping requirements to help companies organize and maintain their files regularly. How Long to Keep DOT Records The following is a quick review of record-retention requirements in a few key DOT compliance areas. DOT Drug & Alcohol Testing Records Remember all DOT drug and alcohol test (DAT) records must be maintained in a secure location with controlled access. This means all DAT records must be kept in a separate file under lock and key; they should not be stored with personnel files. Because the rules make no exceptions for one-driver companies, we advise owner-operators to maintain their DAT files separately as well. The following records must be maintained for at least five years: Alcohol test results indicating a BAC of 0.02 or greater Verified positive controlled substances test results Refusal-to-test documentation Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) evaluation reports Copy of annual calendar year summary if required by 49 CFR 382.403 The following records must be maintained for at least two years: Random selections Reasonable-suspicion testing documentation Medical evaluations for "shy lung" and "shy bladder" situations The following records must be maintained for at least one year: Negative and canceled drug test results Alcohol test results with a BAC below 0.02 Additional record retention requirements: The employer’s policy, driver’s signed receipt, and all records related to employer and supervisor education and training must be retained while the individual performs safety-sensitive and/or supervisory functions and for two years thereafter. DOT Driver Qualification Files Both the Driver Qualification and Safety Performance History Files must be retained for as long as the safety-sensitive individual is employed by the company, and for three years thereafter. The following documentation may be discarded from the Driver Qualification File three years from the date of execution: Annual List of Violations Annual Inquiry to State Agencies Annual Review of Driving Record Medical Examiner’s Certificate Safety Performance Evaluation Certificate (if applicable) DOT Hours-of-Service Records The following hours-of-service records must be maintained for six months: Drivers' records of duty status (RODS) A backup copy of ELD records on a separate device from which the original is stored Supporting documents, such as: Dispatch records Receipts Statements Bills of lading Weight station tickets Phone bill statements If your drivers operate strictly on short-haul runs, you are required to document the time your drivers clock in and out, the total time worked during the current period, and the total time worked during the previous seven days. DOT Vehicle Maintenance Records For every vehicle in their control for 30 days or more, DOT-regulated companies must retain the following records for one year at the location where the vehicle is garaged and for six months after the vehicle leaves the company’s control: Identifying information (company number, make, serial number, and tire size) Inspection schedule, including type and date Other vehicle maintenance recordkeeping requirements: Post-trip inspection reports must be retained for at least three months from the report date Periodic inspection report (or copy) must be retained for 14 months from the report date Evidence of an inspector’s qualifications for one year after the inspector ceases to perform inspections for the company Use an Organized DOT Recordkeeping System from the Start Remember, it's easier to create a clean, organized DOT record-keeping system from the very beginning. Too much time can be wasted trying to use or fix a recordkeeping system that's barely keeping up with the latest federal regulations. Setting up (or switching) your DOT recordkeeping system in a secure, 100% online platform is the best way to ensure all your DOT files are organized and kept up to date according to FMCSA requirements. Ready to make your recordkeeping easier? You don't have to go very far. Foley's DOT recordkeeping experts are here to help you transfer your files to our platform and help ensure you're audit-ready every day. Fill out the form below and one of our DOT compliance specialists will reach out to you shortly.

How do you manage DOT Clearinghouse pre-employment queries and driver qualification files? The DOT Clearinghouse hasn’t been the most straightforward safety initiative for carriers since it went into effect back in January 2020. But there’s one area of the regulation that’s proving to be particularly problematic, and it's resulting in more violations than any other aspect of the Clearinghouse. We’re talking about the pre-employment query requirement. So far in 2025, there have been 828 violations of this key Clearinghouse requirement. Below, we're going to discuss . . . A quick refresher on when you need to run full pre-employment Clearinghouse queries Why a driver's written consent isn't enough to run these queries Ways to keep the pre-employment process on track (even with the extra steps required by the DOT Clearinghouse) How Foley offers the most comprehensive DOT compliance services available and will make your work life easier As a refresher, the regulation states that motor carriers must run a full pre-employment Clearinghouse query on each new safety-sensitive driver they employ. Carriers are required to get the results of the query and verify that the driver doesn’t have any violations in the Clearinghouse prior to allowing them to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) for their company. If you don’t have this full query on file for each new driver, the consequences can be severe – comparable to putting a driver behind the wheel before you have a negative drug test result on file. Both are considered acute violations by the FMCSA, which can quickly put you on the dangerous path toward a conditional safety rating. This full query will reveal any information about the driver’s drug and/or alcohol violations that have occurred since the DOT Clearinghouse went into effect. Remember, Electronic Consent is Required for Full Clearinghouse Queries Unlike limited Clearinghouse queries that drivers can consent to with a written signature, drivers are required to provide electronic consent in the DOT Clearinghouse each time a motor carrier intends to run a full query of their record, as personal information is revealed. This can create a roadblock, since it means the driver must have a Clearinghouse account set up in advance. If they don’t have an account yet — or experience any complications during the registration process that cause delays — this can have a significant impact on getting that driver hired and onboarded quickly. And in some cases, it can bring the process to a screeching halt. Need a reminder of the difference between limited and full Clearinghouse queries? This Foley article will clear things up: DOT Clearinghouse Consents: What You Need to Know How to Keep the Pre-Employment Process Moving You want to do everything you can to avoid wasting your valuable time onboarding a driver whose Clearinghouse record ultimately shows that they are prohibited from operating a CMV due to DOT drug and alcohol program violations. Conducting the pre-employment Clearinghouse query early on in your pre-hire process — along with looking at the driver’s initial motor vehicle report — can save you the headache of going back to the drawing board (or job board, for that matter) to find a qualified driver who hopefully doesn’t have any Clearinghouse violations. By letting prospective hires know you need to run a pre-employment Clearinghouse query on them, you’re getting ahead in the following ways: 1. Giving the driver time to register in the Clearinghouse (if they haven’t already) 2. Putting the process of getting their electronic consent in motion 3. Finding out if the driver has violations that will prevent them from operating a CMV for your company If the driver does not have a Clearinghouse record, meaning they do not have any reported DOT drug or alcohol violations, you can then ask them to sign a blanket consent form. A completed blanket consent form will allow you to run the required annual limited queries on the driver for the duration of their employment. You’ll need to keep this document with your employee’s driver qualification file in case it needs to be provided during a compliance audit. How to Create a Better Pre-Employment Clearinghouse Query Process First, go back and verify that you have that full, pre-employment query on file for every driver you’ve hired since the regulation went into effect. If, for some reason, you don’t have the query on file, run it on all your employees who operate CMVs now. While we can’t guarantee that it will protect you from a violation, recognizing your mistake, and having proof that you took steps to correct it, can go a long way in showing that you’re working hard to be a safe motor carrier and you take your compliance requirements seriously. Next, include that pre-employment Clearinghouse query in your pre-hire process immediately. If you run into issues with drivers who don’t know how to complete the registration process, Foley can help them (and you!) through it. Lastly, consider a fully automated compliance solution that checks all the boxes when it comes to your Clearinghouse requirements. Ready to make Clearinghouse queries the least of your compliance worries? Talk to a Foley compliance expert now to learn more, or fill out the form below to request a FREE DOT compliance software demo.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has identified two Houston-area doctors as non-compliant with the physical qualification examination regulations for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. As a result, the DOT medical certificates issued by these examiners have been voided.

We get a lot of questions regarding the seven-year "lookback" rule for reporting adverse information. Bankruptcy cases aside, Section 605(a) of the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act limits the reporting of "any other adverse item of information, other than records of convictions of crimes which antedates the report by more than seven years." (15 U.S.C. § 1681c.)

CDL drivers haul flammable liquids, explosives, and gases on our roadways every day. Hauling these hazardous materials, also known as hazmat, can be dangerous. These materials can cause damage and often pose a health risk to people, animals, and the environment, so it’s no surprise that the government requires drivers transporting these materials to have additional qualifications. These qualifications are known as hazmat endorsements. What is a Hazmat Endorsement? Hazmat endorsement is a certification a driver can get to allow them to legally transport hazardous materials in the United States. To get a hazmat endorsement you need to pass a written exam and background screening (known as the Hazmat Endorsement Threat Assessment Program), and then you’ll be given your hazmat endorsement which is signified on your license with a capital “H.” Is Tanker Endorsement the Same as Hazmat? No, while they both involve transporting hazardous materials, drivers need additional knowledge to drive tankers. You can, however, obtain both a hazmat endorsement and a tanker endorsement. If you do both, you’ll have an “X” on your license instead of an “H.” When is a Hazmat Endorsement Required? A hazmat endorsement is required whenever transporting hazmat that requires the display of placards (i.e., any hazmat in classes 1-8). What are the Requirements to Get a Hazmat Endorsement? The general requirements are: Be 21 or older Hold a valid CDL (commercial driver’s license) or CDL permit in the state you’re applying Do not have any disqualifying criminal offenses (we’ll cover this in another section shortly) Complete the TSA Threat Assessment in either of the following ways: You can complete an online application Complete the entire process at an application center OR at your local DMV if you are in FL, MD, MS, NY, PA, TX, VA, or WI Go to the DMV and present: Proof of identity and birth date with your US passport, birth certificate, certificate of naturalization, or certificate of US citizenship OR Proof that you are a lawful permanent resident with your permanent resident card, alien registration receipt card, temporary I-551 stamp in your foreign passport or on form I-94 with arrival/departure record and a photograph, OR Reentry permit (form I-327) Valid DOT card (and medical waiver if applicable) You’ll also need to: Pass a vision test Willingly give your fingerprints Pass the Hazmat CDL written exam at an application center Pay test and endorsement fees Note that some differences may exist depending on what state you’re applying in, so make sure you check if there is any additional information or differences for your state. How to Get a Hazmat Endorsement Getting hazmat endorsement isn’t a complicated process, you simply need to: Apply and pay for your hazmat endorsement and have a background check (this can be done online, at an application center, or at your DMV depending on your state requirements) Take a vision test Take the written test How Long Does it Take to Get a Hazmat Endorsement? The first step, which is applying and having a background check completed, shouldn’t take any longer than 60 days. You can check the status of your application here. How Do You Apply for a Hazmat Endorsement? You can apply online, at your local application center, or your local DMV, depending on the requirements of the state you’re in. To start your application, click here. How Much is the Hazmat Endorsement? The fee for getting a hazmat endorsement is usually around $90. About the Hazmat Endorsement Test How many questions are on the hazmat endorsement test? The hazmat endorsement test is made up of 30 questions, though this can differ from state to state. How much does the hazmat test cost? The cost of the test itself depends on your state, but they’re generally minimal, at about $15-$20. You may choose to purchase study materials to help you pass, and this rarely exceeds $20. What do you need to pass the hazmat endorsement test? You’ll need a score of 80% to pass, so around 24 answers right out of 30. How hard is the test? If you spend some time studying, you won’t find it difficult. The test covers topics like: Why the regulations are in place Bulk tank marking, unloading, and loading Your responsibilities as a hazmat driver Parking and driving regulations Communication rules What to do in emergencies Safety procedures when loading and unloading You can find plenty of study materials online, so take advantage of those to prepare. If you’ve been encouraged to take the test by your employer, ask if they have any recommended materials you can use. What’s Involved with the Hazmat Endorsement Background Check? The requirement for a hazmat endorsement background check was introduced after the events of September 11, 2001, so the main thing they’re looking for is any previous criminal history that may indicate that you pose a risk to public safety. It involves: Fingerprint FBI criminal history record check Intelligence-related history check Immigration status verification Where Do I Go to Get Fingerprints? This varies somewhat depending on what state you’re in, so check what your state requires. That said, most states will either allow you to have your fingerprints taken at an application center or at your local DMV. What Can Disqualify You From Getting a Hazmat Endorsement? Since the background check is to ensure you won’t pose a serious threat to personal safety and national security, the crimes that will disqualify you are serious in nature. They are: Espionage Illegal handling, purchase, use, dealing, or possession of explosives Improper transportation of hazardous material Murder Sedition Transportation security incident Terrorism Treason Conspiracy or an attempt to commit any of the above crimes will also disqualify you. There are some other crimes that, if convicted within the past 5 years, will disqualify you temporarily. They are: Aggravated sexual abuse Arson Assault with intent to kill Bribery Drug dealing Extortion Fraud Immigration violations Kidnapping Rape Robbery Smuggling Weapons violation (such as unlawful possession, use, sale, or dealing of a firearm) Your state may differ slightly, so check their requirements if you’re not sure. What Happens if You Fail the Background Check? If you believe you have failed in error, you can appeal the decision. Otherwise, there are no consequences of failing the background check and you will be able to continue your job as normal. What’s the Penalty for Hauling Hazmat Without Endorsement? If you knowingly haul hazmat without an endorsement, the penalties can be serious. You can face a $55,000 – $75,000 fine, and if serious harm is caused to a person or property, this increases to $110,000 to $175,000 – though it is worth noting that these fines are for the business. Penalties for a driver may be different but are likely to be just as serious (such as job loss). How Long is a Hazmat Endorsement Good for? A hazmat endorsement is good for five years, though this can vary from state to state. You will need to submit new fingerprints at each renewal and you may need to complete another test if it has changed since you last completed it. Does a Hazmat Endorsement Enable You to Get Paid More? Yes, a hazmat endorsement will enable you to get higher-paying jobs. A general breakdown of salary is: Class A CDL salary: $53,948 With hazmat (“H”): $62,471 With hazmat and tanker (“X”): $71,461 Does Hazmat Endorsement Transfer From State to State? You only need the hazmat endorsement to be issued in your home state but if you move to a new state, you’ll need to transfer your hazmat endorsement. Check with the requirements of the state you’re moving to, but in most cases, you’ll need to resubmit to a background and fingerprint check to transfer your hazmat endorsement. Hazmat Endorsement FAQs Is the hazmat endorsement worth it? If your goal is to make the most money from your job — as it is for most of us — a hazmat endorsement is worth it. With this additional endorsement you can demand more money for your skills and the additional risk involved in transporting hazmat also increases the amount you’re paid. You will also be able to be pickier about the jobs you take and don’t because you’re more in demand. Can you get a hazmat endorsement without a CDL? No, you need to hold a valid CDL to get a hazmat endorsement. Are there hazmat and tanker endorsement classes? You can find online learning resources to help you pass your hazmat and tanker endorsement tests. Can you get a hazmat endorsement with a felony? Yes, though it does depend on the felony. The Disqualifications section above lists out the specific crimes that will disqualify you from a hazmat endorsement permanently or temporarily. Can you get a hazmat endorsement with a misdemeanor? Yes – or at least, it’s highly unlikely a misdemeanor will get you disqualified. The crimes that disqualify you from getting a hazmat endorsement are generally felonies. Check with the requirements of your state if you aren’t sure. Can you get a hazmat endorsement with a DUI? If your CDL is currently valid, then you shouldn’t have any problems getting a hazmat endorsement. That said, DUIs are taken seriously for commercial drivers and you will lose your CDL permanently if you are convicted of two DUIs. How do I know when my hazmat endorsement expires? It will expire 5 years after you get it, or sooner if that’s what your state requires. Do I need a hazmat endorsement to haul class 9 hazmat? No, you don’t need an endorsement for class 9 hazmat. You do for classes 1-8, however. Do I need a hazmat to haul batteries? No, in almost all cases batteries are class 9, and so while they need to be labeled appropriately, they do not need to be transported by a driver with a hazmat endorsement. That said, it’s good to have some additional knowledge of transporting hazmat if you are transporting class 9 hazmat regularly. How much hazmat can I carry without placards? You can only carry class 9 hazmat without placards, but you need to ensure you’re labeling as needed. Start Hauling Hazardous Materials with Your Hazmat Endorsement Getting a hazmat endorsement can open a lot of new doors for you as a driver, and the process is straightforward and affordable. If you’re thinking about going through the process, it will be well worth it. Have additional questions about hazmat endorsements or other DOT compliance matters? Talk to a Foley compliance expert today. We're here to help!

A failed DOT physical can be discouraging. Here's what to do if you or one of your employees who drive aren't granted a DOT medical certificate. As we’ve discussed earlier in our series on DOT physicals, all drivers must undergo a physical exam at least once every 24 months to legally operate a commercial motor vehicle. Oftentimes, drivers pass these exams without any problems, but that’s not always the case. In some cases, the disqualification is unfortunately necessary because the person’s health would pose a threat to themself and the general public if they were to get behind the wheel of a truck. But sometimes the lines aren’t quite as clear, and what passes easily with one medical examiner might give another pause. Because of this, the FMCSA has approved drivers to get a second opinion as long as they are upfront and honest about their medical history with the next medical examiner. Leaving out information during their DOT physical that could lead to a disqualification, or outright lying about their health, is illegal and can lead to fines against the driver. Download Your FREE Guide on Driver File Creation Today Before the driver goes “doctor shopping” in search of a valid medical certificate, they should keep in mind that physicians must report the results of all DOT physical exams to the FMCSA. These results are due within 24 hours of the exam. What Will Make You Fail a DOT Physical? There are several reasons someone might be considered unqualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle for health reasons. Some of these reasons include the diagnosis of the following: Cardiovascular or respiratory disease High blood pressure Epilepsy Diabetes A nervous or psychiatric disease Poor eyesight that isn’t improved with corrective lenses Loss of a foot, hand, leg, or arm Alcoholism Use of an amphetamine, narcotic, or other habit-forming drug is also grounds for disqualification — even when used under the guidance of a physician. FMCSA Medical Exemptions As we covered in a previous article, the FMCSA does grant exemptions for drivers with certain conditions when they can prove that they’re able to safely operate a commercial motor vehicle. Known as “variances,” these exemptions are granted for drivers with diabetes, as well as vision and hearing issues. Drivers who have a missing or impaired limb that doesn’t interfere with their ability to drive safely can apply for a special variance known as a Skill Performance Evaluation (SPE). You can learn more about these exemptions, and find instructions on how to apply for each one, here. Read More Related Articles in the Foley DOT Physicals Series: The DOT Physical: Everything You Need to Know DOT Physicals: Can Chiropractors and Other Doctors do DOT Physicals? DOT Physicals: Vision Requirements for the Eye Exam DOT Physicals: Can You Pass with a High BMI or While Overweight? DOT Physicals: Can I Get a DOT Physical in Any State? DOT Physicals: Can You Pass with a Hernia? DOT Physicals: Will I Pass with Diabetes? DOT Physical Blood Pressure: Requirements & Tips for Passing DOT Physicals: Can I Pass With Sleep Apnea? DOT Physicals: What if I have a Medical Condition? DOT Physicals: Do They Include a Drug Test? How to Prepare for Your DOT Physical? Fail a DOT Physical? You Have a Right to a Second Opinion DOT Physicals: Understanding Medical Variances

April is National Distracted Driver Awareness Month, but given how serious distracted driving is (with some calling it an epidemic), it’s important to keep drivers aware year-round.

On March 31, 2021, the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) went into effect in the state of New York. The Act legalizes the use of recreational marijuana in individuals who are 21 or older. Since then, the New York State Department of Labor has released guidelines about the "amended Section 201-D of the New York Labor Law to clarify that cannabis used in accordance with New York State law is a legal consumable product. As such, employers are prohibited from discriminating against employees based on the employee's use of cannabis outside of the workplace, outside of work hours, and without the use of the employer's equipment or property."

With winter officially behind us and (hopefully) less snow on the roads, there are plenty of other potential distractions to be wary of while behind the wheel. April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month and National Alcohol Awareness Month. By practicing safe driving habits, such as avoiding cell phone use, being mindful of drowsiness, and never drinking and driving, everyone can make the roads we share safer. Truck drivers should be especially aware of risking their perfect record on the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse!

A better candidate experience and successful hiring process are possible with employee onboarding software. Your company is growing. You need more employees who are qualified to fill your open roles. You need to know how to attract the best talent and move them through the hiring and onboarding processes without them losing interest.

DOT roadside inspections will be on the rise in the next few months. Over 400,000 roadside inspections have been conducted so far in 2025, with nearly 82,000 of them resulting in at least one out-of-service (OOS) violation. The number of these inspections is expected to continue to climb, especially as International Roadcheck 2025 kicks off in less than two months.

Your driver files must be in a digital format to meet DOT compliance requirements. Are you ready to make the switch to driver file management software?

DOT drug testing violations can result in expensive fines. You can save your company from penalties of up to $16,864 by working with a third-party administrator (TPA). Drug and alcohol testing violations were some of the most common shortcomings auditors found during DOT compliance reviews in 2024.

A DOT driver application must contain specific candidate information to comply with federal regulations.

Are your drivers prohibited in the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse? The CVSA has added FMCSA Clearinghouse queries to their roadside inspection list for CDL and CLP drivers during Roadcheck 2025. During this check, inspectors will look to verify that the driver doesn’t have any violations in the DOT Clearinghouse that would prohibit them from legally operating a commercial motor vehicle. If a violation is found, the driver will be pulled from safety-sensitive functions immediately — and any cargo being hauled will be stranded until a relief driver can be located. Violations in the FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse Since the FMCSA Clearinghouse went into effect on January 6, 2020, all employers of CDL drivers have been required to report DOT drug and alcohol violations to the Clearinghouse. Until drivers complete the return-to-duty process, these violations will result in a “prohibited” status that enforcement officers will see during roadside inspections. The FMCSA Clearinghouse helps keep drivers with active drug and alcohol violations off the road; it makes it easier for employers, law enforcement officials, and state licensing agencies to see if a violation exists. Suppose it does, and the return-to-duty process hasn’t been completed. In that case, the driver won’t be eligible for employment as a CDL driver, won’t be able to obtain or renew their CDL, and will be pulled from service immediately during a roadside inspection. The Safety Gap: Annual FMCSA Clearinghouse Queries The only problem? There is a safety gap in the current Clearinghouse regulation that could allow prohibited drivers to continue operating for up to a year without their employer’s knowledge. Employers are only required to run a Clearinghouse query on their drivers annually. If you recently conducted your yearly queries on all your drivers, if any of them commit a DOT drug or alcohol violation from now until next year, they may be undetected. Undetected, that is, until they are pulled over for an inspection. Maintaining a Safe & Compliant Fleet Beyond CVSA Roadcheck 2025 Running compliant FMCSA Clearinghouse queries on an ongoing basis can help prevent this issue. Because these queries are considered consumer reports, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and Privacy Act protect them. You must get a driver’s consent before running a query — with different permission levels required depending on whether a limited or full query is requested. You can learn more about the different types of FMCSA Clearinghouse queries in our informative on-demand webinar, State of the FMCSA Clearinghouse-II: Changes Impacting Your Business in 2025. Need help running Clearinghouse queries on your drivers? Foley's comprehensive DOT compliance software, Dash, makes it easy. Schedule a free software demo now by clicking here, or filling out the form below.

A motor vehicle report, or MVR check, is an effective way to look into your employees' driving histories and gauge how safe they'll be on the roads. What is an MVR background check? An MVR background check is a report of a person's driving history. It includes information, such as license expiration, status, license class, endorsements, restrictions, traffic violations, accidents, vehicular crimes, suspensions—even unpaid parking tickets and, in some states, unpaid child support.

Owner-operator insurance costs, semi-truck expenses, and annual registrations can add up and be the demise of any business — unless you have a careful financial plan in place.

Commercial truck insurance costs are rising. How can you save on your premiums while keeping the required coverage? If you’ve renewed your truck insurance policy recently, you may have been hit with some sticker shock: as the insurance market hardens in 2025, premiums are rising rapidly. “It’s a hardening market…carriers are coming to us as they are seeing a 25-30 percent increase in commercial insurance premiums across the board,” said Aaron Black, Director of Business Development for Keystone (formerly known as East Coast Risk Management). What does this mean for trucking companies? In addition to higher premiums, standards are also tightening, with underwriters scrutinizing carriers’ safety and compliance even more carefully. According to Black, “Underwriters are looking at risk much more closely than they did in the past.” It’s not just individual carrier risk that is important, but the type of trucks they operate and the industry they’re in,” Black said. “Insurance is a business, and if they’ve found in the past that the payouts for certain vehicle types were too high, for example, they might decide to stop writing policies for those vehicles across the board.” “This is why there aren’t a lot of options for towing or HAZMAT carriers right now. It’s a high risk that many insurance carriers don’t want to take.” Shopping for Truck Insurance? Reducing Your Company's Risk Level is Key to Securing Affordable Coverage. Although you can’t control the commercial trucking insurance market, something in your control can help you secure coverage and get the best possible rates: improving your risk profile. With high-risk companies often paying $100-200K a year more than a policy purchased through the standard insurance market, you’ll want to consider the following steps (at a minimum) to ensure you’re in a good spot before shopping around for coverage. #1: Track Your CSA Score Your company’s Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) score can influence your insurance premiums — for better or for worse. This score represents how well you've maintained roadway safety, compliance with DOT regulations, and avoiding crashes. Scores range from 0-100, with higher numbers showing an increased risk level due to accidents, DOT violations, failed roadside DOT inspections, or a combination of these factors. You can learn more about CSA scores in this Foley article: CSA Scores: What They Are & Why They Matter. Foley's Audit Risk Monitor (ARM) program provides monthly CSA score updates so you can see where your company's risk level stands. If you see any changes to your CSA score, you can react accordingly to fix the problem that's raising your safety and compliance risk (and, potentially, your insurance premiums). #2: Audit Your Safety & DOT Compliance Programs “A big part of what we do at East Coast Risk Management [Keystone] is performing mock audits for carriers to ensure they don’t have any compliance and safety gaps,” Black said. “If there are gaps — that’s where Foley steps in. Together, we can help ensure motor carriers are operating compliantly.” No matter your company size or how long you've been in business, DOT compliance is complicated. But you don't have to try to meet all the DOT regulations on your own. Foley can help ensure you have compliant driver files, you're running the right FMCSA Clearinghouse queries, you're performing accurate DOT drug and alcohol tests on your drivers, and more. #3: Evaluate Your Company's Loss History Your total incurred claims shouldn’t be more than the amount you paid for coverage in any given year. PLUS, insurance companies also have to pay costs to underwrite, purchase reinsurance, and adjust claims on top of claim payments. Remember: insurance companies are a business, and if they think they’re going to lose money on you, they’ll be less likely to provide you with a quote. Or, if they do quote, they will charge you far more than you would like to pay. Simply put, insurance companies will charge you what they believe it will take to make money on you. Therefore, insurance companies usually price what they view as the best-performing companies at two times the expected or average annual claim costs. For those they believe to be poorer performing companies, the costs are often three to four times the expected or average claim costs. #4: Establish a Risk Management Plan Black recommends putting a risk management plan in place before shopping for insurance if a company’s CSA score is a concern. “Even if their scores aren’t great, if carriers can prove that they have a plan for improving their safety and compliance, and have shown they are serious about following through, it can drastically increase their odds of getting coverage.” #5: Implement an MVR Monitoring Program Insurance companies look at these programs very favorably because they help companies like yours effectively manage driver risk and often result in lower insurance premiums. “Companies are required to pull an MVR annually as a best practice, but what about the other 364 days that drivers are out on the road?” Black said. “That provides a lot of opportunities for violations to occur that an employer may not be aware of.” According to David R Leng, CPCU, CIC, CBWA, CWCA, CRM of the Duncan Insurance Group, “Risk Profile Improvement is a simple concept, but it is more complex to implement. As the expression goes, the devil is in the detail.” “If you can get insurance companies to believe you can mitigate future claims, they will discount those claims that did occur in the past and provide you with lower rates than your claims’ data merits from a straight actuarial math standpoint,” he said. “You can influence the assumptions an underwriter uses to set up the actuarial math calculation of your premium.” However, just having policies and procedures written down on paper is not enough. “Insurance companies live by the rule ‘Trust, But Verify’,” he said. “They will want to see proof of proactive programs, how they are managed, what decisions are being made, and what steps are taken when things pop up.” For example, if your telematics shows a driver that repeatedly speeds excessively, or their monitored motor vehicle report has repeated significant speeding violations, and your files show no actions of discipline or termination of the driver, the insurance companies will not believe that you use any of the Risk Profile Improvement programs you say you have implemented. “Unfortunately, insurance companies do not care that drivers are hard to find,” Leng said. “Insurance companies continually state that poor drivers and poor risk management processes lead to more claims, and they will act accordingly when it comes to quoting and pricing insurance policies.” Foley's MVR monitoring program has been proven to reduce driver violations by up to 34 percent. Start investing in the safety of your drivers and get a free demo of our MVR check software. Start Using DOT Compliance Software to Help You Save on Commercial Truck Insurance History tells us that these challenging market conditions could stick around for a while, as the last few hard market periods lasted an average of three years. With that in mind, it’s essential to take whatever risk mitigation steps you can to improve your likelihood of securing insurance — and getting the best possible rate for your business. If you're interested in learning more about the connection between DOT compliance software and lower insurance premiums, check out the Fixing Your Fleet with Foley episode on The Power Producers Podcast, where David Carothers interviews our CEO, Joel Sitak, and Head of Solutions Enablement, Scott Mogensen. Foley's compliance experts also offer FREE DOT compliance software demos to help you take control of your truck insurance costs. Request your demo appointment by clicking here, or fill out the form below to get started.

Your driver job ads give potential candidates their first impression of your company. If your ad is difficult to read, doesn’t answer common applicant questions, or fails to make the position sound appealing, you’re losing promising hires.

Being proactive, not reactive, when it comes to DOT audits can make or break the chances of your company passing them. Being a federally regulated motor carrier or company with regulated drivers comes with a slew of responsibilities—one of the most important being a safe and reliable business, especially in the eyes of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

Your drivers' hours of service may be impacted by upcoming spring weather. Here's how to use the adverse driving conditions exemption to stay compliant. Many regions across the US can soon expect to see increased levels of rainfall; however, some states are still dealing with sleet, snow, and blizzard conditions. If you're still driving through the white stuff, we recommend this Foley article. It explains specific state snow removal laws to help you stay compliant. You may also wish to review the FMCSA hours-of-service rules, including the adverse driving exception, which is mostly used during snowy conditions. But if you're operating a business with drivers who are traveling through springtime states, you may be wondering... Can CMV drivers use the adverse driving exception during spring storms? Below, we'll answer that question and address how severe weather can impact your operations and the hours-of-service regulations you need to follow. When Can You Use the Adverse Driving Conditions Exception? The FMCSA defines adverse driving conditions as: “Snow, sleet, fog, or other challenging weather conditions, a highway covered with snow or ice, or unusual road and traffic conditions, which were not known to the dispatcher or driver at the time the run began." So, while this may include an unexpected storm or a traffic delay due to a crash, it doesn’t apply to drivers sitting in traffic due to regular or rush-hour congestion. If unexpected adverse driving conditions slow down your drivers, they may drive up to two additional hours to travel distances that could have been completed under normal conditions. This boosts the maximum driving time up to 13 hours for property motor carriers and 12 hours for passenger carriers. It’s important to note that the adverse conditions exemption only applies to driving time. This means that no matter what conditions exist, property motor carriers cannot drive after having been on duty for 14 consecutive hours, and passenger motor carriers cannot drive after having been on duty for 15 consecutive hours. Maintaining DOT Compliance Under the Adverse Driving Conditions Exception If your drivers use an electronic logging device (ELD), they are required to note the adverse driving conditions on their record of duty status (RODS) and include details about the condition. Drivers using paper logs or alternative logging systems are encouraged to note when they experience adverse driving conditions as well. The RODS are the appropriate spaces for your drivers to explain the weather and/or road conditions during spring storms to ensure they fall under the adverse driving conditions exception, so you can maintain your DOT compliance. Put Some Spring in Your Step with Comprehensive DOT Compliance Solutions The adverse driving conditions exception is designed to help your drivers safely travel to their destinations without making rash decisions to stay under traditional hours-of-service restrictions. Ensuring your drivers use the exception appropriately, even in the spring, is key to staying under the FMCSA's radar (avoiding compliance reviews as much as possible). Foley can also help your company avoid FMCSA interventions with Dash, our DOT compliance software. Meeting hours-of-service regulations (and the recordkeeping requirements that accompany them) can be challenging on your own. With the right software solution, you don't need to worry if you're meeting federal guidelines or prepared to pass an audit. Request your FREE DOT compliance software demo with one of our experts now. We'll walk you through your compliance requirements and clear the air with any hours-of-service questions you may have. Fill out the form below to get started.

Spring is on its way, and with spring comes warmer weather and the start of inspection season. Now is the time to start getting your fleets ready for roadside inspections. And speaking of time, don't forget that Sunday, March 12 is the start of Daylight Savings Time. Set your clocks one hour ahead! March is also National Workplace Eye Wellness Month, so now is a great time to remind your employees to schedule their annual eye exams or DOT physicals if their medical certificates are expiring soon. You can also host educational sessions around eye safety or provide eye safety tips to your staff. St. Patrick’s Day is coming up on March 17, and while it's a celebratory day, it also coincides with a day of awareness called Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving a reminder to stay off the roads if you’ve consumed even a little bit of alcohol. Impaired driving is dangerous for you and other drivers on the road, and having a clean record in the DOT Clearinghouse is an added bonus. Register for Upcoming Safety Events March is a busy month! Here are the series of events offered, touching on everything from new technologies to safety: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Vehicle Safety Recalls Week National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) Work Truck Week Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) Truckload 2025 Mid-American Trucking Show (MATS) Find out what you can look forward to at these events below. NHTSA Vehicle Safety Recalls Week No matter what type of vehicle you drive, for personal or professional use, this March 3-9 awareness initiative is one of the most important events occurring this month. During it, the NHTSA encourages drivers to check their vehicles for safety recalls and immediately take them to any local dealership for free repairs. To learn how to check your vehicle for current recalls, click here. NTEA Work Truck Week If your business relies on any type of commercial vehicle (or you simply have a passion for them), you need to be at Work Truck Week 2025 from March 4-7 in Indianapolis, IN. Join leaders in the innovation, design, engineering, maintenance, and parts sectors of the work truck and equipment industries to get an inside look at the latest products and technology from 500 exhibitors. It's an excellent occasion to evaluate vendors' latest offerings, seek new business opportunities within the industry, and even collaborate with current and prospective customers. You can register for this year's Work Truck Week here. TCA Truckload 2025 Hosted in Phoenix, AZ from March 15-18, Truckload 2025 is the premier event for C-Suite executives, managers, and trucking professionals representing for-hire carrier companies and vendors. Attendees will enjoy networking and collaborating opportunities with other industry professionals, and Oz Pearlman is this year's keynote speaker. Additional activities will include inspirational sessions, a special spouse event, and an open forum on today's industry hot topics. Click here to register for Truckload 2025. MATS More than 58,000 people are expected to attend the Mid-American Trucking Show from March 27-29 at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville. The show's "Pro Talks" educational sessions will include updates from the FMCSA and topics such as "Starting Strong: How to Launch a Thriving Trucking Business in Your First 90 Days," and "The Importance of Data Q and Crash Challenges." Other events include the PKY Truck Championship competition, a chance to ride and drive commercial vehicles with the latest technologies, and a Veterans in Trucking event to honor the military. Don't forget about the MATs concert! You're invited to register for this year's MATS by clicking here. Upcoming CVSA Compliance Event: International Roadcheck 2025 Although International Roadcheck is not until May 13-15, now is the time to start preparing. Since 1988, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), along with the FMCSA and several other North American transportation organizations, have sponsored this safety event. International Roadcheck is a high-volume commercial motor vehicle (CMV) inspection and enforcement initiative that is annually conducted by certified inspectors across North America. Trucks that pass inspection will receive a CVSA decal and will be excused from another inspection for three months. Each International Roadcheck focuses on different components of CMVs. This year’s specific focus will be tires and records of duty status. Click here to learn more about the 2025 International Roadcheck event, and keep an eye out for additional Foley articles on how to prepare your fleet for the inevitable inspection blitz! Rely on Foley for the Latest Transportation Industry Updates Foley's experts not only keep you informed on the upcoming industry and safety events throughout the country, but we also stay up to date on the latest DOT compliance regulations. Make sure you check our blog for daily updates! If you think your company is missing any of its DOT compliance requirements, we can help with them too. Schedule a FREE software demo now and talk to a Foley specialist about Dash, our automated compliance software that can make meeting FMCSA regulations (and passing DOT audits) a breeze.

Over the past decade, nuclear verdicts have become a big issue for the trucking industry. According to a study by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), these judgments have risen sharply — a whopping 967% between 2010 and 2018. For million-dollar lawsuits involving a truck crash, it’s pushed the average verdict size to $22.3 million. Not only are these verdicts putting companies out of business, but they’re causing insurance premiums across the industry to skyrocket. According to the ATRI report on this issue, one motor carrier was forced to close its doors after its single-year insurance rates nearly doubled from $340,000 to $700,000. And they haven’t been the only casualty of the insurance hike — there have been many other fleets and family-owned businesses that have been forced into closure, as well. The Role of Reptile Theory One of the reasons these verdicts are thought to be so effective is because of a litigation tactic known as “reptile theory.” It was first used in 2009, and the strategy behind this approach is to play on the jurors’ emotions by prompting feelings of anger and fear — and ultimately encouraging these detrimental nuclear verdicts. The plaintiff’s attorney has one job: to win the case. And they’ll do just about anything to get there. As a trucking company, there’s nothing you can do to prevent these tactics in court. But you can take the necessary safety and compliance steps to avoid a lawsuit in the first place. How to Build a Culture of Safety Although not all accidents can be prevented, data from the FMCSA found that only three percent of all crashes were the result of environmental factors. A whopping 87 percent of crashes were the result of driver error and 10 percent were due to mechanical issues with the truck. In other words? By creating a culture of safety and compliance in your company, you’ll not only make it much less likely that your drivers will be involved in an accident, but you’ll be creating a solid shield of protection to fight back against claims of negligence should you find yourself sitting in a courtroom someday. It’s without a doubt, the simplest and least expensive way to protect the future of your company. Create & Maintain Compliant Driver Qualification Files According to the ATRI report, in every case where the driver’s history played a role in the accident, the defendant was found guilty of negligence. However, it’s also an area that is completely avoidable — both by having thorough background screening processes in place and by maintaining compliant Driver Qualification Files (DQFs). It’s Time to Transition to Digital Driver Files Non-compliant driver files are a big industry problem. In fact, they account for many of the top acute and critical FMCSA violations annually. The top five driver qualification file violations are as follows: Driving a commercial motor vehicle while disqualified Using a physically unqualified driver Not keeping inquiries into driving records in a driver qualification file Failing to maintain a driver file on each driver Not keeping a medical certificate in a driver file It’s not that these files are necessarily difficult to create when a new driver is hired (though there are often steps missed in the process), but it can be difficult for companies to keep these files updated on an ongoing basis — and the more drivers they hire, the more difficult it gets. Free Guide: How to Manage Compliant Driver Files If you think you might be committing any of these violations or your DOT driver files are hurting more than helping you, don’t worry, there is light at the end of the compliance and litigation tunnel. Luckily, you don’t have to go it alone when it comes to your DQFs and ensuring you’re meeting — or exceeding – DQF regulations and best practices. Foley’s Driver Qualification Files Solution To comply with the FMCSA’s offsite audit requirement, driver files should be maintained in a secure, digital format. Foley offers easy-to-use driver file creation and maintenance in our exclusive platform, Dash. We’ll convert your paper files to an electronic format so they can be easily downloaded and presented to a compliance officer (or a judge if you’re ever faced with a lawsuit). All files are securely stored to prevent tampering. Dash also keeps track of important dates and provides alerts when a CDL or medical card is up for renewal, or a change is detected on the driver’s MVR report. At Foley, we’ll evaluate your current safety and compliance procedures and set you up with our automated compliance platform that will help keep your files organized and compliant. Take our free quiz to see if your driver files are where they need to be, or click here to get started with a free Dash demo today.

Chain of custody forms are one of the most important federal records to keep in your digital driver qualification files. Whether you call them “Chain of Custody forms" or "Custody and Control forms," they are essential to any DOT-regulated company's compliance. Not only are these forms a required component of the DOT drug and alcohol testing process, but they also involve numerous recordkeeping requirements that must be met by motor carriers and companies like yours. Auditors will often request the forms during compliance reviews — yet many carriers aren't sure what to do with them after their drivers' DOT drug tests are complete. Filing them in a secure, digital location is the best way to ensure you don't put your company at risk for recordkeeping violations or hefty fines. If you don’t have one already, it’s critical that you have a DOT recordkeeping solution in place that includes your drivers’ Custody and Control forms (CCFs). That way, you don't have to worry about using the most up-to-date forms or retaining them for the appropriate amount of time. Below, we'll cover the purpose of CCFs, the benefits of electronic CCFs (eCCFs), and how the right DOT compliance services can help you keep up with your eCCF recordkeeping requirements. Chain of Custody Forms Explained Chain of Custody forms serve as paper trails for drug and alcohol specimen tests. They track the entire collection process, from the moment a specimen is received, to its transfer, analysis, and disposal. According to federal law, these forms must be clear, complete, and concise to ensure accurate results that can be quickly reported and acted on. These forms also serve as legal evidence that reported test results are actually those of a given donor. These forms also enable Medical Review Officers (MROs) to report positive drug and alcohol violations to the DOT Clearinghouse – a requirement that started in 2020. To make this possible, the Custody and Control form was recently updated to include the driver’s commercial driver’s license (CDL) number. This is now used instead of the driver’s EIN or SSN for identification purposes. Advantages of Electronic Chain of Custody Forms Electronic Chain of Custody forms (eCCFs) simplify the process of sending employees for tests by eliminating paper handoffs — not to mention human legibility and transcription errors. If there are mistakes on your paper forms, they may be rejected, and your drivers' tests could be canceled. Electronic forms also allow drug test collections to happen quickly. Working with a third-party administrator (TPA) that uses eCCFs as part of their DOT compliance services streamlines the testing process, from the initial test order to the final result delivery. Since electronic forms can be tracked, you're consistently informed through each step. Chain of Custody Form Recordkeeping Requirements When the DOT requires you to use a certain form, it also requires you to keep it in a secure location for a specific period of time. Here are the CCF-related documents you must keep, and for how long. CCFs/MRO results from negative or canceled tests - 1 year from the document date CCFs/MRO results from positive tests - 5 years from the document date Refusal to test records - 5 years from the document date CCFs/MRO results from return-to-duty and follow-up tests (positive and negative) - 5 years from the document date Click here for a complete checklist of DOT recordkeeping requirements you need to know to prepare for your next compliance review. Switching to Electronic Chain of Custody Forms Using DOT compliance software, like Foley’s intuitive platform, makes the transition to eCCFs easy for companies like yours. Once your drivers are enrolled in our DOT drug and alcohol testing program, all forms are automatically stored in the drivers' files, which are accessible from any device. You'll never have to think about whether you’ve maintained all of your drivers’ DOT drug testing records. With Foley’s DOT compliance services, eCCFs are automatically sent to testing facilities and updated throughout the process. Foley customers also receive real-time test status notifications. And if you're looking for a DOT pre-employment drug testing solution, take a look at our new hiring, screening, and onboarding software, Dash. Consolidating your hiring and compliance programs is easier than ever. Remember: custody and control forms are an FMCSA recordkeeping requirement, and you may be asked to provide them during audits. Prepare your company and be compliant! Foley is here to help with your drug and alcohol testing. Get a free software demo now to ensure you're meeting all federal testing and recordkeeping requirements. Fill out the form below to get started!

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has introduced important updates to the out-of-service criteria (OOSC) for drivers and vehicles, set to take effect on April 1, 2025. This year, the changes primarily focus on mechanical components, such as brakes, tires, and suspension elements, with minor adjustments to driver out-of-service conditions.

Your fleet management tech stack should work for you. What are your current software solutions missing that today's applications could offer you? Nearly every aspect of managing a fleet of commercial vehicles requires an efficient tech stack. If you're still using unresponsive or outdated programs for your dispatch, vehicle maintenance, DOT compliance, and hiring and onboarding processes, your team (who is likely wearing many hats already) is wasting valuable time, money, and resources.

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has announced that the highly anticipated International Roadcheck will occur May 13-15 this year. This three-day event, covering Canada, Mexico, and the United States, is designed to ensure that commercial motor vehicles comply with regulations and to enhance roadway safety.

Thinking about starting a trucking company? Here's what to do before you start looking for a free DOT number. Becoming an owner-operator can be a promising business venture for anyone interested in how to start a trucking company and ultimately be their own boss. But in order for the business to be successful, there are a few considerations to make even before applying for a free DOT number.

What are CMV drivers actually looking for in employers? Foley uncovers the top 10 driver concerns so you know how to recruit drivers.

Random DOT drug testing is something every FMCSA-regulated employer and driver who has worked in the industry is familiar with. That doesn’t make the process of implementing random drug tests any easier. As a business owner, there are many concerns that may arise within the company and with your drivers when it comes to random drug testing.

Here are three ways you can help drivers improve their cardiovascular health.

What questions do you have about the FMCSA Clearinghouse? Get the information you need from Foley, your trusted compliance partner. Are you still wondering if you’re compliant with the DOT Clearinghouse? Now is the time to make sure, especially with the new regulations coming into effect on November 18, 2024

These thoughtful gifts will make any truck driver swoon. Everyone deserves a little extra TLC on Valentine's Day, including truck drivers. Don't let them fool you into thinking they don't. No matter how tough and rugged they seem on the outside, they also have soft little underbellies like the rest of us. So this Valentine's Day, make sure you send some extra love their way.

Your CSA score can be the difference between operating a safe fleet and paying top dollar for insurance premiums. We've discussed Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) scores on the Foley blog before, but there are still too many transportation companies that fail to regularly monitor their scores. As a DOT-regulated company, you have to remain compliant. Following federal safety regulations not only helps keep you in business from a legal standpoint, but it also helps your business succeed. You can remain fine- and-violation-free while building up a strong, steady, reliable company with trusted, satisfied partners. A crucial element of this is maintaining a low profile and avoiding extra scrutiny from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Specifically, one of your top goals should be to stay off FMCSA risk-based priority lists. Where companies land on these lists is based on their safety data, but no matter where they rank, they're flagged to be selected first for DOT safety audits. What's Your Priority? Don't Be a Priority on FMCSA Safety Audit Lists. Much as the name suggests, FMCSA priority lists identify companies that pose varying levels of safety risk based on past audit results, overall performance, and safety ratings calculated by the agency’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) scoring program. Although the CSA program may be subject to change, it remains an important source for the FMCSA in determining safety and compliance. To calculate their unique CSA scores, companies are ranked in seven Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs) based on roadside and crash inspection data, intervention history, and violation status. As a refresher, the BASICs include: Unsafe Driving — Watch our on-demand webinar on the Unsafe Driving BASIC. Crash Indicator Hours of Service (HOS) Compliance — Find out the HOS BASIC recordkeeping requirements you need to be following. Vehicle Maintenance — Make sure you're keeping these files to comply with the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC. Controlled Substances/Alcohol — Watch our on-demand webinar on this BASIC. Hazardous Materials Compliance Driver Fitness — Watch our on-demand webinar on the Driver Fitness BASIC. Companies are grouped by BASIC with others with a similar number of safety events, then assigned a percentile from 0 to 100, prioritizing them for interventions. The higher the percentile, the worse the performance. Companies can be assigned “High Risk,” “Moderate Risk,” Risk,” “Monitor,” or “Warning Level” based on their failure to meet acceptable BASIC thresholds. The most serious is “High Risk,” resulting from two or more consecutive months at or above the 90th percentile for several BASICs. These companies are subject to immediate action and will be investigated by the FMCSA within 90 days of their assignment to the prioritization list. High CSA scores are red flags for the FMCSA — and the more your business is audited, the more likely you are to continue to be audited until you correct your compliance issues. The Top FMCSA Violations that Impacted CSA Scores in 2025 Here are the top FMCSA violations of 2025 that negatively impacted performance in the BASIC categories, plus the number of instances companies were caught committing the violations. DOT Driver Qualification FMCSA Violations Inquiries into driving records not kept in driver qualification file - 1,494 violations Incomplete or no employment application - 1,126 violations Failing to maintain a driver qualification file on each driver - 1,073 violations Drug & Alcohol Testing FMCSA Violations Using a driver before receiving a pre-employment result - 1,789 violations Using an unqualified driver (positive or refused drug test) - 1,144 violations Failing to get "reasonable suspicion" designee 60 min training - 1,099 violations Hours of Service FMCSA Violations False reports of records of duty status - 2,840 violations Not using the appropriate method to record hours of service - 1,721 violations Requiring or permitting a driver to drive after 15 hours on duty - 1,381 violations Vehicle Maintenance FMCSA Violations Failing to have a means of indicating maintenance due dates - 1,952 violations Failing to keep a maintenance record identifying the vehicle - 1,728 violations Using a CMV that is not periodically inspected - 1,333 violations The main takeaway? Be diligent with your CSA safety and violation data. Get more information about CSA scores in our webinar, CSA Scores: The Secrets to Risk Prevention for 2024 Track Your Safety & Compliance Data with Foley's CSA Monitor Knowing where you stand with the FMCSA isn't easy, and finding time to manually check your CSA score is nearly impossible when you have a growing fleet of drivers and trucks to manage. With Foley’s CSA Monitor, you get a 360-degree view of your fleet with daily insights you can access right from your email inbox. You can easily view critical data that includes all updated CSA violations, compliance scores, crash reports, violation reports, and more. You can then use this data to monitor fleet performance, understand your drivers, and manage risk — all of which can turn into fewer accidents, lower insurance premiums, and reduced chances of FMCSA safety audits. Get the safety and compliance data your business needs, right at your fingertips. Request a FREE demo of Foley's CSA Monitor now, or fill out the form below to get started.

Did you know Foley's safety calendar updates you on the latest industry events every month? Let’s review what new safety events and DOT compliance requirements are coming up in February. American Heart Month February is American Heart Month and a perfect time for employers to promote awareness of heart and cardiovascular disease concerning their truck drivers' health. It’s no surprise that truck drivers are at high risk for heart disease. Higher rates of smoking, poor diet, lack of physical exercise, irregular sleep, and stress are major risk factors for heart disease and strokes. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), truck drivers are twice as likely to be obese compared to other US workers. Being obese or overweight can increase the risk of heart health issues. That said, simple lifestyle changes, both at home and on the road, can make a big difference in truck driver health conditions. Here are some suggestions to pass on to your drivers: Exercise. Encourage drivers to do simple exercises for 5 to 10 minutes several times a day, especially before driving or during breaks. Start slowly and focus on getting a total of 12 minutes or more of stretching, squatting, or fast walking. Offer drivers aids to help them quit smoking. Even something as simple as smoking cessation audios can help reduce nicotine cravings. Encourage your drivers to cook in their trucks or bring homemade meals along with them on the road rather than stopping for fast food. Also, consider distributing handouts that list healthy food choices and their nutritional value and calorie counts. Teaching drivers about the importance of power naps and sleep hygiene is crucial. Poor sleep is related to weight gain, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and dementia. Drivers can black out their cabins, turn off all electronics an hour before bedtime, and even use relaxation or meditation apps for sound sleep. Stress. If motor carriers implement these supportive strategies to promote heart health among their drivers, stress reduction will likely follow. Having a healthy fleet is a vital step toward having a happy one, too. Check out our other Foley blog articles related to truck driver health: How to Prepare for Your DOT Physical Exam How to Handle Substance Use Disorder in the Workplace Driver Fatigue & the CVSA’s Plan to Combat it Register for Upcoming Safety Events Now that we’ve covered the major awareness events on our safety calendar, here are the annual conferences and organizational meets that will take place this month around the country: Manifest 2025 Super Bowl LVIII Specialized Transportation Symposium American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA)’s Annual Convention & Traffic Expo Keep reading to find out more about these February trucking and safety events. Manifest 2025 Hosted at the Venetian in Las Vegas, NV from February 10–12, Manifest is the leading industry event that brings together innovators in the supply chain and logistics sector. From top executives of Fortune 500 global supply chains to emerging startup logistics providers, the event showcases a diverse array of participants. Attendees will have unparalleled access to the key players and cutting-edge technologies shaping the future of global movement. Learn more about Manifest here. Super Bowl LVIII The 2025 Super Bowl premieres on February 9. Each year, the Super Bowl garners millions of viewers, many of whom like to cheer on their favorite team by partying, celebrating, and drinking. To help keep everyone safe on the roads, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is teaming up with State and local highway traffic safety advocates and organizations to remind football enthusiasts: Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk. Do what you can to spread the word and be safe! Specialized Transportation Symposium Safety will be a major topic, along with regulations, compliance, and other pressing issues at the Specialized Transportation Symposium from February 18-20 at the Sheraton Charlotte Hotel in Charlotte, NC. Each year, this symposium brings together the industry’s foremost specialized transportation professionals and government officials to discuss some of the most critical topics in specialized transportation today. There will be education sessions and first-rate speakers in addition to an exhibit arena with 60 booths. American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) Annual Convention & Traffic Expo In an initiative to advance roadway safety, the ATTSA’s annual event will be held February 28-March 4, 2025 in Orlando, FL. There will be nearly 50 educational sessions covering a variety of relevant topics, including modernizing teen driver work zone safety, digital traffic sign printing, creating a strong safety culture, and many more that would benefit anyone in the road work or transportation spaces. Every Month: NEW Foley Webinars Keep an eye out for other DOT compliance events, such as Foley’s regularly scheduled webinars, to stay up to date on the latest compliance news and recommendations. Have a question or need help with your DOT compliance now? Don’t hesitate to contact our experts!

If you need to register a truck, see if your state registration fees are included below. If not, check out part one of our Foley article series! We've all registered a passenger vehicle and are familiar with our state's registration fees. But how much would it cost you to register a tractor-trailer or commercial motor vehicle (CMV)?

If you need to register a truck, see if your state registration fees are included below. If not, check back for part two of this Foley blog article series! It’s easy to assume you’ve registered a passenger vehicle before and know the fees your state charges for it. But how much does it cost to register a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) or tractor-trailer?

Recruiting truck drivers requires an organized, DOT-compliant hiring process now more than ever before. Truck driver recruiting is more challenging than ever. With driver shortages and high turnover rates, finding good, dependable drivers can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Or, worse, your job postings are met with crickets. All is not lost, however. You won’t need to climb into the driver’s seat to keep shipments moving. If you need staff, you need to step up your CDL driver recruiting efforts and make sure your company stands out and catches the eye of skilled truck drivers. In this guide, we’ll take you through your options and share our top tips, tricks, and strategies to find truck drivers for your business. Where to Find Truck Drivers for Hire If you’re struggling to find truck drivers, or perhaps just the right truck drivers, then you may be looking in the wrong place. While the average age of a truck driver is 50, this is 2025 and most people pull out their phone when they have a question, no matter their age. That means they’re looking for jobs online, and so if you’re spending time putting ads in newspapers or industry print publications, make sure you’re seeing an ROI (return on investment) from your efforts. 34% of driver violations can be prevented with Foley's MVR Monitoring Where to Recruit Truck Drivers: Social Media These days, almost everyone is on social media. Over 72% of Internet users in the US check Facebook regularly, and 75% of truck drivers check it daily, so if you aren’t utilizing Facebook as a tool for recruitment, you’re leaving a lot of stones unturned. Don’t forget that your page is not your only asset on Facebook. Facebook pages are notorious for their poor levels of organic reach, so think outside the box. An increasing number of users largely use Facebook for the groups feature, so seek out groups that allow you to post about your job listings in the locality and industry you’re targeting. If you find some that look like they may be a good place to post, join and look at what people are talking about. If you think you may be able to reach potential drivers there, ask the admin if you can post, or post the link to your job listings if the group rules allow. Other social media platforms are also useful, like Instagram, especially if you’re looking to attract a younger demographic. Where to Hire CDL Drivers: Job Boards You’re likely familiar with job boards like Indeed, but you may not be utilizing them to their full potential or be using the right ones. There are plenty of boards exclusively for businesses looking to hire truck drivers, so take advantage of the ones that look like a good fit for you. Here are some of the most popular: AllTruckJobs.com CDLJobs.com ClassADrivers.com GarysJobBoard.com Regardless of what platform you’re using to promote your open positions, you need to optimize the job description and what you’ve got to offer to attract the right drivers. In this article, we’ll guide you through best practices and how to finally attract the attention of the best drivers out there. Don’t Panic, Be Selective When your driver numbers dwindle it can be tempting to hire any driver you can find. However, this is one of the biggest mistakes you can make and often leads to high turnover rates and wasted money. You may need drivers yesterday, but hiring 5 unreliable drivers will cost you more than taking a little extra time to ensure you hire one good employee. Ensure Your Job Description is Accurate If you’ve been looking to hire truck drivers without much luck, chances are your job description isn’t selling your company the way it should. Your first port of call should be to check its accuracy and look if it has any missing information a discerning driver would be suspicious of. Make sure your description outlines not just what you need from them, but what you can offer. You’d be surprised how often a job description lacks essential information, and a lot of reliable drivers won’t give your company a second look if you don’t tell them upfront what they need and want to know – especially if another company does. Ensure Your ATS Supports You Make sure your ATS (applicant tracking system) supports your efforts. A good ATS will allow you to customize your application, link it to your job ads, and create an applicant profile. This can make the process much easier for both you and your applicants. Respect Your Applicants' Time Don’t wait too long between when you receive applications to when you reach out to applicants for the next step. Remember, it’s highly unlikely your listing is the only one a driver has applied to, so you may find another company has snapped up the best applicants by the time you reach out. Call Applicants Arrange a short call with each applicant you’re interested in. It can seem like a lot of work, but a quick five to 15-minute call gives you plenty of time to get a feel for someone and screen out anyone who won’t be a good fit. That means you can reduce the number of people you invite to an on-site interview. The Best Ways to Hire CDL Drivers: Foley's 9 Top Tips & Strategies #1: Make Sure Career Information is Easy to Find If you’re actively looking for drivers, make sure the “careers” information is easy to find on your website. So many businesses have it buried under other pages or hidden, but if you’re actively searching for drivers, you’ll want it on the main menu of your website. #2: Don’t Set the Standard Too High There’s a difference between making sure someone is paying attention and forcing them to jump through dozens of hoops just to get their application in front of you. Get the applications and then filter down. Using an online application will make things easier for your applicants and your staff, so consider using driver recruiting software like ours so you can tailor your application and not have to deal with miscommunication. #3: Make Sure You’re Mobile-Friendly Whatever application platform you use, make sure it’s mobile-friendly. Most people are searching and doing things on the move, and this is even more true of truck drivers. Make sure your applications are easy to complete from a phone, not just in size ratio, but practicality. If you’ve ever tried to fill out a form while memorizing the requirements from a page before, or scrolling up to see them, you’ll know how frustrating it can be. You want to give drivers the sense that it’s easy to work with (and for) you – right from the beginning. #4: Sell the Job Selling the position to drivers doesn’t involve talking about how successful your company is – you’ve got to speak their language. Think about what drivers are looking for in a role. They’re thinking about: Hourly rate or salary Flexibility (an understanding of family life and hobbies) A positive and fun environment Wi-fi access if they’re driving long-haul Compensation in other forms (time off, bonuses, health insurance, dental care, etc) Being able to bring a furry friend along for the ride You don’t have to offer it all, and you don’t need to put yourself out of business paying more than any other company out there — you just need to show that you care about your drivers as people. Think about what you offer and why they’d care, and put that in your job ad. If you’ve lost a lot of drivers recently and they left of their own accord, do you know why? Could you speak to them or your current drivers for feedback? Yes, it will be uncomfortable, but it can be one of the best ways to recruit CDL drivers, improve morale, and keep your drivers for the long term. #5: Try Referral Incentives You’ve likely received emails from stores offering you and a friend a discount when your friend makes their first purchase, and you can do the same thing for your drivers. Ask them to refer other drivers to you and give them incentives for doing so. Try offering something small for each applicant who applies and was referred by them, and then if you hire them, give them both a bonus. Ideally, this bonus would be given 1, 3, 6, or 12 months after you made the hire so you don’t have to pay for anyone who doesn’t work out, but if you wait until the 12-month mark, the bonus will need to be of more value than something given after 1 month. Note that “bonus” doesn’t have to be monetary (though that’s often the most effective), you could give them extra vacation days or something else your drivers value. #6: Actively Advertise Job boards and social media are great for free visibility, but often, they just don’t compare to what you can achieve when you put a little money into your truck driver advertising. Consider trying paid promotion opportunities (sometimes called a “sponsored” post) and social media ads. This will help you drastically increase your visibility and reach people who may not be actively looking for a new position. #7: Do a “Drive” Are you always advertising for new drivers? Whether you’re doing Class A driver recruiting or Class B, being “always open” for applications can be a turn-off. People won't know if you're accepting applications if your posts are old. If you keep updating them, they may think you can't keep staff. Instead, try doing a marketing campaign for your truck driver recruiting. When you give a limited window for applications, you give them a reason to act quickly, and you have a chance to go all-in on your marketing before processing your applications. Keep the window short, and then close applications while you process them. That way, when you next open to applications, people will start to feel a sense of urgency and that you’re a sought-after company to work for. This is not the best way for every company, but if you want to hire new drivers all at once a few times a year to make it easier to sign up and train them, this can be a good choice. #8: Use Social Media to Show the Lifestyle Truck drivers often complain about not having enough time for their families. Use social media to show what it's like working for your company every day. This will help candidates get a realistic feel of what working for you would be like, and attract them to apply. #9: Be Willing to Train Drivers If you can't find good, experienced drivers, hiring new CDL grads can be a great way to save money and train people the way you want them to work. One problem with experienced employees is they already know how they do things, and it's hard to get them to change. It's also a good chance to hire people who are excited about their new job and usually get ignored for other jobs. The driver shortage means there are many jobs, but only for those who can drive the truck and go to work tomorrow. If you’re happy to show them the ropes, advertising roles for recent CDL grads will give you a much bigger pond to fish from. Truck Driver Recruiting Services We've talked about the best ways to find truck drivers, but if you don't have the staff to do all of this, a truck driver recruitment agency may be the right choice for you. CDL driver recruiting companies will do all of the hard work for you in return for a fee. They'll advertise for you, write the ads, and check candidates. This will let you make the final interview(s) and hire the best candidate for the job. If you're willing to give up a lot of control, working with a truck driver recruiting agency may be the best choice for you. Costs: How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Truck Driver? This number changes depending on where you are, what you do, and who you ask. But the general consensus is that it costs $5,000 – $12,000 to find a truck driver, whether it's an extra driver or a replacement. Some replacement figures are higher, at as much as $10,000 – $25,000. Best Truck Driver Recruiting Strategies We’ve covered a lot of tips and strategies that will help you find truck drivers who will stick around for the long haul. With the right strategies, working environment, and truck driver recruiting software, you’ll never struggle to find available truck drivers again. Foley's hiring and DOT compliance software platform, Dash, has helped companies like yours grow their applicant pool (and business overall) in a matter of days — not weeks. Ready to see how Dash can help you meet your 2024 hiring goals? Fill out the form below to get your FREE software demo.

Did you know your commercial vehicle maintenance can impact your CSA score, for better or worse?

Are you prepared for the 2025 FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse? The FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse has felt like a burden for many companies since it was established in January 2020, but its safety advantages have become clear over the past year.

What is MVR monitoring? Motor vehicle record monitoring, or MVR monitoring, is a digital solution that continuously keeps track of each of your drivers’ motor vehicle reports. If any changes – or “hits” as they’re often called – happen at any time, a new report is uploaded, then scanned for accuracy, and you are notified immediately. These “hits” can be good or bad, depending on the situation. Some of the negative “hits” can be any of the following: Accidents DUIs Speeding tickets or other motor vehicle violations or convictions CDL suspensions or revocations Safety violations Medical certificate downgrades On the other hand, continuous MVR monitoring can also let you know when any driver renews or updates their DOT medical card or CDL. Benefits of Continuous MVR Monitoring There are specific benefits to utilizing an MVR check for employers, including identifying high-risk drivers, improving driver behavior, and avoiding driver violations and legal penalties. We'll dive into each of these advantages below. Easily Identify High-Risk Drivers Just as you know pre-employment and annual MVR checks are required, you also know that unsafe drivers are a huge liability. A single unsafe driver can commit numerous driving violations. These are the top violations for commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) from the DOT: Moving violations: Speeding; following too closely; improper lane changing; reckless driving; improper turning; failure to yield to right of way; railroad grade crossing violations; and failure to obey traffic control devices. Driving with a suspended or revoked license Expired medical certificate Driving under the influence of drugs or while in possession of an intoxicating substance Not wearing a seat belt Using a hand-held device Having an unauthorized passenger on board Failing to conduct pre-trip inspections Failing to use/improper placement of warning devices If all these violations have you seeing dollar signs, you’re in the right mindset. Each infraction can cost you thousands of dollars. You’ll also lose money and precious time if a driver is placed out of service, and you need to find someone to take their place behind the wheel until they are once again fit for duty. Protect Your CSA Score & FMCSA Safety Rating Driver violations can cause your Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) score and safety rating to suffer as well. Depending on the severity (and number) of the offense(s), you could even be downgraded to a Conditional or Unsatisfactory rating – both of which can be incredibly costly and involve a long road to recovery – think a lot of paperwork and proving to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association (FMCSA) that your company really does prioritize safety. Save on Commercial Insurance Premiums Your insurance premiums can be majorly impacted by driver violations – or your provider may even decide to drop your coverage altogether. Your valued partners and customers may be hesitant to work with you after the fact, and they may decide to take their business elsewhere. No matter what happens, you’ll lose the precious resources you need to run a safe, successful business. Quickly Improve Driver Behavior Before it gets to the point of no return — or, in other terms, losing those invaluable resources we mentioned above — you have an opportunity to correct any questionable, risky, or unsafe driving habits you're seeing across your fleet once you have an MVR report for employers on your side. If one of your drivers gets a DUI or commits a serious traffic or safety violation a day, week, or month after you pull their annual report, or if their license is suspended for another significant offense, you could be in the dark until you run their next annual MVR report or an auditor finds the offenses for you. It can be difficult to always keep track of all your drivers, especially if your fleet is not so small. MVR monitoring consistently checks your employees' driving records so you can pinpoint who is driving erratically and needs corrective action put in place. Avoid FMCSA Penalties, Fines & Legal Fees Before you order an MVR for a driver applicant or current employee, you should familiarize yourself with the federal regulations surrounding them. From how to notify individuals about an MVR compliance check, to disposing of sensitive information, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) has steps you must take to stay compliant. Please note, the steps below deal only with the FCRA and do not address applicable state laws. Employers should familiarize themselves with the laws in their governing state, as well as other applicable laws. For your MVR check to be completely FCRA compliant, the driver will need to be supplied with three documents: Disclosure: This notice must be given to the applicant or employee independently of other paperwork. For applicants, for example, you cannot include the disclosure statement on the application. The disclosure must be clear and conspicuous, in writing, and consist solely of the disclosure. If you intend to run periodic MVRs on a driver after they’re hired (as part of an MVR Monitoring program, for example), that information must be very clearly stated within the disclosure. Authorization: You must receive authorization from the driver that acknowledges they received the disclosure. The driver must also give their consent before you can obtain their motor vehicle report. Summary of Rights: The driver must be provided with a copy of the “Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.” In addition to providing your driver with the above, you must certify that you’re running compliant MVR checks with the company that is conducting them for you. Through this process, you must verify you’ve provided the driver with the disclosure, received authorization, and will not misuse the information or discriminate based on the results. When you order your MVR check for employers through a DOT background check company that understands the federal regulatory requirements you need to meet, you don’t have to worry about missing any steps in the MVR check process or putting your company at risk for hefty fines. You’ll also have a dedicated account manager to walk you through the process the first time around, and from there, they’ll run each MVR check you need for every new or existing employee you have on your roster. This is then added to your driver qualification files to meet DOT recordkeeping requirements. How does continuous MVR monitoring prevent accidents? Although employers are only required to do an MVR check annually, it has become standard practice to monitor drivers’ MVRs throughout the year. Unless drivers come clean and voluntarily tell you about their run-ins with the law, you won't be aware of them. MVR monitoring solves this problem by providing you with valuable insights into your drivers' habits so you can address any red flags as soon as possible, and hopefully prevent accidents through corrective action plans. Can MVR monitoring help me avoid DOT audits? As we've explained above, drivers may be cited for moving violations or accidents may occur between their annual MVR checks, and drivers may not take it upon themselves to report them to you. They may withhold the information for fear of losing their jobs, simply forget about the violations, or may not realize they are required to notify you about them. The last thing you want (or need) to come up during an audit is a serious infraction that you had no idea about – especially if many months have passed since it happened! Regular MVR monitoring can save you from this potential nightmare. Plus, it shows auditors you've taken additional proactive steps to prioritize driver safety and ensure you're operating a compliant fleet. How does continuous MVR monitoring help with DOT recordkeeping? MVR checks must be run on new job applicants for the previous three years in all states where the applicant held a license. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure MVR checks are run no less than once every 12 months once the applicant is employed. Along with the annual MVR checks, employers must require drivers to submit a list of any moving violations they received over the previous 12 months. If no violations occurred, documentation must be maintained that the employee has indicated such. After you've run the initial MVR check on new employees, enrolling them in a continuous MVR monitoring program means you'll automatically meet the annual check requirement. With Foley's exclusive DOT compliance software, the results of that MVR check are also added to their driver file for seamless recordkeeping compliance. Enroll in Foley's MVR Monitor Program Not all MVR monitoring programs are created equal. At Foley, we help protect you and your fleet from hefty fines and legal ramifications by providing you with ongoing MVR checks. Whenever new information is detected, their updated MVR report is immediately uploaded to your secure online platform, and you receive real-time e-notifications. Purchasing a continuous MVR Monitor program is inexpensive when you compare it to the costs your company could incur for an infraction or violation. Plus, it can also help lower insurance premiums. Get a free demo of Foley's MVR check program today and see how easy it can be to track your employees' driving habits, pinpoint problem areas, and correct them before they risk the safety of our roadways and the success of your business. Fill out the form below to get started.

If taking the leap and becoming a trucking owner-operator is one of your New Year's resolutions for 2025, there's a world of new opportunities waiting for you. There comes a time in most truck drivers’ lives when they consider shrugging off the employee role, getting their own rig, and hitting the road as a trucking owner-operator. When you feel tied down working for someone else’s company, it’s easy to romanticize the idea of making your own rules and picking your loads, but it’s unfortunately not all about hitting the open road and cashing checks. The trucking owner-operator lifestyle isn't for everyone, but if you think it may be the right next step for you, keep reading. Below, we’ll guide you through how to become an owner-operator — and the realities behind it. What is an Owner-Operator? An owner-operator truck driver is someone who not only drives the truck but also runs the business behind it. That means you are responsible for: Landing clients and maintaining relationships Driving the rig, loading, and unloading Planning routes and other associated administrative tasks Buying or leasing your rig and equipment Maintaining your rig and equipment Paying for insurance and other overheads Keeping the financial records necessary for any business Maintaining DOT records It also means that you have full freedom to decide which jobs to take and which not to. That means if you hate doing a certain type of work, or dislike working for businesses in a certain industry, you can avoid those jobs or specialize in the work you do enjoy. You also set your own rates, which provided you’re confident and don’t undercharge, can be lucrative and help you make more than you would in an employed position. A freight agent is also viewed as an owner-operator. This is someone who runs the business side and hires or manages other drivers. If you still operate your rig, this can be a lot of work if you go it alone, so this is usually only a good option if you’ve got a head for business and want to take a step back (in part or fully) from driving. What's the difference between an owner-operator and a company truck driver? Unlike a company truck driver, owner-operators have full freedom to decide which jobs to take and which ones to avoid. That means if you hate doing a certain type of work, or dislike working for businesses in a certain industry, you can avoid those jobs or specialize in the work you do enjoy. A freight agent is also viewed as an owner-operator. This is someone who runs the business side and hires or manages other drivers. If you still operate your rig, this can be a lot of work if you go it alone, so this is usually only a good option if you’ve got a head for business and want to take a step back (in part or fully) from driving. 12 Steps to Becoming a Successful Owner-Operator Truck Driver Understand the startup costs of running a trucking business There are very few businesses you can start with no money, and becoming a trucking owner-operator isn’t one of them. Whether you already own a rig, are planning to buy one, or are looking to lease, there are other expenses besides just the cost of the vehicle. Here are some of the costs you’ll need to set a budget for: Legal fees and licenses – we’ll get into these in the next section, but this will cost $100 – $1,500 to get started, with some fees paid annually. Trucking equipment maintenance – this doesn’t come cheap. Estimates put maintenance costs at $15,000 a year, with annual tire expenses sitting at around $4,000 for an 18-wheeler. The bigger the rig, the bigger the expenses. Loans or leases you take out to buy or lease your rig and cover any other startup costs. Insurance. Living expenses (including your own health insurance) until your business starts covering them. Marketing – a website and other ads if/as necessary. Do your research on what it will cost you to get your business up and running. You can often bootstrap and save money, but make sure you don’t cut corners where you shouldn’t. Outline a Trucking Business Plan Your next step should be to consider how you wish to operate your new business. You have two options: Operate your own business under your own authority, or Lease your vehicle out to a motor carrier Option 1, operating your own business under your own authority, will allow you to make all the decisions, grow your business, and ultimately, make more money. You’ll need to market your business, make connections, and try to find your niche where you are the go-to for customers of a certain type, who need a certain thing from you, or in a certain area. This is the option to choose if you want to be a free agent, with the possibility of growing in the future to have other drivers working for you. Option 2, leasing to a motor carrier, means you are self-employed but essentially have an agent to act for you, ensuring you have work and they may also cover some of the expenses associated with doing business as an owner-operator. This is a good option if you want to be self-employed and have some freedom, but are concerned about your ability to find work and market yourself. The downside here is, clearly, they take a cut for their side of the work. Form a Business Entity Foley highly recommends working with a trusted accountant to help you decide which type of business structure will work best for your new company. You may choose from a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, or corporation. Each of these units has different levels of liability, and the tax rates depend on your operating state. Find out more about the business entity options you have in this Foley article. Get a commercial driver's license (CDL) If you already have a CDL, you can skip this section. But if not, you'll need to find out how to get a CDL before becoming an owner-operator. The FMCSA offers step-by-step instructions to help you get started. You may also require specific license classes and endorsements, depending on the type of commercial vehicles you'd like to operate and the categories of freight you plan on hauling. Familiarize Yourself with Federal Requirements for Owner-Operators Heavy Vehicle Use Tax If you operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) over 55,000 pounds, you’ll need to pay HVUT. Note that this weight is unladen — so a fully equipped rig without a load. HVUT is an annual fee, and the cost will depend on the size of your vehicle. Any vehicle between 55,000 and 75,000 pounds will pay $100 a year, plus an additional $22 for every 1,000 pounds above 55,000 pounds. This means the minimum fee will be $100, and the maximum is $530. If your CMV is over 75,000 pounds, you’ll pay a flat rate of $550. (Note: if a CMV is driven less than 5,000 miles a year, you can use IRS form 2290 to apply for an exemption.) International Fuel Tax Agreement As an owner-operator, you may need to file under the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA). Those who file simply report their fuel use and pay taxes on it accordingly. If you operate out of a qualifying state, you must complete an IFTA registration on an annual basis. Then, in most states, you will then file your IFTA fuel taxes on a quarterly basis. If you operate a vehicle with two axels and a gross rate of over 26,000 pounds or operate a vehicle with more than two axels (regardless of weight), you’ll need to display two decals on the exterior of the cab and carry a photocopy of the IFTA license. To register for IFTA, you’ll need your USDOT number, federal business number, and registered business name, and must apply through your home state agency. For more information on IFTA, Foley answers fuel tax FAQs on this page. File for a USDOT Number and MC Number Most owner-operators need a USDOT number, but not all of them do. If you plan to drive for passengers, transport hazardous material, or deliver interstate freight, you’ll need this number. You can find out if you need a USDOT number here. You may also need an MC number, which is still needed for transporting regulated commodities. An MC number is an “authority to operate” number. To find out if you need an MC number, click here. MC numbers are changing this year. Find out how in this Foley blog article: MC Numbers are Changing in 2025. What Does this Mean for Your Business? File a BOC-3 Form The BOC-3 (blanket of coverage) form designates an agent who can file legal documents on your behalf and is required for motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders by the federal government. Foley covers BOC-3 form filing in blog our informative blog article, How to File Your BOC-3 Form: A Step-by-Step Guide. Decide Whether to Buy or Lease a Truck Investing in your own truck is not only fun, but it also comes with the excitement of knowing you’re starting something new. The good news is that purchasing a truck (and other equipment) will give your business an asset. Make sure you carefully consider what you plan to do and buy something that will manage it easily. If you don’t want to buy a semi truck outright, there are plenty of opportunities to lease one. Like leasing a car, you’ll find companies are ready to lease your vehicle to you, though it may not be at an affordable rate. Make sure you shop around and understand exactly what the lease will mean for your bottom line. Lease operator requirements vary from company to company, so find those with requirements you fit and make sure they are well-rated before moving forward. The last thing you want is to start your new business and be unable to make good money because your lease takes too much from your bottom line. For example, a Percent of Revenue lease is a great way to make sure you pay it back (often with more flexible terms). Just make sure that it’s a percentage you can afford to pay. Purchase Trucking Insurance Insurance is a big factor in becoming a legitimate owner-driver, but what you need (and can get) will depend on how you choose to operate. Those planning to work with a motor carrier will often find that the motor carrier offers some insurance coverage, but it is often lacking. Make sure you get coverage to protect you in all situations, not just what is necessary to be legal on the road. Some of the types of insurance policies you may need if you are working for a motor carrier are: Physical damage coverage – this covers the cost of damages to your vehicle if it is involved in an accident. Non-trucking liability insurance – this covers you (the driver) when you are not working for the motor carrier. Motor truck cargo coverage – this covers any goods you are hauling if they are damaged or stolen in transit. Lease gap coverage – this covers you if your vehicle is totaled and the value of the vehicle is less than the amount you owe on the lease. If you are going to work completely independently, then you should be able to find a policy that covers all of the bases for you. Regardless, make sure you do your research thoroughly to get the right coverage at the right price. Find Your First Load The most common way owner-operators find work is through load boards. Here, brokers and freight forwarders will post the freight they need to be moved when and where. Some of the most popular load boards you may have heard of are the DAT load board, Landstar load board, or Truckstop load board. But there are plenty of other load boards out there for you to find consistent work across the country. Remember, getting access to some of the best load boards may be another business expense for you. You may wish to research free load boards when you're first starting out as an owner-operator. Maintain DOT Records and Documentation Being a CMV driver isn’t without its administrative tasks, but being an owner-operator certainly multiplies these tenfold. You need to keep your DOT records up to date, keep track of invoices and other financial matters, and ensure you file your taxes on time. If this isn’t your forte, consider hiring someone to help you a few hours a week to ensure you stay on top of things (this can simply be your spouse, family friend, or other trusted individual), but working with a DOT compliance partner is the best way to ensure you're staying on top of your DOT recordkeeping requirements. Stay on Top of Your Taxes In addition to the HVUT and IFTA taxes we covered above, owner-operators are also responsible for business and self-employment taxes. Each state carries different tax rates, so it's best to work with your accountant to ensure you're prepared to file and pay according to your specific business requirements. Being financially conservative as you start a trucking company can help you prepare for your new tax liabilities. Start Your Journey as a New Owner-Operator Now that you know how to become an owner-operator, you can easily see how it can be one of the best decisions you’ll make in your career, but it’s certainly not one to jump into without having an accurate idea of your costs vs. profit. Do your research and talk to any friends or acquaintances that have already made the jump. With a realistic view of what to expect, you’ll be able to move confidently forward with your new life as an owner-operator in 2025. Foley is a dependable partner throughout the exciting yet overwhelming process of becoming an owner-operator. From filing your DOT number and operating authority to purchasing insurance and passing your new entrant safety audit, we're here for you! Fill out the form below if you're ready to take the next steps in becoming a trucking owner-operator.

FMCSA-regulated companies will soon be required to have a USDOT number to reduce fraudulent behaviors and streamline the safety and compliance tracking process. Originally announced in an FMCSA final ruling in August 2013, the goal of establishing the Unified Registration System (URS) to improve the registration experience is coming into effect this year. Part of this process involves the elimination of MC numbers.

Driver qualification files go hand-in-hand with DOT background check requirements, ensuring you have qualified employees behind the wheel. Failing to maintain driver qualification files on each driver has been in the top ten critical FMCSA audit violations for the past five years. The current maximum penalty amount for committing this violation is $11,956. The more drivers you employ, the more difficult it can be to create and maintain driver files for each of your employees who operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs); however, it’s a major risk you don’t want to take with your DOT compliance. Below, we’ll break down a few key steps that will make creating DOT-compliant driver files easier for you or those responsible for doing so at your company: Use a DOT-compliant job application Verify drivers’ basic qualifications Run DOT-required background checks Compile driver documents into two digital folders Switch to driver file creation and management software Following these recommendations will help reduce your risk of driver file violations during your next compliance audit. #1. Use a DOT-Compliant Application Everything that your CDL driver application should include can be found in this related Foley article. As for the formatting, a short, mobile-friendly job application is how you can improve the process of getting all the driver information you need. Dash, Foley’s hiring, screening, and onboarding software, includes a driver-first job app that requires candidates to provide their personal information, contact information, current licenses and endorsements, and all disclosures and authorizations required for meeting DOT background check requirements and running driving record checks. This information not only helps you make better hiring decisions, but it’s also necessary to fulfill DOT recordkeeping requirements. DOT Recordkeeping Retention Period: Keep each driver’s application for the duration of their employment at your company, plus three years after. #2. Verify the Driver’s Basic DOT Requirements In order to operate CMVs, drivers must meet specific qualifications as defined by the DOT. You must ensure that each driver you employ: Is at least 21 years old (for interstate transport) Can fluently read and speak English Has successfully completed and received a road test certificate (or equivalent) Is physically qualified to drive AND has a valid medical certificate Has provided you with a list of violations for the past 12 months (or a document stating they haven’t committed any) Has a solid understanding of cargo securement regarding the CMV being driven These must-haves make up the “qualification” part of “driver qualification file.” DOT Recordkeeping Retention Period: When creating an employee’s initial driver file, you must keep their annual list of violations and medical certificate for three years. The road test certificate must be kept for the duration of their employment, plus three years after. #3. Fulfill DOT Background Check Requirements When reviewing a candidate, you must contact their DOT-regulated employers from the past three years to learn as much as you can about their work history. This includes verifying dates of employment, accidents the applicant was involved in, and whether they failed to complete a prescribed return-to-duty process. The information collected from this process is then used to create an employee’s Safety Performance History (SPH) file. The process of obtaining your candidate’s drug and alcohol violation information as a part of the SPH has changed. As of January 6, you can now fulfill the requirement of checking for drug and alcohol violations from the past three years by running a pre-employment query in the FMCSA Clearinghouse. For more information on this change, click here. DOT Recordkeeping Retention Period: You must also request a Motor vehicle report (MVR) in each state where the driver held a motor vehicle operator’s license or permit in the last three years. The MVR and SPH must both be kept for the duration of the driver’s employment, plus three years after. Phased background checks in Dash can make running these screens much easier for your HR or compliance team. Click here to learn more about this intuitive feature that can streamline your screening process. #4. Compile Driver Documents into Two Folders Once you’ve run all the required background checks, all the documents you’ve compiled during the pre-hire process must be compiled into two folders: the Driver Qualification File and the Safety Performance History. Both files must be 100% complete within 30 days of a new driver’s employment. The Driver Qualification File must contain the driver’s: DOT-compliant application Motor Vehicle Report Certificate of Road Test Medical Examination Report Medical Examiner’s National Registry Verification Skill Performance Evaluation Certificate Application (if required) The Safety Performance History must contain the driver’s: Record of previous employers contacted Driver’s written authorization to release information DOT Recordkeeping Retention Period: Once these files are created, they must be kept for the duration of the driver’s employment and for three years thereafter. Per DOT regulations, it’s important that the Safety Performance History information be kept in a secure location with limited access. #5. Switch to Driver File Creation & Management Software Technological advancements have made it easier for DOT officers to complete audits faster than ever. In fact, offsite audits increased by a whopping 400% between 2019 and 2020. That’s not all — you may have only 48 hours to submit your DOT driver files to officials in a digital format. With more DOT audits being conducted remotely (meaning an auditor doesn't even need to knock on your business' door to collect your records and check your compliance efforts), you truly never know when or where you’ll be faced with an unexpected audit. Making the switch from paper to digital files saves time and helps protect you against noncompliance as all your documents are safely stored on a single platform. Once your files are created, there’s no risk of important files (some of which may contain your employees’ personal information) going missing. When you go digital with Foley, we’ll also maintain the files on an ongoing basis by pulling annual MVRs and alerting you when any of your employees’ CDLs or medical cards have upcoming expiration dates. Now that you've seen everything necessary on our DOT driver qualification file checklist 2025, schedule a free demo of our driver file creation and management software platform, Dash. Our DOT compliance experts will ensure your driver files contain all the required documents and are updated on an ongoing basis, no matter how many commercial drivers you employ.

Knowing the difference between acute FMCSA violations and critical FMCSA violations can help you avoid steep federal fines. During Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) safety reviews, auditors look for violations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). All FMCSA violations are classified as acute or critical, depending on their nature and severity level. What are Acute Violations? Acute violations, as defined by FMCSA, are so severe that they require immediate corrective action. Failing to implement an alcohol and/or controlled substances testing program is an example of an acute violation. What are Critical Violations? FMCSA views a critical violation as a sign of poor safety control management. Failing to require a driver to make a record of duty status is an example of a critical violation. The Top Acute & Critical FMCSA Violations of 2024 The tables below, which list the top 10 critical and acute violations for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, provide a snapshot of the most commonly cited FMCSA violations. Reviewing these tables closely will help you learn from the mistakes of other companies, and give you the opportunity to correct potential DOT compliance issues before they are discovered during a DOT audit or other federal safety review.

Does a DOT physical include a drug test? If you’re a commercial vehicle driver, fleet safety manager, or owner of a trucking company, then you know the drill: At least once every two years, drivers need to have a DOT physical exam to renew their DOT medical card. These exams are conducted by certified medical examiners whose job it is to evaluate drivers for a wide range of medical conditions and ensure they’re healthy enough to operate a motor vehicle safely. In addition to a general physical examination, your DOT physical will include a urinalysis. But unless the examiner requests a second sample be given for a DOT drug test (sometimes requested during the pre-employment process), the urine sample you provide during the exam isn’t used to detect drug use — but to screen for medical conditions, such as diabetes. It’s important to note that if your employer does require a pre-employment drug test at the same time, the examiner will be very clear with you about the testing procedures during your appointment. Related: Learn What to Expect at Your DOT Physical Here What About Medications? What Prescription Drugs are Banned by DOT? Although a standard DOT drug test isn’t conducted during DOT physicals, the medical examiner will review your current medications with you — including those you take for diabetes, heart disease, neurological conditions, mental health conditions, and recent surgeries. Some of these medications may automatically disqualify you from driving a commercial motor vehicle (at least temporarily), but that decision is left up to the medical examiner’s discretion, as well as the advice of your doctor. In these cases, your medical examiner will want to see a note from your doctor that describes your condition, the medications you take, and the impact it will have on your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. If you're wondering what specific drugs are prohibited by the DOT, check out this Foley article for more information: What Drugs Will Disqualify Drivers from Operating Commercial Vehicles? If the medical examiner deems that the medications you’re on cannot be used while driving a commercial motor vehicle, you may receive a temporary disqualification. Once you’ve been off the medication for a certain period of time, you can then be reevaluated for a medical card. In other cases, you may be granted a medical card, but you’ll need to have another DOT physical exam in the next 6–12 months instead of the normal two-year timeframe. Links to Related Foley Articles in the DOT Physicals Series: The DOT Physical: Everything You Need to Know DOT Physicals: Can Chiropractors and Other Doctors do DOT Physicals? DOT Physicals: Vision Requirements for the Eye Exam DOT Physicals: Can You Pass with a High BMI or While Overweight? DOT Physicals: Can I Get a DOT Physical in Any State? DOT Physicals: Can You Pass with a Hernia? DOT Physicals: Will I Pass with Diabetes? DOT Physical Blood Pressure: Requirements & Tips for Passing DOT Physicals: Can I Pass With Sleep Apnea? DOT Physicals: What if I have a Medical Condition? How to Prepare for Your DOT Physical? DOT Physicals: What Happens When You Fail? Fail a DOT Physical? You Have a Right to a Second Opinion DOT Physicals: Understanding Medical Variances

You should always strive to avoid committing DOT recordkeeping and CDL violations, but these higher penalties may be the extra motivation you need to stay compliant this year. Trucking violation fines have gone up — again. The FMCSA’s latest change took effect on December 30, 2024, and the fines have increased by a multiple of 1.02598, to be exact. While this may seem like a slight increase, it’s only adding to the ever-rising costs throughout the trucking industry, such as insurance premiums, CDL speeding ticket fines, and unfortunate accidents. And if you take a look at some of the maximum FMCSA fines and penalties below, you'll see that this increase isn't so small after all. We’re more than familiar with the steep penalties for failing DOT safety inspections and committing recordkeeping violations, and this recent spike makes it even more important for companies to keep up with regular truck maintenance as well as up-to-date driver file management. FMCSA’s civil penalties affected by this rule are all located in Appendix B to Part 386, Title 49. Below are some of the most prevalent commercial vehicle, DOT recordkeeping, and CDL violations; the current fines; and the new fines for 2025. Violation Description 2024 Penalty 2025 Penalty Out-of-service order (requiring or permitting operation of CMV by driver). $23,048 $23,647 Out-of-service order (operation by driver of CMV or intermodal equipment that was placed out of service). $2,304 $2,364 Out-of-service order (failure to return written certification of correction). $1,152 $1,182 Out-of-service order (failure to cease operations as ordered). $33,252 $34,116 Out-of-service order (conducting operations during suspension or revocation for failure to pay penalties). $18,759 $19,246 Employer violations pertaining to knowingly allowing, authorizing employee violations of out-of-service order (maximum penalty). $38,612 $39,615 Recordkeeping — maximum penalty per day $1,544 $1,584 Recordkeeping — maximum total penalty $15,445 $15,846 Knowing falsification of records $15,445 $15,846 Commercial driver’s license (CDL) violations $6,974 $7,155 One of the most concerning penalty increases? The maximum daily penalty for committing DOT recordkeeping violations has increased from $1,544 to $1,584, and the maximum total penalty is now $15,846 instead of $15,445. Failing to Prepare for DOT Audits is Preparing to Fail What's another noteworthy FMCSA tactic that’s on the rise? Unannounced offsite DOT audits. Technological advancements have made it easier for enforcement officers to complete audits faster than ever. In fact, offsite audits increased by a whopping 400% between 2019 and 2020 alone. That’s not all — you may have only 48 hours to submit all of your DOT driver records in a digital format. With more DOT audits being conducted remotely (meaning an auditor doesn't even need to knock on your business' door to collect your records), you truly never know when or where you’ll be faced with an unexpected compliance evaluation. Take Control of Your DOT Compliance in 2025 The combination of increased FMCSA fines and penalties and surprise compliance reviews means it’s time to do your business audit before you’re faced with an official DOT audit. Keeping your driver files in order and audit-ready takes diligence, accuracy, and organization. If you’re not sure where to start, you may want to involve a DOT compliance consultant who can help identify problem areas and provide suggestions on programs that will help bring you — and keep you — in full compliance. Foley’s DOT compliance software platform, Dash, keeps all your compliance programs in one place. You'll never have to worry about DOT recordkeeping violations with your driver qualification files, drug and alcohol testing program, FMCSA Clearinghouse compliance, or other important federal requirements. Ready to avoid CDL violations and expensive DOT fines like the ones above? Talk to one of our compliance experts today or fill out the form below!

You can meet FMCSA background check requirements AND customize your screens for specific employee positions in Dash. No matter what precious cargo your employees get from place to place, you trust them to get it there safely. That trust is earned through honest, hard work throughout their employment, but how do you establish this trust from the beginning, when you’re hiring for positions that require driving?

What DOT compliance updates does January 2025 have in store for the transportation industry? The new year is officially in full swing, which means it's time to find out what new safety events and DOT compliance requirements are coming up.

The FMCSA’s Crash Preventability Determination Program (CPDP) now evaluates 21 specific types of crashes and adjusts the information in the Agency’s Safety Measurement System (SMS) to identify crashes that were not preventable. If you or a driver were involved in an eligible crash on or after December 1, 2024, you can submit a Request for Data Review (RDR) along with the required police accident report and any other supporting documents, photos, or videos through the Agency’s DataQs system.

UCR enforcement starts on January 1, 2025. Now is the time to take care of this DOT compliance requirement. Time is ticking! You only have until December 31, 2024, to complete your 2025 Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) filing.

The first step in starting your own trucking company is filling out a USDOT number application. Foley has been providing DOT number support for over 30 years. What is a DOT number? This unique identifier is required by the government and will be used to ensure the safe and compliant operation of your business. A USDOT number is an identification number that allows FMCSA (the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) to monitor a company’s safety record and other information acquired during inspections and audits. Who needs a DOT number? Any company that operates interstate commercial vehicles that transport either passengers or cargo, as well as all hazardous materials carriers with cargo that requires a safety permit, need to not only be registered with the FMCSA, but they also must have a USDOT number. If you’re involved in interstate commerce, and meet at least one of the following qualifications: A gross vehicle weight or gross combination weight of 10,001 lbs or more If your vehicle is designed or used to carry more than eight passengers, including the driver, for compensation If your vehicle is designed or used to carry more than fifteen passengers, including the driver, regardless of compensation If your vehicle is used to transport material found by the Secretary of Transportation to be hazardous Then, according to federal law, you are one of the many companies that needs a DOT number. How much does a DOT number cost? You can get a free DOT number when you file through Foley. Our compliance consultants are here to help ensure all the required paperwork is completed and submitted correctly. We can also assist with your DOT operating authority and any other permits and registrations you need to operate legally. What documents are needed to get a DOT number? To fill out your DOT number application, you will need your Employer Identification Number or Social Security Number, your Dun & Bradstreet Number, and the names and titles of all of your company officers. How long does it take to get a DOT number? Although motor carriers used to be able to complete a DOT number application on paper, it now must be filled out online using the FMCSA’s Unified Registration website. Carriers should be prepared – the process of filing for a USDOT number will take a few hours and can be a burdensome and confusing process for anyone unfamiliar with the process. You’ll want to make sure to take your time and get it right, as going back and fixing errors after your initial DOT number application is submitted, is a longer and more difficult process. How to Apply for a DOT Number Step 1: Gather Required Documents Ensure you have the three or four documents mentioned above before you start the DOT number application process. Preparing beforehand will make it much easier to complete each step, instead of scrambling to find the right paperwork as you need it. Step 2: Complete the FMCSA’s Unified Registration Navigate to the FMCSA website to begin the registration process. You’ll want to start by reading the directions and then clicking the “To Get Started, Click Here” link. This will send you to a new page with information on filling out the DOT Number application form. It’s important that you take a few minutes to read it carefully. At the bottom of the page, you’ll have the ability to continue on with the registration process. To do so, click, “To continue to the Unified Registration System, click here.” You’ll be prompted to either log in or create a new account. If you’re creating a new account, there will be several pages of directions that you’ll want to read through before beginning the process. Create an FMSCA User Account Once you’ve read through all of the instructions, you’ll be sent to a screen where you can create your new FMCSA account. This account will allow you to access your application later on and track its process through the FMCSA system once it’s submitted. As part of the registration process, you’ll be assigned an applicant ID. You’ll want to make a note of this ID and hold onto it for future reference. You’ll then be prompted to select and enter a password, as well as to enter three security questions and answers. Please note, you’ll have 30 days from the date you create your FMCSA account to complete and submit your DOT number application. If your DOT number application isn’t submitted by this date, your account will be deleted. Step 3: Begin the DOT Number Application Now that your account is created, you can begin filling out the application. In the first section, is where you’ll enter all of your company’s identifying information. This includes: Your name and/or the name of your company Your business’ principal address Your Dun & Bradstreet Number (if applicable) Your company’s phone number, email address, and fax number Your Social Security Number or tax identification number This is also where you’ll need to select your operator classification. This classification is important, as the government will want to know who you’re doing business for. For many DOT number applicants, this will be either “for hire” or “private passenger.” You may also be filling out a DOT number application to operate for a federal/state government, Indian tribe, or local mail. Step 4: Select Your DOT Cargo Classification What are the DOT Cargo Classifications? Now that you’ve told the FMCSA who you’ll be working for, you need to tell them what type of cargo you’ll be hauling. It’s important to read the cargo classifications carefully and to check all of the boxes that will apply to your business. These include: General freight Household goods Passengers Farm supplies Beverages You’ll also need to declare whether you will be transporting hazardous materials. This is important, as the DOT tracks the transportation of some hazardous materials – and you’ll have certain FMCSA regulations that you’ll need to comply with. DOT Hazard Classifications The DOT identifies nine different hazard classes: Class 1: Explosives Class 2: Gases Class 3: Flammable Liquid and Combustible Liquid Class 4: Flammable Solid, Spontaneously Combustible, and Dangerous When Wet Class 5: Oxidizer and Organic Peroxide Class 6: Poison (Toxic) and Poison Inhalation Hazard Class 7: Radioactive Class 8: Corrosive Class 9: Miscellaneous Ensuring you, the owner-operator, and your future drivers have the right hazmat endorsements to legally transport hazardous materials is also required once you're ready to hit the road. Step 5: Complete and Sign the Application Once you’ve completed the DOT number application, you’ll need to certify that all of the information you’ve provided on the application is correct and then provide an authorized signature. In order to legally sign the DOT number application form, you must be either an owner or partner in the business, an authorized representative or official of the company, or hold power of attorney for the applicant. Is there an easier way to get a DOT number? When you get DOT number support from Foley, yes. You can file for your USDOT number with help from our compliance experts. We're ready to help you get on the road as quickly as possible. And once you're officially ready to operate, Foley can also provide you with comprehensive DOT compliance services in one user-friendly platform. You'll work with your account manager for everything from creating and managing driver files, getting compliant with the FMCSA Clearinghouse, setting up a drug and alcohol testing program, and more. If you're ready to run your own small trucking company and get your DOT number with Foley, click here.

MVR monitoring, DOT drug testing, and DOT driver file management programs all help to prevent the most common FMCSA violations. According to data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) safety investigation summary report, 94% of safety investigations performed this year have resulted in violations. The top five acute violations (severe enough that they require immediate corrective action) for 2024 are as follows: Allowing a driver to operate with a suspended or revoked CDL Failing to implement an alcohol and/or drug testing program Failing to randomly test for drugs and/or alcohol Using a driver who has tested positive for a drug Allowing a driver with more than one CDL to drive a CMV Committing any of these violations can mean paying significant fines, and your Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) scores can take a hit. See why these scores hold so much weight in our related blog article: CSA Scores: What They Are & Why They Matter The key to remaining compliant and avoiding violations is always to be audit-ready. This is more important than ever, as offsite audits have increased by 400% over the past few years. Your chances of being called for a safety investigation are likely higher than ever. While your goal should be to maintain a completely violation-free record, below are some steps you can take to avoid the most common acute violations of 2024. #1. Allowing a driver to operate with a suspended or revoked CDL This has been the top acute FMCSA violation for the last six years, and it was cited by FMCSA officers 1,366 times in 2024. You may be thinking, why would anyone take the risk of letting a driver with a compromised CDL continue to drive for them? Sometimes CDL suspensions or revocations occur without employers knowing — and oftentimes, it’s far too late when they find out. Even though companies like yours are required to run annual motor vehicle record (MVR) checks on drivers, it’s a better idea to regularly monitor your drivers’ records with an automated MVR monitoring program so suspensions or revocations like this don’t pop up unexpectedly. Foley’s MVR Monitor constantly keeps track of your drivers’ records and instantly alerts you when violations are detected. That way, you don’t end up committing the above violation and putting yourself at risk of paying hefty fines or being put out of service. #2. Failing to implement an alcohol and/or drug testing program #3. Failing to randomly test for drugs and/or alcohol #4. Using a driver who has tested positive for a drug These have all been top acute violations for several years, together accounting for over 37% of all acute violations so far this year. Fines for non-compliant drug testing programs average more than $8,000. To meet federal regulations, employers must perform pre-employment drug tests, random tests, and post-accident, reasonable suspicion, and follow-up tests. A compliant DOT drug and alcohol testing program can manage these tests and ensure they’re scheduled when needed. You won’t have to worry about meeting compliance requirements or ensuring the safety of your drivers and other drivers on the road. It's also a good idea to invest in a DOT drug testing program ahead of potential oral fluid drug test changes. The FMCSA hasn't officially announced anything, but it could soon be a comparable option to the current urine drug test requirement. What if one of your drivers tests positive for drugs or alcohol? Then they must be removed from safety-sensitive duties immediately. Failure to do so could endanger them, other motorists, and your business, leaving you with hefty fines to pay. It’s not worth the risk. #5. Allowing a driver with more than one CDL to drive a CMV This may not seem like a big deal, but it is in the eyes of the FMCSA. In September, a motor carrier based in North Carolina was fined $4,300 for committing this violation. Although the state responsible for issuing a driver’s CDL is supposed to perform a check of the Commercial Driver’s License Information System (CDLIS) before issuing the new license to ensure that they don’t hold licenses elsewhere, compliance with this can vary from state to state, and the resulting reposts don’t always provide a crystal-clear look into a driver’s licensing history. Related Foley Article: Why You Should be Rechecking Drivers’ CDLIS Records To protect yourself, it’s best to perform pre-employment checks of the CDLIS yourself — and then regularly for all employees. Partnering with a DOT background check partner can help ensure that your drivers are compliant without adding yet another administrative duty to your long list of responsibilities. BONUS! #6. Keeping fraudulent DOT records Organized and up-to-date DOT recordkeeping is a must — and now with the shift to offsite audits, officers may expect companies like yours to have a digital recordkeeping system in place. No matter how much of a pinch you may find yourself in, if you’re contacted for an offsite audit and you’re nowhere near prepared to present your compliance files, do not try to make up for it by falsifying them. It WILL catch up with you! Instead, stay diligent when it comes to maintaining your driver qualification files and documenting all vehicle inspections and maintenance. If it all feels like too much — and trust us, we get it — consider partnering with a company like Foley that manages and updates many of your records for you to help you remain compliant. Partner with Foley to Avoid the Top FMCSA Audit Violations Keeping up with ever-changing FMCSA regulations and making sure your company is audit-ready can be tough on your own. The last thing you need is an audit that results in violations, which can negatively impact your CSA score, empty your wallet, and tarnish your hard-earned business reputation! The violations listed above are just some of the many offenses that motor carriers can be guilty of. But you don’t have to follow the same path, especially when you have Foley to back you up. Foley’s MVR Monitor, DOT drug and alcohol testing, and DOT background check programs all work together to help keep you compliant. We can also manage your driver qualification files to keep your DOT recordkeeping on track. You can find out how prepared your company is for a compliance review by taking our audit risk quiz! See how easy it can be to get out of your next audit violation-free. Fill out the form below or request a FREE Foley software demo today!

Foley can help you take care of annual FMCSA Clearinghouse queries, UCR filings, and MVR checks for your business. The end of 2024 is right around the corner. The holiday season is officially here, and so is the hustle and bustle that comes with it.

Time is running out to conduct your annual DOT vehicle inspections in 2024. Commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) and their components must be inspected every 12 months according to FMCSA regulations. Not only does this ensure your CMVs are safe to drive, but it also helps improve your chances of passing a DOT roadside inspection.

What is a DOT physical? What will make drivers fail a DOT physical? Get the answers to popular DOT physical questions like these. If you want to drive large commercial vehicles for a living you’ll need a CDL (commercial driver’s license) and a valid DOT medical card. This card can only be obtained once you have successfully passed a DOT physical, which you’ll need to have again every 1-2 years for the duration of your career. Finally, A Better Way to Manage DOT Physicals While the process of getting your DOT physical and medical card is straightforward, many people feel confused about the requirements they have to meet to pass. Below, we’ll talk you through each aspect of the physical, what standards you need to meet to pass, and links to further resources where you can find out more about the requirements for each element of the DOT medical exam. What is a DOT physical? The DOT (Department of Transportation) physical is a medical examination you must undergo before being permitted to drive commercial vehicles for a living. This physical ensures you are fit enough to meet the demands of your job and can operate large vehicles or vehicles with passengers without putting yourself or anyone else at risk. Do I need a DOT physical? You are required to have a DOT physical exam if: You transport hazardous materials You operate a vehicle that carries more than 15 people You are paid to operate a vehicle that carries more than 8 people You operate a vehicle with a gross combined weight of more than 10,000lbs What does the physical exam consist of? The DOT exam will include the following: Physical examination - The doctor will check your eyes, ears, mouth, throat, heart, lungs, abdomen, spine, extremities, and neurological system for signs of any potential problems, impairments, or injuries. Vision test - While you don't need perfect 20/20 vision to pass a DOT physical, you will need to have a minimum 20/40 visual acuity in both of your eyes, even with contact lenses or glasses. You will also need a minimum peripheral vision of 70" in both of your eyes. Hearing test - You must be able to hear a "forced whisper" from five feet away, with or without hearing aids. Blood pressure check - Many people wonder, "Can you pass a DOT physical with high blood pressure?" The answer is yes, but only if it is below a certain limit. You can find out the current limitations in this Foley blog article. Urine test - While many assume the urine test in a DOT physical is a drug test, it doesn't check for drug use. The DOT physical urine test is simply to look for underlying conditions, such as diabetes. Sleep apnea test - If you report having symptoms such as drowsiness during the day, headaches in the morning, gasping while sleeping, or heavy snoring, you may need to undergo a sleep apnea test. As well as a range of other health indicators that can indicate that there is a problem that may put you at risk while operating a commercial vehicle. How do I prepare for a DOT physical? If you’re fit and in good health, there’s very little you need to do to prepare. The DOT exam is simply a check-up by a doctor to ensure you are fit enough to operate such a large vehicle. If you’re overweight, are recovering from a bigger health issue, or are having a serious health issue managed by a doctor, you may want to make additional preparations. Whether or not you need to make any changes before your CDL DOT physical or bring anything with you will depend on your circumstances and current level of health. If you are currently managing any health issues, make sure your prescriptions and medications are up to date, you’ve recently had a vision test and have the right corrective eyewear, and the same for your hearing if you suffer from hearing loss. It’s good practice for anyone getting ready for their DOT physical to cut back on processed foods, alcohol, and smoking to ensure they’re in good health at the time of their physical.NEW CSA Score Webinar - Reserve Your Spot Now! What do I need to bring? You need to bring: Your medical records, if your exam is being carried out by a new doctor Medical records from any specialists you see, such as a sleep apnea specialist Your most recent laboratory reports if you have diabetes or a similar condition Your glasses, contact lenses, or hearing aids if you require them to drive A list of any prescription medication you take, including what dose you take and when You may also want to bring the DOT physical medical examination report form with you so you can fill it out ahead of time at home. You can find that form here and in the forms section at the end of this article. What are the DOT physical requirements? Vision Requirements To pass the vision test, you need to have 20/40 vision in each eye either with or without glasses, a field of vision of 70 degrees or more in each eye, and be able to differentiate between red, green, and amber. If you do not meet these standards but meet all other standards of the DOT Physical, you may be able to apply for an exemption. To find out more about the DOT physical eye exam, see our guide here. Hearing Requirements To pass your hearing test, you must be able to hear a harsh whisper in your best ear, at no less than 5 feet, with or without a hearing aid. If you fail this basic hearing test, you’ll be referred for an audiometry test which will further determine if you are safe to drive. In most cases, you’ll be able to get a hearing correction device and then pass your DOT physical. If you need a hearing aid, you must wear it at all times while driving. You’ll only fail the hearing test if you are completely deaf and cannot pass the whisper test even with hearing aids. Blood Pressure Requirements High blood pressure is an extremely common health problem, and the DOT medical exam uses it as a key health indicator. If your blood pressure is 140/90 or below, you’ll pass the DOT physical blood pressure requirements with flying colors. Between 140/90 and 179/109, you may need to have a medical exam more frequently or be given a temporary medical card and be asked to reduce your blood pressure within a 3-month period. For more information, see our dedicated guide here. What medical conditions can impact your ability to pass a DOT physical? There are a handful of health issues that are DOT physical disqualifying conditions, meaning that if they are out of control or too severe for you to operate a large commercial vehicle safely, you will not be able to pass the DOT physical. These conditions are: Diabetes Hernias High BMI (Obesity) Sleep Apnea Find out more about how to pass the DOT physical with a medical condition here, or click the links above to learn more about the individual conditions and their physical requirements. What do they do in a DOT physical? Your medical examiner will first talk through your medical history with you and any ongoing treatment you have. They’ll then take your height and weight, so they can calculate your BMI, and check your blood pressure, vision, and hearing. They’ll do a general assessment of your physical health, look at your skin, check your reflexes, and examine you for hernias. You’ll also submit a urine sample that will be analyzed to calculate your blood sugar levels and a few other health markers. In most cases, the DOT exam will end there and you’ll get your medical certificate. However, if your medical examiner found something they believe warrants further testing, or if the requirements of the physical demand it, you may be referred on for another test before you can get your certificate. How much does a DOT physical cost? The DOT physical price varies depending on where you get it, and if you are fronting the cost, or if the company you work for will cover part or all of the cost. Generally, the physical costs $85 – $150. Related: Can I Get a DOT Physical in Any State? Can I get a free DOT physical? Many companies pay for their drivers’ DOT physicals, so if you’re about to move to a new company, ask them if they will cover the costs of your medical exam. Related: Can Chiropractors and Other Doctors do DOT Physicals? Do DOT physicals include a drug test? The DOT physical does not specifically test for drugs. The urine sample you give as a part of your DOT physical checks your blood sugar levels. Some employers will require you to submit a urine sample for a DOT drug test, but the DOT physical itself will not look for legal or illegal substances. For more information on how your drug and medication use will affect your ability to pass the DOT physical, click here. What will make you fail a DOT physical? If you have extremely high blood pressure, high blood sugar, an untreated hernia, or uncorrected vision or hearing, you may fail the DOT physical. What happens if you fail the DOT physical? Failing your medical exam is never good news, but it’s also rarely the end of your driving career. In most cases, failing your physical simply means you need to make some lifestyle changes and improve your health so you can safely get back on the open road. Remember that the DOT physical isn’t trying to catch you out – it looks at your overall well-being and considers if you may have a major health episode in the near future that would jeopardize the safety of yourself and others. If you fail a DOT physical, work with your doctor to get your health back on track so you can get back on the road. For more information on what happens if you fail a DOT Physical, click here. Where can I find the DOT physical forms? You need to fill out a medical examination report before or when you start your physical. Many people find that having time to think through their answers makes the process of getting their DOT medical exam less stressful, so you can find the form and fill it out ahead of time here. You can also find an example of the medical examiner’s handbook here. Generally, the DOT physical is straightforward and nothing to worry about. The medical examiner merely needs to ensure you are fit and healthy enough to operate a large commercial vehicle. We have plenty of information for each medical condition and how they affect your ability to pass the DOT physical, so if you have any concerns, make sure you read those guides to put your mind at ease. Where can I get a DOT physical? Locating a certified medical examiner is easy with Foley's Collection Site Locator. Simply enter your zip code and click the "DOT Physical" button to solve the DOT physical near me search. Links to Related Articles in the DOT Physical Series Do you still have questions about DOT physicals? Check out these Foley blog articles addressing specific components of the DOT physical exam: DOT Physicals: Can Chiropractors and Other Doctors do DOT Physicals? DOT Physicals: Vision Requirements for the Eye Exam DOT Physicals: Can You Pass with a High BMI or While Overweight? DOT Physicals: Can I Get a DOT Physical in Any State? DOT Physicals: Can You Pass with a Hernia? DOT Physicals: Will I Pass with Diabetes? DOT Physical Blood Pressure: Requirements & Tips for Passing DOT Physicals: Can I Pass With Sleep Apnea? DOT Physicals: What if I have a Medical Condition? DOT Physicals: Do They Include a Drug Test? How to Prepare for Your DOT Physical DOT Physicals: What Happens When You Fail? Fail a DOT Physical? You Have a Right to a Second Opinion DOT Physicals: Understanding Medical Variances

Does your business require a UCR registration? Keep reading to learn what you need to know about the 2025 UCR filing. If you’re a motor carrier and you don’t currently have a Unified Carrier Registration (UCR), it’s important to get one right away. Unregistered motor carriers who cross state lines without one could be fined and have their trucks pulled off the road — meaning resources, time, and money can all be wasted. But what if you’re not sure your business is subject to UCR requirements? Now that the UCR filing period is officially open, the compliance specialists at Foley are ready to answer all your UCR-related questions. In this article, we’ll cover … What a UCR registration is When the 2025 UCR is due When UCR enforcement begins Who needs UCR registration How much a UCR registration costs The consequences of not completing your UCR filing If you can file multiple UCRs at once Who can help you with UCR filing What is a UCR registration? UCR stands for Unified Carrier Registration. It is a federally mandated system for registering operators of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in North America. Whether you operate CMVs in two states or twenty, you are required to complete your UCR filing every year, as long as you meet the requirements detailed below. When is this year’s UCR due? This annual UCR filing must be renewed by December 31st each year. Registration for the upcoming year began on October 1st, giving motor carriers over two months to file before the end of the year. When does UCR enforcement begin? According to UCR Board policy, enforcement for the 2025 registration year is recommended to begin on January 1st, 2025. But this doesn’t mean you should wait until the last minute. The sooner you file, the more prepared you’ll be for a successful, compliant year. Foley can take care of your UCR filing for you, so there’s no reason to put it off any longer! Who needs a UCR registration? Any motor carrier who drives a commercial vehicle carrying cargo over state or international lines must file an annual UCR. Individuals and companies who arrange the shipment of goods, such as brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies are also subject to the UCR fee. Specifically, any business that operates CMVs meeting the following thresholds is required to file: Has a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of over 10,000 pounds, or Carries placarded amounts of hazardous materials, or Transports more than 10 passengers (including driver) Still not sure if you need a UCR? The Unified Carrier Registration has a convenient questionnaire to help you determine if you must file. How much do UCRs cost? For motor carriers, the cost of the UCR filing fee is dependent on the total number of vehicles in a fleet. Brokers and leasing companies pay the lowest fee to register. You can see how fees are distributed based on this information in the chart on the bottom of this page. What happens if I don’t file my UCR registration? If you don’t pay for the UCR, and you are caught driving over state lines, enforcement officials could detain your vehicles. Plus, you could be required to pay additional fines and penalties. Depending on which state you’re from, the fine could be anywhere from $100 to $5000 for first-time offenders. What if my state doesn’t participate? Do I need a UCR registration in Florida? Do I need a UCR registration in Maryland? Do I need a UCR registration in Arizona? Currently, 41 states in the U.S. are participating in the UCR program. The following states are not participating: Arizona Florida Hawaii Maryland Nevada New Jersey Oregon Vermont Wyoming District of Columbia If the state in which your business is located doesn’t participate in the UCR program, that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. UCR enforcement starts January 1st. Have you filed your UCR yet? Any motor carrier who travels over state lines is required to purchase a UCR. If your business is in a state that doesn’t participate, you are required to purchase a UCR filing in the nearest participating state. Can I purchase multiple UCRs at once? Because the UCR system is based on a motor carrier’s unique DOT number, each business needs to file its UCR registration individually. If your business did not file a UCR for 2024 and it was in operation at any time during the year, however, you can file both your 2024 and 2025 UCR registrations at once to avoid additional fines and the risk of being put out of service. Trust Your DOT Compliance & UCR Registration Partner Now that you have the answers to the most common UCR questions, you should be able to determine if you need to file a UCR. We know you already have a lot on your plate with other annual DOT compliance matters. Foley can make the UCR filing process simple. Call us at (860) 530-6310 or click here to file your 2025 UCR registration with Foley now!

There's still time to finish your holiday shopping (and run your annual FMCSA Clearinghouse queries). If you have a trucker in your life, you’re probably wondering what to get them for the holidays. Here are 20 gifts for truck drivers that they’ll actually use and enjoy.

Driver qualification files stump many safety and compliance managers, which lead to DOT violations and hefty fines. But these consequences can be avoided. As a company regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), you must maintain specific files on all your drivers — federal law requires it. Still, many companies continue to rack up violations and hefty fines because their driver qualification files aren’t complete or up-to-date. In fact, many violations result because companies don’t maintain fully compliant driver files — whether due to oversight, clerical error, because their drivers withhold information, or simply because they aren’t up to speed on the many Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules and regulations. No matter if you’re operating a fleet or running as an owner-operator, compliance is your priority No. 1, and maintaining complete driver files is a crucial element to this. Below are the most significant (and common) driver file infractions that you always want to avoid. The Top 5 Driver Qualification File Violations #1: Driving a Commercial Motor Vehicle while Disqualified It should go without saying that drivers should not get behind the wheel — ever — if they are disqualified from doing so due to various convictions. Yet this remains a top driver file violation. This is because a motor carrier is held liable whether or not a driver notifies them of a conviction or violation (even though, per law, drivers are required to tell their employers about revocations, suspensions, or withdrawals immediately upon receiving notice). Per federal regulation, you are on the hook either way: “So long as a motor carrier knows, or should have known, about a driver’s conviction for a disqualifying offense, it is prohibited from using the driver during the disqualification period.” Drivers are considered disqualified if their offense was committed during on-duty time and they were employed by a motor carrier engaged in commercial interstate, intrastate, or foreign commerce. Offenses that automatically disqualify drivers from driving vary in duration and are also based on their number of previous offenses. Some examples include: Driving a CMV with an alcohol concentration of .04 percent or more. Driving a CMV under the influence of a Schedule I-identified controlled substance, amphetamine, or other narcotic drug. Refusing to undergo alcohol testing as required by state or jurisdictional law. Leaving the scene of an accident while operating a CMV. For all of the above: Drivers are disqualified for at least 1 year for the first offense; and at least 3 years for subsequent offenses. Additional reasons for disqualification: Texting while driving a CMV. Using a hand-held device while driving a CMV. For both of the above: Drivers are disqualified for 60 days if they have two violations within a 3-year period; or for 120 days if they have three or more violations in a 3-year period. #2: Using a Physically Unqualified Driver All DOT-regulated drivers operating a vehicle weighing at least 10,001 pounds must meet the requirements to receive a medical card. This means they must have a DOT physical exam once every two years. These are conducted by certified medical examiners who perform general physical exams — looking at a driver’s eyes, heart, lungs, abdomen, and spine, for example — while also assessing their medical history and prescribed medications. Drivers deemed medically fit for duty are then issued a DOT medical card that is valid for two years. However, some medical conditions may disqualify drivers from operating a CMV, or may require more frequent monitoring/exams (which examiners will specify). #3: Not Keeping Inquiries into Driving Records in a Driver Qualification File Upon employing a driver, all motor carriers must investigate, document, and retain that driver's employment safety performance history for the previous three years. This involves contacting previous employers, and the history must include, at minimum: Any accident and accident details (where possible). Any alcohol or controlled substance prohibition violations. General driver identification and employment verification information. Companies must also run Motor Vehicle Reports (MVRs) in all states where drivers have held CDLs or permits for the previous three years. From then on, carriers must continue to obtain updated MVRs annually and closely review them to determine that drivers have had no disqualifying offenses. All of these inquiries into a driver’s safety performance history must be closely documented and retained for the length of employment and for three years thereafter. Critically, they must be kept in a secure — that is, under a lock and key — location. #4: Failing to Maintain a Driver File on Each Driver This is a basic notion. All companies must compile, maintain, and update a Driver Qualification File (DQF) for every driver. These must contain: Driver’s application for employment. Inquiries to previous employers for safety performance history. Inquiries to state agencies for a driver’s MVR and carrier’s annual review of record. Annual driver’s certification of violations. Driver’s road test certificate or equivalent. Medical examiner’s certificate. Inquiry about drug and alcohol tests. #5: Not Keeping a Medical Certificate in a Driver File As noted above, drivers must pass medical exams and be issued medical examiner’s certificates before they can legally operate a CMV. These must be kept in their driver file and updated every time they are issued new or modified certificates. The Ongoing Benefits of Digital DOT Driver Files Violations can be costly, and they can also impact your company’s Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) scores. The best way to ensure safety and compliance is to keep tabs on your driver files (and your drivers). Switching to a digital solution can make this much easier. With Dash, the Foley platform, you can convert all your files to digital (if you haven’t already), and then help manage upcoming deadlines such as CDL and medical card expiration dates. All your files are then kept in a secure, easy-to-access location on any mobile device. Don’t get caught off guard during annual reviews or when DOT auditors come calling. Stay compliant by contacting Foley today!

The FMCSA hours of service (HOS) regulations are a complex set of rules to ensure drivers of large vehicles aren't too tired or overworked to drive safely.

Every 12 months, employers must obtain an updated Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) for each CDL driver to ensure they are qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle. This MVR check will show a record of all moving violations, accidents, and license suspensions and revocations. During this process, you must consider the following: Did the driver violate any hazardous materials regulations? Did the driver violate any motor vehicle laws that show a general disregard for public safety? This may include drug and alcohol violations, speeding, or reckless driving. This annual MVR must be placed in the driver qualification file along with a note showing the name of the person who performed the annual review and the date the review occurred. Reminder: Annual List of Driving Violations Eliminated by FMCSA According to an FMCSA final ruling passed on May 9, 2022, CDL drivers are no longer required to submit an annual list of moving violations to their employer. Employers are still required to retain the Record of Violations documents collected before May 9, 2022, and keep them for three years from the original document date, unless otherwise clarified by FMCSA. Automatically Comply with Annual Motor Vehicle Record Checks with MVR Monitoring Not only does an MVR monitoring program help you track your drivers' habits behind the wheel by alerting you to new violations and accidents, but it also fulfills your annual MVR check requirement. Don't worry about what your drivers are doing behind the wheel, or missing your annual motor vehicle record check deadline! Click here to schedule a call with our DOT compliance specialists or fill out the form below to see how MVR monitoring can make your job easier.

Filing a DOT number application gets you on track toward meeting DOT recordkeeping requirements. At first glance, understanding and dealing with DOT regulations and DOT recordkeeping requirements seems complicated.

If you've never filed a Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) for your business, it’s important for you to file right away. Unregistered motor carriers who cross state lines without a UCR could be fined and have their trucks pulled off the road. But who needs a UCR filing? And what if you live in a state that doesn’t participate? Keep reading to find out what you need to know to be compliant. What is a UCR registration? UCR stands for Unified Carrier Registration. It is a federally mandated system for registering operators of commercial vehicles who are involved in interstate and international travel. This annual UCR filing must be renewed by December 31 each year. Registration for the upcoming year begins on October 1. Who needs a UCR filing? Any motor carrier who drives a commercial vehicle carrying cargo over state or international lines needs to file a UCR. Individuals and companies who make arrangements for the shipment of goods, such as brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies are also subject to the UCR fee. For motor carriers, the cost of the UCR filing fee is dependent on the total number of vehicles in a fleet. Brokers and leasing companies are required to pay the lowest fee to register. What happens if you don’t get a UCR registration? If you don’t pay for the UCR, and you or your drivers are caught driving over state lines, enforcement officials could detain your vehicles. Plus, you could be required to pay additional fines and penalties. Depending on which state you’re from, the fine could be anywhere from $100 to $5000 for first-time offenders. What if my state doesn’t participate in UCR registration? Currently, 41 states in the US are participating in the UCR program. The following states are not participating: Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia. If your state of residence doesn’t participate in the UCR program, that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. Any motor carrier who travels over state lines is required to purchase a UCR registration. If you live in a state that doesn’t participate, you are required to purchase a UCR filing in the nearest participating state. File Your 2025 UCR Registration with Foley Now Need to file a UCR? Foley can help make the process simple. Click here or call 860-530-6310 and we’ll take care of the registration process for you before UCR enforcement starts in 2025!

What does a positive drug test mean for you and your employee? Things can get complicated if a non-negative drug test result comes from any of your employees – especially for companies regulated by the Department of Transportation (DOT). The DOT has strict regulations regarding the steps you need to take after this occurs. If the positive result comes from a pre-employment drug test, you cannot allow the employee to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) for your company. You must have a negative drug test result in the driver qualification file for every employee in order to operate compliantly and meet DOT recordkeeping requirements. So, what does a positive drug test mean and what happens next? Let’s go over a few scenarios that may apply to your employee’s specific situation, such as... They say the result is a false positive They admit to using drugs They refuse to take a drug test They take prescription medication and are afraid to take a test They need to go through the return-to-duty process What if I received a positive drug test result, but the employee says it’s a mistake? This is a common claim that employers encounter after receiving a non-negative drug test result, which is why it’s important to understand the measures the DOT has in place to address this argument: After a drug test is taken, the urine sample is split into two separate vials – vials A and B – which are shipped to a laboratory. The laboratory tests vial A. If drugs are detected, the specimen goes under further testing to confirm the presence of drug metabolites and is eventually reported to a DOT Medical Review Office (MRO) as positive for at least one controlled substance. Once the MRO receives a positive laboratory result, a “medical review” takes place. This review consists of the following steps: 1. A DOT-qualified physician – the Medical Review Officer – attempts to contact the employee in order to conduct an interview. 2. During the interview, the MRO will determine if there is a valid medical explanation as to why the specimen may have tested positive (such as prescribed medications). 3. If the MRO determines there is no medical explanation, they will offer the employee the option to have Vial B tested (as described above) in order to verify there were no errors made. After the medical review process is complete, the result is reported to the employer as a verified positive. If the MRO is unable to reach the employee to conduct the interview after a minimum of three contact attempts have been made, the result will report to the employer as a “non-contact positive.” What happens if the employee agrees to split-specimen testing? The employee must make the split-specimen test request to the MRO within 72 hours. At that time, vial B will be shipped to a laboratory for testing. This cannot be the same laboratory used to analyze the first sample. What if my FMCSA-regulated driver admitted to me that they use drugs? This is what’s known as “Actual Knowledge,” and it has the same consequences as a positive result. If you are regulated by a DOT agency other than the FMCSA, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), or Maritime Administration (MARAD), please call Foley at 800-253-5506 for assistance. One of my employees refused to take a required drug test. Now what? This is known as “Refusal to Submit.” It involves the same consequences as a positive result. What if I have an employee who is on prescribed medication and doesn’t want to test for fear of the result being positive? This is another common scenario, but thanks to the medical review process, it shouldn’t be a concern. If during the MRO interview the employee states that they are taking prescribed medication, they will be given the opportunity to provide proof of the prescription to the MRO. Once a valid prescription is received, and it is determined that the employee is using the medication as prescribed, the result will be reported as a verified negative to the employer. An employee who has been prescribed medication may be required to obtain a note from their physician that the medication will not affect their ability to perform safety-sensitive functions. What if I have an employee that needs to go through the DOT return-to-duty process? As you might expect, if an employee does test positive, the process they must complete prior to resuming safety-sensitive functions is not usually a quick one. This process consists of the following steps: An initial Evaluation with a DOT-qualified Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) – This face-to-face interview will determine the course of action the employee must take. Education/Treatment – The employee must comply with the SAP’s recommendations. This could be anything from attending several group meetings to in-house rehabilitation. Follow-Up Evaluation – This must take place with the same SAP who conducted the initial evaluation and will determine whether the employee has satisfied the recommendations. DOT Return-to-Duty Drug Test – When this test comes back negative, the individual may resume safety-sensitive functions. It must be completed under direct observation, meaning a person of the same sex must accompany him or her during the collection process. DOT Follow-Up Testing – The SAP will provide the employer with a schedule of follow-up tests, in which a minimum of six unannounced tests conducted under direct observation are to be scheduled over at least a 12-month period. This process may continue for up to five years. A non-negative drug test result can be a stressful experience for both the employee and you, the employer. Following these steps will ensure you meet DOT regulations while keeping the safety of your company at the top of your list of priorities. Trust Foley for DOT Drug Testing Done Right If you need additional support throughout the drug testing process, turn to a trusted third-party administrator (TPA) like Foley for a DOT-compliant drug and alcohol testing program. We’ll take care of pre-employment, random, post-accident, return-to-duty, and reasonable suspicion drug tests. Foley also manages all the DOT recordkeeping requirements that go along with these tests. Our nationwide network of collection sites makes it easy for your drivers to find a convenient location along their routes. Ready to make drug testing drivers easier for yourself? Get a FREE demo of Foley’s drug and alcohol testing software today by filling out the form below.

Heavy snowfall and UCR enforcement are on their way in 2025. Are you prepared? It’s (almost) the most wonderful time of the year! In many areas across the US, temperatures are dropping, and snow is starting to fall. Do you know the ice and snow removal laws for your state?

A new regulation in the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is now in effect, revoking driving privileges from some commercial drivers. Starting today, November 18, 2024, drivers listed as "prohibited" in the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse due to reported violations will face a denial or revocation of their commercial driver’s license (CDL) or commercial learner’s permit (CLP).

The annual FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse deadline is closing in, with annual queries for all DOT-regulated drivers due by the end of 2024. If you haven’t yet run a query on each CDL driver you employ (including yourself if you’re an owner-operator), you must do so within a 12-month rolling period of their initial query. Failure to run these annual queries could lead to fines of up to $5,833 per driver. The latest FMCSA Clearinghouse data suggests that there are still many employers and drivers who haven’t yet registered for the Clearinghouse, which could create a demand similar to the one we saw earlier this year when the system became overwhelmed by the large volume of traffic trying to register and login to the site. If this occurs in the weeks leading up to the deadline, as projected, it could make it difficult for employers to meet their requirements before the deadline. Our suggestion? Take care of this annual FMCSA requirement before the holidays and last-minute annual compliance demands pile up. About the Annual Clearinghouse Query For the annual query requirement, you have the option of running either a full or a limited query, but if a limited query shows that there is information on a driver’s record, you will be required to run a full query within 24 hours. Failure to do so will result in the driver being pulled from safety-sensitive functions until you’re able to run the full query. Required First Steps in the FMCSA Clearinghouse #1: Employer Registration Before you’re able to run an annual DOT Clearinghouse query on your drivers, you must set up an account first. Without an account, you can’t run queries on your drivers — you also can’t report DOT drug and alcohol violations when they occur. #2: Driver Registration Not only does having a Clearinghouse account enable drivers to check their accounts for inaccuracies, but it also enables them to give consent before an employer runs a full query of their Clearinghouse record. Because a full query shows all of the details of a driver’s record, the driver is required to give consent within the Clearinghouse before a full query is run. Because an employer only has 24 hours from the time a limited query shows a “hit” on a driver’s record, until the time they run a full query, drivers must have their account set up in advance. #3: Limited Consent Form Although consent for full queries must be obtained each time an employer runs a full query in the Clearinghouse, a blanket consent form is all that is needed for limited queries. Employers should provide all CDL drivers with a limited consent form which gives them permission to run an unlimited number of limited queries for the duration of their employment. Employers must keep a signed consent form on file for each driver they employ. #4: DOT Recordkeeping System Employers must have signed consent forms on file for each driver, as well as a record of all queries that they’ve run throughout each driver’s employment. These records will be critical during an audit and should be stored digitally to both accommodate remote workers and ensure you’re ready for an offsite audit. Fulfill Your Annual FMCSA Clearinghouse Query Requirement Now Because of the steps required in fulfilling the annual query process, it’s important that employers take care of it as soon as possible. If you have questions or need help navigating the process, Foley can help. To learn more about our comprehensive FMCSA Clearinghouse management program, please click here.

The UCR fee increase follows a two-year streak of fee reductions for those subject to the federal filing requirements. Federal regulators have approved a 25 percent hike in fees charged to motor carriers, brokers, and leasing companies under the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) Plan for the 2025 registration year.

You must file your MCS-150 update on a regular basis to maintain your FMCSA compliance. There are a variety of reasons why motor carriers are required to update their MCS-150 filing. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about the update, why it’s important, and how to get it done fast. What is MCS-150? The MCS-150, or Motor Carrier Identification Report, is a form filed to obtain and update your USDOT number. Through this form, you provide specific information about your business to the FMCSA, including whether you’re designated as a passenger vehicle or hazardous materials carrier, your mileage, and the number of vehicles in your fleet. This allows the FMCSA to verify that the information associated with your DOT number is correct. Any motor carrier with a DOT Number is required to file a biennial MCS-150 update. You should also file an update any time something about your business changes, for instance, if you have a new company name or add trucks to your fleet. File Your MCS-150 Update Now Why it’s Important to Provide Accurate Information on Your MCS-150 The FMCSA uses the information you file in the report to calculate safety scores according to its safety measurement system, Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA). The data you provide is used to analyze your safety performance within CSA’s Behavior Analysis & Safety Improvement Categories, otherwise known as the BASICS. Inaccurate data can negatively impact your safety performance scores. What Happens if You Don’t Update Your MCS-150? The FMCSA takes this update seriously. Failure to file the update by the deadline could result in a deactivation of your DOT number, along with fines of up to $1,000 a day. You’ll need to know your DOT number when determining when your update is due, as it is based on the last two digits of your DOT number: The second to last number in your DOT Number determines what year your biennial update needs to be filed. If it’s odd, you’re required to file your MCS-150 in every odd-numbered calendar year. If it’s even, then you file in even-numbered calendar years. For example: If your DOT Number is 5555515, you’re required to file in odd numbered years. If your DOT Number is 5555525, you’re required to file in even numbered years. The last number in your DOT number determines what month your biennial update needs to be filed. If your DOT number ends with the number one, you need to file in January. If your DOT number ends with the number two, you need to file in February, and so on. Updates are due no later than the last day of the month in which it’s due. How Do I Update My Biennial MCS-150? If your biennial update is due, or you’ve made any changes to your business since your last filing, you must file your MCS-150 renewal. At Foley, we make the process simple by filing all the paperwork for you. Click here to file your update quickly and accurately today.

If we've said it once, we've said it a thousand times: DOT driver qualification files can be difficult to create and maintain, especially as your business and driver count grows. It’s a process that many companies struggle to execute, according to FMCSA regulations. From using a physically unqualified driver to not keeping inquiries into a driver’s employment record in the DOT driver qualification file, several small mistakes often lead to big fines for companies with DOT-regulated drivers. Here are a few of the most common driver qualification file mistakes and the steps you can take to avoid them. #1. Using an Unqualified/Physically Unqualified Driver The DOT has certain requirements for commercial vehicle drivers that employers must consider before putting them behind the wheel. These requirements include being at least 21 years old, able to speak and write English, and having the training needed to operate a commercial motor vehicle safely. Drivers must also be in good medical health, as determined by a DOT medical examiner during a DOT physical exam. ✅ How to avoid this violation: Not only is the DOT job application a required part of each driver qualification file, but it will answer all the questions above. During the pre-hire process and then on an ongoing basis throughout each driver’s employment, you should also have an updated copy of their DOT medical card. In addition to having this in their possession while on the road, you should have a copy on record in their DOT driver file. Download Your FREE Guide on Driver File Creation Today #2: Not Keeping Inquiries into a Driver’s Employment Record in the Driver Qualification File This is a common violation — accounting for 6,896 DOT violations in 2024. Before a driver is permitted to drive for a new company, the employer must contact the driver's prior employers regarding violations other than those found in the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, and keep records of either their attempts to make contact or the information found through this process. All of this information must be securely stored in the driver file as part of their Safety Performance History. ✅ How to avoid this violation: All of the information you’ll need to complete this investigation will be found on the driver’s DOT application, so make sure you’re having every prospective driver complete one before you begin onboarding. Once you’ve made the phone calls and collected the necessary information, make sure these employer inquiries are kept in the DOT driver file. Because of the sensitive nature of the information, it must be kept in a file that is accessible by only those who are involved in the hiring process. #3: Not Having a Current DOT Medical Card in the Driver Qualification File As we mentioned earlier, you must check each driver’s DOT medical card during the pre-hire process. But once that’s done, it’s also important that you make a copy of this document and keep it in their DOT driver file, too. This document must then be updated each time the driver’s medical card is renewed. ✅ How to avoid this violation: Having a system to track medical card expiration dates will ensure that you know when your drivers are due for their DOT physicals so that you can get a copy of the updated certificate as soon as it’s available. Any driver who doesn’t have a current medical card should not drive or perform safety-sensitive duties until it has been updated. #4: Failing to Maintain a Driver Qualification File for Each Driver If you hire and manage drivers, then you are responsible for creating and maintaining driver files for each of them — even if they don’t require a CDL. The FMCSA requires any driver who operates a CMV with a gross vehicle weight of 10,001 pounds or more to have a driver qualification file maintained throughout their employment. ✅ How to avoid this violation: Most of the information you need to create a DOT driver qualification file is collected through the pre-hire process — it’s simply a matter of organizing the files where they can be easily accessed and maintained throughout the driver’s employment. Tracking expiration dates is key, as CDLs, medical cards, and motor vehicle reports will need to be updated periodically. For many employers who currently keep updated DOT driver files, the issue isn’t creating them — it’s keeping them updated on an ongoing basis. From monitoring DOT medical card expiration dates to running and filing away each driver’s annual motor vehicle report, there are a variety of dates that must be tracked during each driver’s employment to stay compliant. Protect Your Business- Download Your FREE Driver File Maintenance Guide Today! Stay Violation-Free with DOT Driver Qualification File Software At Foley, our driver file program manages all of these expiration dates for you and sends alerts when specific driver records need to be updated through our exclusive Dash Platform. All driver files are filed securely in a digital format, and they are available to view or download whenever you need them. To learn more about our DOT driver file creation and management program, click here or give us a call at (860) 815-0764.

Following DOT hours of service regulations can be the difference between passing and failing a compliance audit. The FMCSA’s hours of service regulations are a complex set of rules that help ensure drivers of large property-carrying vehicles are not too tired or overworked to drive safely. DOT-regulated businesses that operate primarily in a local area are allowed to use what was once known as the 100-air-mile rule, but it is now the 150-air-mile radius exemption.

The holiday season is getting closer and so are annual compliance deadlines (like FMCSA Clearinghouse queries). We can’t believe it’s already November! Here’s what you need to know for this month.

We get many questions regarding background check lookback periods, and like so many other things in life, the answer is, "It depends." It can depend on the type of background check you're ordering, the state you're operating in, as well as other stipulations, like those dictated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

Let Foley keep an eye on your driver’s potential drug and alcohol violations in the DOT Clearinghouse and their traffic violations with MVR monitoring. We all wait until the last minute for things, but your annual FMCSA Clearinghouse queries should not be one of them.

The economy continues to plague large companies and owner-operators. For the second year in a row, the economy tops the list of concerns for the transportation industry, according to the American Transportation Research Institute's (ATRI) 20th annual Top Industry Issues report. Released at the American Trucking Associations Management Conference and Exhibition in Nashville, the report highlights that rising operational costs, coupled with a persistent freight recession and stagnant rates, are major worries for motor carriers and drivers. Top Concerns for Truck Drivers & Motor Carriers The Ongoing Battle for More Truck Parking Moving up to the number one placement from number two in 2023, drivers continued to express concern over the lack of available truck parking this year. According to the American Trucking Associations, there are about 3.5 million truck drivers in the US and approximately 313,000 truck parking spaces nationally. In other words, for every 11 drivers, there is only one truck parking space. Adequate truck parking allows commercial drivers to safely and comfortably take their much-needed breaks and follow strict DOT hours-of-service rules. Thankfully, awareness of this ongoing industry issue has increased and led to developing programs to tackle it. Programs like Truck Parking Club allow drivers to find and instantly reserve truck parking spaces throughout the US. Rise in Insurance Costs & CSA Concerns for Carriers While the top three concerns of carriers in 2024 reflect the same issues cited in the 2023 ATRI report, two new subjects have climbed the list: insurance and CSA. The current commercial insurance market is a hard one with premiums climbing year-over-year. More carriers are taking proactive steps to find relief and relying on new technologies like MVR monitoring to prove to underwriters that they take their drivers' safety seriously. Although the increase in CSA concerns is new to this list, it's not surprising. Numerous brokers, load boards, and contractors (like Amazon Relay!) now check carriers' CSA scores to ensure their compliance and safety adhere to their standards. What to Take Away from the ATRI Report If you’re struggling to hire and keep drivers, one or more of the ATRI top ten driver issues may be to blame. Taking the time to review your safety and DOT compliance policies, parking arrangements, equipment, and compensation rates and make any necessary changes could convince your current employees to stay behind the wheel and entice new drivers to join your fleet. Employers can also update their driver application process to show new recruits they put drivers first from the very beginning of the professional relationship. Remember, what you do now to satisfy the needs of modern-day drivers will only strengthen your company’s reputation and employee retention rates for the long term.

When a driver fails a DOT drug test, they must complete the return to duty process before resuming their safety-sensitive duties. We’ve previously covered what to do when you’re faced with different situations involving a non-negative drug test result, but what happens when the employee who produced it is ready to go back to work? They must first complete what’s known as the return-to-duty and follow-up testing process. It’s important to note that any failed DOT drug tests, including refusals to test, that your CDL drivers produce will be added to their FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse record. They will remain on their record until the return-to-duty process has been completed and five years from the date the violation was committed has passed. A NEW regulation regarding the FMCSA Clearinghouse will go into effect next month, and over 235,000 CDL drivers will have to complete the return-to-duty process to avoid losing their commercial driving privileges. You can find out more by watching our on-demand webinar: Read on to make sure you’re prepared in the event any of your CDL drivers test positive for drugs or alcohol now or in the future, and get the solutions to these common concerns: What is the return to duty process? How many follow-up DOT drug tests need to be taken? Do follow-up tests replace random drug testing? What are the return to duty DOT recordkeeping requirements? How do I manage the return to duty process and recordkeeping? What is the Return to Duty process? The DOT requires the following specific steps to be taken after a CDL driver fails a drug or alcohol test: Removal from safety-sensitive functions (like driving) immediately: Even if they’re on the road in another state, the driver must be notified to stop driving as soon as it’s safe to do so. Initial evaluation with a DOT-qualified Substance Abuse Professional (SAP): During this face-to-face interview, the SAP will evaluate the employee to understand their situation and usage history. This evaluation allows the SAP to determine what type of activities or treatment the employee must undergo. Education and treatment program: The SAP will prescribe a treatment program for the employee based on their initial interview. Follow-up evaluation with the SAP: After the employee has completed the SAP’s treatment program, another evaluation must take place with the same SAP. At that time, they will determine whether the employee may take a return to duty test and resume safety-sensitive functions. Follow-up test schedule: The SAP will provide the Designated Employer Representative (DER) with a schedule of follow-up tests. Return to duty drug test: Once the SAP confirms that the employee has successfully completed all requirements, they will recommend to the DER that the employee may take an RTD test. The collection of the specimen must be directly observed by an individual of the same sex during the entire process to ensure the integrity of the test. FMCSA Clearinghouse reporting: Employers must report negative return-to-duty test results to the FMCSA Clearinghouse by the close of the third business day following the date on which the results were received. Returning to duty: Once a negative DOT drug test result is received, the employee may resume their safety-sensitive functions, such as driving. A little more detail on the follow-up tests: once your driver is ready to get behind the wheel once again, their interaction with their designated SAP isn’t over. They must continue with the follow-up testing schedule that’s been assigned to them. Here are the answers to some common questions on follow-up testing. How many follow-up DOT drug tests need to be taken? The DOT requires the SAP to schedule a minimum of six tests over a 12-month period, but the process may include more tests and continue for up to five years. Like the return to duty test, each follow-up test must be taken under direct observation. Do follow-up tests replace random drug testing? No. Just like all other CDL drivers on your roster, the employee must be included in a regular random testing pool and complete any selections they may receive in addition to their scheduled follow-up tests. A random test cannot replace a follow-up and vice versa, since random drug tests are not taken under direct observation. Return to Duty DOT Recordkeeping Requirements In addition to complying with RTD regulations, you must also ensure you’re staying on track with any records associated with the return to duty process. You need to follow these recordkeeping requirements even if one employee needs to complete the RTD and follow-up process: Have a written DOT-compliant drug and alcohol testing program in place that includes RTD/follow-up testing procedures for the duration of time it was enforced, plus five years after it has been replaced or revised Keep the following records for five years: Positive alcohol test results indicating an alcohol concentration of 0.02 or greater Verified positive drug test results Refusals to take required alcohol and/or drug tests (including substituted or adulterated drug test results) SAP reports All follow-up tests and schedules for follow-up tests Remember, all DOT drug and alcohol testing records must be kept in a secure location with controlled access. Keep paper files locked in filing cabinets, and password-protect your electronic records. Ensure all records are legible and signatures can be authenticated in the event of an audit. Automating the Return to Duty DOT Recordkeeping Process Now that you know all the steps involved in completing and tracking the RTD process, you’re probably wondering how you’re going to do it on your own. The good news? You don’t have to. A third-party administrator (like Foley) can handle all aspects of your DOT drug and alcohol testing needs, including the RTD and follow-up testing components, as well as FMCSA Clearinghouse compliance. With our DOT Compliance Platform, Dash, you’ll be able to implement the RTD process for any employee, keep track of their progress, and automatically store all the documentation in their driver file. You won’t have to stress about scheduling the necessary tests or being prepared for a compliance review once it’s all said and done. If worrying less about DOT drug testing is on your compliance wish list, schedule a FREE software demo with Foley now by clicking here or filling out the form below. Your dedicated Foley account manager can help simplify your DOT compliance needs one return-to-duty test at a time.

CDL drivers may feel stressed about the DOT medical exam, but there are some simple ways to make sure they're ready for it. Even if you’ve been through a DOT physical a dozen times, or don’t have any immediate concerns, there’s something about this test and the career impact if you fail, that may cause you to feel nervous about going through it. And while we understand how stressful it can be, the number one piece of advice when getting ready for your exam is this: Try to relax. The physical effects of stress are real — and can impact the results of your DOT medical exam. If you already expect your blood pressure reading to be a bit higher, for example, you don’t need your nerves to push it even higher. If you feel anxious as your appointment gets closer, try some deep breathing exercises to calm your body. This can lower your heart rate in preparation for the exam. Knowing you’re prepared for your appointment will also help keep your nerves in check. Here are some things to keep in mind as you prepare for your DOT physical exam. Be Mindful of Your Blood Pressure Stay away from coffee, tobacco, and energy drinks as much as you can in the 24 hours leading up to your exam. These products can raise your blood pressure by as much as 20 points. If your blood pressure is already high, this may be enough to disqualify you from renewing your medical card. Related Foley Article: DOT Physical Blood Pressure: New Requirements & Tips for Passing Prepare to Discuss Your Health Openly Know your health history and be prepared to discuss recent diagnoses of conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, or sleep apnea. You’ll want to bring any information you have available from your prescribing physician — including current prescribed medications, regiments, and your CPAP machine. Related Foley Articles: DOT Physical: Diabetes Guidelines 2024 DOT Physicals: Can I Pass with Sleep Apnea? American Heart Month 2024: Get Your Drivers on Board Arrive to Your Appointment Well-Rested Get plenty of sleep the night before your DOT physical exam and give yourself plenty of time to get to your appointment. Rushing to gather paperwork at the last minute — or dealing with traffic delays — can increase your stress levels prior to your test. Remember Your Hearing & Vision Supports Wear or bring prescription glasses, contacts, or hearing aids if you’re required to wear them for driving. There will be a vision and hearing test that you’ll need to pass during the exam. Related Foley Articles: DOT Physicals: Vision Requirements for the Eye Exam in 2024 DOT Physicals: All About the Hearing Exam Hydrate, Hydrate & Hydrate Some More Drink plenty of water so that you can provide the required urine sample. This sample is not used for a dot drug test (hair or urine), but rather to check for the presence of sugars, protein, or blood — all of which can indicate certain health conditions. Know Your Rights Always remember you have the right to a second opinion if your DOT medical examiner won’t issue you a medical card. Keep in mind, however, that even though the FMCSA does allow second opinions, you can’t “shop around” until you find someone willing to pass you. This means that you must be clear with the new medical examiner that you are looking for a second opinion after being disqualified during your initial exam. Don’t Try to Cheat Your DOT Medical Exam No matter what myths you may have heard, like drinking an overabundance of water to lower the risk of detecting medical issues from your "clean" urine sample, there’s simply no way to fake passing a DOT physical. You must be 100% truthful in your answers to the health history report as well. As a professional driver, you must refrain from driving if you cannot safely do so. If you’re involved in an accident, your medical history will be reviewed with a fine-tooth comb, and you could face legal action if you’re caught being knowingly untruthful in your responses. Get DOT Physical Exam Support from Foley This related Foley article, Everything You Need to Know About the DOT Physical Exam, answers common questions, like what do you need to bring to a DOT physical? And, what happens if you fail a DOT physical exam? If you still need help with anything related to DOT physicals, you can rely on Foley’s compliance experts. Is it time to schedule a DOT physical for one of your drivers? We have you covered. Our DOT physical program includes an impressive nationwide network of FMCSA-certified medical examiners to see your employees when and where it’s convenient for them. Dash, the Foley Platform, automatically sends alerts whenever your drivers are due for DOT physicals based on their medical certificate expiration dates. You’ll never have to scramble to schedule a DOT medical exam at the last minute or deal with the hassle of expired medical cards again. Get your FREE demo of our DOT compliance software and experience how easy it is to manage your DOT physical exams with Foley. Fill out the brief form below!

Class 9 hazmat is a catch-all category for hazardous materials that do not fit into other specific hazmat classes. If you’re confused about what exactly is required of your company to transport class 9 hazmat (hazardous materials), you’re not alone. Read on to have all your class 9 hazmat questions answered. Related: Hazmat Endorsements: Everything You Need to Know What is a Class 9 Hazmat? A “class 9 hazmat” is the term the DOT (Department of Transportation) uses to categorize any hazardous materials that don’t fit into any of the other well-defined hazardous material categories, such as explosives, flammables, and corrosives. What is Included as an FMCSA Class 9 Hazmat? Some of the hazardous materials that are included under class 9 are: Hazardous waste Hazardous substances Hazardous pollutants Any noxious materials Materials that need to be transported by air but could cause the flight crew extreme irritation (such as breathing or sight difficulties) Materials that are considered hazardous at an elevated temperature Any material that has an anesthetic quality Materials that can pollute waterways (called a marine pollutant) What are the Class 9 Hazmat Requirements? In terms of material, they must meet any of the points in the section above, but not meet any of the requirements of hazmat classes 1 through 8. In terms of requirements for drivers, there are no requirements for drivers transporting class 9 hazmat, besides needing their CDL and a valid medical card. But there are shipping requirements for class 9 hazmat materials, which we’ll cover below. Does Class 9 Hazmat Need Placards? No, you don’t need placards to transport class 9 hazmat domestically in the US. Any bulk packaging that contains class 9 hazmat must be labeled with the correct identification number on a white diamond, an orange panel, or a class 9 placard. Any other class 9 hazmat must be marked with the identification number and shipping name. Is a Hazmat Endorsement Required for Class 9? This is one of the areas that often confuses people because there are different requirements for other types of hazmat and for class 9. You do not need a hazmat endorsement to transport class 9 hazmat domestically. Essentially, if you are required to placard what you’re transporting (which you don’t for class 9) you need a hazmat endorsement. You also need a hazmat endorsement if you offer transportation services for hazardous materials that require a placard, even if you aren’t actively transporting them at this time. Why is There a Class 9 Placard if You Don’t Need to Use it? The class 9 placard is provided for international travel. So, if your drivers often cross into Mexico or Canada, they will likely need to use the placard. You can also use the placard to label shipments of class 9 hazmat. What are the Hazmat Class 9 Shipping Requirements? All bulk packaging must be labeled with the correct ID number on a class 9 hazmat placard, OR an orange label, OR a white diamond on all 4 sides. If the class 9 hazmat is not in bulk packaging, then it must be labeled with the ID number on 2 opposite sides. If you are transporting an elevated temperature material, you’ll also need to include a “HOT” label on your packaging, and if you’re transporting a marine pollutant, you’ll need to attach the correct marine pollutant label. What is Considered Bulk Packaging for Hazmat Class 9 Shipping Requirements? Bulk packaging is anything over 1,000 gallons in capacity. If I Use a Class 9 Hazmat Placard, Will I Be Subject to Additional Requirements? No, using a class 9 hazmat placard will not make your shipments subject to the same additional requirements as other hazardous materials. Do I Need to be Registered with PHMSA to Haul Class 9 Hazmat? No, if you haul class 9 hazmat and no other form of hazardous materials, you do not need to be registered with PHMSA (Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration). What are Some Common Examples of Class 9 Hazmat? Some of the most common class 9 hazmat are: Ammonium nitrate-based fertilizers Asbestos Nickle batteries Any battery-powered vehicles or equipment Dry ice (or any form of carbon dioxide) Loose cotton Fuel cells First aid kits Fish meal Life preservers Lithium-ion batteries Oxygen generators Electrical safety devices Mace and pepper spray This is not an exhaustive list, but covers some of the more common products people often aren’t sure are class 9 hazmat or not. What are Hazmat Class 9 Examples of Elevated Temperature Materials? One of the areas that is perhaps most confusing is around “elevated temperature materials”, all of which are considered class 9. An elevated temperature material is one that is: In a liquid form at boiling point (100C/212F) Is in a liquid form and has a flashpoint of (or above) 38C/100F Is in a solid form at (or above) 240C/464F Many elevated-temperature materials will, by nature, be categorized in other classes of hazardous materials (because they’re liable to catch on fire or explode). However, while the definition is confusing, you can fit anything that must be transported at an elevated temperature into this category. Examples are: Asphalt Roof tar Road oils Sulfur Molten aluminum Molten glass Molten metal salts If you are transporting a hot material, you are required to add a “HOT” label to the packaging. This follows the same requirements as the other labeling requirements, i.e., you need to label bulk packaging with 4 HOT labels, and anything else with 2. This HOT label should be a white diamond with the word printed in the middle of the square, or a white diamond with the word “HOT” and the ID number below it printed in the center of the diamond. What are Class 9 Hazmat Examples of Marine Pollutants? You don’t need to be transporting a hazardous material over a large body of water for it to be considered a marine pollutant. Some examples of marine pollutants are: Paints Oils Zinc oxide Alcohol ethoxylate Calcium arsenate Coal tar Gasoline Mercury (You can find a full list of chemicals here.) If you are transporting a marine pollutant, you’ll need to label it accordingly with a “MARINE POLLUTANT” label (which must be the same size as a placard). Do I Need to Identify Marine Pollutants if it’s Not Going to be Shipped Overseas? Yes, marine pollutants are what they are by their nature, and their classification doesn’t change simply because it’s not going to come close to an ocean. While you may genuinely never go near a waterway while transporting a marine pollutant, many will. If there were to be an accident where a truck ended up in a lake or river, the attendees would need to know that it contained marine pollutants in order to take the right action. Class 9 Hazmat FAQs for 2024 Is Class 9 Considered Hazmat? Yes, class 9 are still hazardous materials, they just may not be as obviously hazardous as some of the more well-defined hazmat classes. What are the 9 Classes of Hazardous Materials? The 9 classes are: Class 1: explosives Class 2: gases Class 3: flammable liquids Class 4: flammable solids Class 5: organic peroxides and oxidizing substances Class 6: infectious or toxic substances Class 7: radioactive material Class 8: corrosives Class 9: miscellaneous Do My Drivers Need a Class 9 Hazmat Certification? No, there is no training they must take to transport class 9 hazardous materials. It’s recommended you give your drivers some additional training in-house, but a format certification is not needed. Are Lithium Batteries Considered Class 9 Hazmat? Yes, all lithium batteries are class 9. Is Dry Ice Considered Class 9 Hazmat? Yes, dry ice and other products that contain carbon dioxide are all class 9. Are e-Cigarettes Considered Class 9 Hazmat? Yes, since they contain batteries and electrical components, and often the nicotine-flavored liquid (all of which are class 9) they are considered class 9 hazmat. Remember, Hazmat Training is the Key to Safe Transport Although class 9 materials are not held to the same standards as other hazmat classes, they are still hazardous. Consider providing your drivers with additional training before they transport class 9 hazmat. Do you still have questions about class 9 hazmat or other DOT compliance matters? Talk to a Foley compliance expert today. We're ready to help you haul safely and compliantly!

The FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse-II is a new phase of the federal database that tracks commercial drivers' DOT drug and alcohol violation records.

New trucking companies are considered New Entrant Motor Carriers by the FMCSA. If you recently obtained a USDOT number and/or an Operating Authority (MC Number), you have been entered into the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) New Entrant Program.

Driver qualification files can be one of the biggest DOT compliance weaknesses for trucking companies. Many DOT-regulated companies do not have their driver qualification files in order, and they are still relying on paper even though the deadline to switch to digital files has passed. We hope your company meets the current driver file requirements, but if it doesn't, you could be committing numerous violations and eventually face hefty fines. Below are the top five FMCSA driver file violations and their potential fines in 2024. See if your company is committing any of them, and find out how Foley can help you get back on track with our driver qualification file management software. The Top 5 DOT Driver File Violations of 2024 (So Far) #1. Inquiries into driving records not kept in driver qualification files According to the FMCSA Analysis and Information Online database, 1,383 instances of this DOT violation have been cited in 2024. Before officially employing a driver, you must obtain a motor vehicle record (MVR) from all states where they held a commercial driver's license or permit within the past three years, and place these MVRs in the driver qualification file. On an annual basis, you're also required to obtain an updated MVR check on each of your drivers who operate your company's commercial vehicles. The annual MVR check, along with a note indicating who performed the review and when, must be placed in the driver file. #2. Failing to have a complete, DOT-compliant employment application on file for each driver Every step in the application process needs to be completed and recorded in your driver files, and the application itself needs to meet DOT regulation standards. The FMCSA has cited 1,058 violations of this requirement this year. Violating this regulation could result in paying a fine of $1,388 daily, up to $13,885 in total. Foley’s CDL driver employment application is DOT compliant, and when bundled with our driver qualification file management software, it will be stored securely in each of your driver files for auditors to check. And with Apply By License, job applicants can easily complete the process from start to finish on any mobile device, helping to avoid this violation altogether. You’ll also benefit from having all the necessary information about your prospective employees in one place. #3. Using an unqualified driver (positive or refused drug test) Coming in at 1,012 violations in 2024, this violation can be dangerous for not only your unqualified driver but also everyone else they share the road with. Simply put, if a driver produces a non-negative drug test, you cannot allow them to resume their safety-sensitive duties (including driving a truck!) until they've completed the return-to-duty process. #4. Failing to maintain a driver qualification file on each driver Maybe the most severe driver file violation, this DOT recordkeeping mistake has been cited 974 times in 2024 so far. Any business that relies on drivers who operate commercial vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 10,001 pounds or more, transports at least 8 passengers including the driver, or transports hazardous materials that require placarding, must create and maintain a driver qualification file for each of their CDL drivers. #5. Inquiries into driving record not kept in qualification file Not only is it required by the DOT, but running MVR checks on an annual basis (or more frequently) is also a best practice to ensure your employees haven’t committed any moving violations within the past year. Plus, you're required to keep proof of these checks in your employees' driver qualification files. The FMCSA has reported 847 violations of this code in 2024. In most states, our MVR Monitor program fulfills both the pre-employment and the annual MVR report requirements. You’ll also be able to keep an eye on your drivers’ habits on an ongoing basis (as opposed to just once per year), which can help you address any problems that may arise before they turn into violations, fines, or accidents. It’s a win-win situation in terms of on-the-road safety as well as your DOT recordkeeping requirements. Avoid Violations & Fines with DOT Driver Qualification File Management Software The DOT won’t listen to any excuses when it comes to committing any of these driver file violations. Plus, these aren’t even all the possible violations and penalties you could be dealing with if your company isn’t following DOT compliance regulations! Take a look at our list of the top driver file violations and fines that actual companies had to pay their hard-earned money for when they were cited for them. And as always, if you have questions about anything related to DOT compliance and you don’t want to face the same fate as these carriers, rely on Foley! We’ll help you make the seamless transition from paper files to digital, or even set up driver files from scratch if that’s what it takes for you to achieve complete compliance. Before you know it, we might even cut your driver file management time by 50% – just like we did for this happy customer. Fill out the form below or call us to create or convert your driver files today.

Passing a DOT compliance audit starts with keeping your risk profile low. DOT compliance audit… A phrase that strikes fear into the hearts of many. While federal compliance reviews are often stressful and extensive processes, there are a few things you should know to help reduce your company's audit risk and understand how you're evaluated. Common DOT Compliance Review Triggers DOT compliance reviews can occur at any point while a company is regulated by the FMCSA. Although these reviews can occur at any time, various factors may “red flag” the FMCSA to review your company’s DOT operations. These triggers include: Accidents: One accident can alert the FMCSA to conduct a compliance review. How much notice the FMCSA provides depends on the severity of the accident. Accidents that result in a fatality or serious injury will prompt the FMCSA to conduct a review with as little notice as possible. Roadside Inspections resulting in “out-of-service” violations: The more roadside inspections that occur with violations – such as mechanical, hours of service, or moving violations — the more likely the FMCSA will want to conduct a compliance review. Failure of a New Entrant Safety Audit: It is never a good thing to start on the wrong foot. The FMCSA tends to monitor companies that did not pass the NESA at the get-go. Having a firm grasp on the regulations is the best way to ensure the NESA is passed and the FMCSA won’t follow up with a compliance review later on. Learn more about the New Entrant Safety Audit here. Understanding the Outcomes of a DOT Compliance Review Unlike the New Entrant Safety Audit, a compliance review may result in substantial financial penalties depending on the amount and severity of the violations found. In addition, three “safety rating” designations may be assigned to a company following a compliance review. Satisfactory – This is the most desired designation. It means the FMCSA has determined the company has adequate safety management controls in place and is doing its best to comply with federal requirements. Unsatisfactory – While satisfactory is the most desired safety rating, unsatisfactory is the most dreaded. This means the FMCSA has found serious violations and/or non-compliance with federal requirements that may cause safety hazards. In addition to the financial penalties incurred, the company must prove corrective action by submitting a “Safety Management Plan” deemed acceptable by the FMCSA within 60 days for property carriers or 45 days for passenger/hazmat carriers. If they fail to do this, they risk being placed out of service. Conditional –A conditional safety rating designation means that although the FMCSA found at least one violation and/or non-compliance with federal requirements, the company does not necessarily pose an imminent safety hazard. Although a company will not face an out-of-service order, they will incur financial penalties and their DOT operations may be negatively impacted due to contractors and insurance companies being reluctant to work with them. Therefore, to remove a conditional safety rating designation, the company must prove corrective action by submitting a “Safety Management Plan” deemed acceptable by the FMCSA. Un-ratable — Sometimes the FMCSA conducts a “focused” compliance review that only deals with one aspect of federal requirements, and therefore a safety rating designation will not be assigned. However, violations found may result in financial penalties. If you're selected for a DOT compliance review, there are some key DOT violations to watch out for. All of the following are considered “critical” or “acute” in the eyes of the FMCSA and will cause an immediate unsatisfactory or conditional safety rating designation. They can also lead to substantial fines. These DOT violations include, but are not limited to: Any type of drug and alcohol testing violation (provided drug and alcohol testing is required). Using a driver without a valid license. Using a driver who has been deemed medically unqualified. Operating a CMV without the required level of insurance. Failing to maintain hours-of-service records. Operating a vehicle declared out-of-service during a roadside inspection before the required repairs are made. Operating a CMV that has not undergone an annual/periodic DOT inspection. Falsification of records. Have you had an FMCSA Compliance Review that resulted in a Conditional or Unsatisfactory safety rating? Foley is here to help your business recover. To speak with a compliance specialist about how we can help, call Foley at (800) 253-5506 or fill out the form below.

If a driver operates a commercial vehicle across state lines that weighs over 10,000 lbs, carries more than 15 people, or is paid to transport more than eight people, they will need to pass the DOT (Department of Transportation) physical exam.  This physical assesses their overall health and ensures they are healthy enough to operate such a large vehicle without putting their safety and that of others at risk. If you are preparing for your first DOT physical or your first in many years, make sure you read our overview of the DOT physical so you know what to expect. Many drivers schedule their first DOT physical close to home, but what should you do if it’s time for your DOT renewal and you’re nowhere near your permanent address? Read on to find out. Can I Get a DOT Physical in Any State?  Yes, drivers can get their physical in any state, whether they call that state home or not. That means if you’re traveling when your DOT medical card needs to be renewed, or if you currently live in a different state to where you plan to find work, you can get your physical done as soon as you are ready.  Do I Have to Get My DOT Physical in the Same State I Got My CDL? No, it doesn’t matter where you received your CDL, you can still get your DOT physical in any state.  Does the DOT Physical Vary From State to State? No. The DOT physical follows a standardized process and there are set requirements your Medical Examiner must follow and that you must meet, no matter where in the country you book your exam or what kind of doctor is doing it for you. Your first physical may be with a medical doctor in North Carolina, and your second with a Chiropractor in Nevada, for example — unless there's been a change to your health condition between the two physicals, the exam itself should be the same.  Where Do I Get a DOT Physical? You can get your DOT physical done by any Certified Medical Examiner who is registered with the FMCSA. The Medical Examiner doesn’t have to be a medical doctor (MD), but they will have a doctorate (or similar) in the medical field. You can find a registered Medical Examiner by searching on the FMCSA website here. How do I Choose a DOT Physical Provider? If you’re working with a new company, ask them if they have a recommended or preferred provider. When you find a potential provider, try to verify that they are certified by searching for them within the NRCME (National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners) database. Once you’ve confirmed that they are registered, here are a few other qualities to look for:  Good reviews: Check that any potential provider has good reviews. Ideally, these will be reviews of the DOT physical service, but if they are a new examiner, look at the reviews for the other services they offer. Look for comments around professionalism, bedside manner, and level of care. Ignore any reviews that are negative because the examiner followed protocol (such as recommending someone for a sleep study when their BMI is over 40, which is mandatory). While it may be understandable that a driver found a requirement frustrating, the examiner was doing their job. Pricing: This may be of little consequence to you if the company you work for is paying for the physical, but if you’re paying for it, it’s worth looking at the pricing of different providers near you. The cost for a DOT physical varies from provider to provider and in different locations across the country, so choose one that feels good to you. Decide if the qualifications matter to you: A wide range of medical professionals can become certified medical examiners, and all have undergone the same training to complete DOT physicals. However, some drivers have felt more uncomfortable having a medical examiner that is not a fully qualified medical doctor (MD) as they worried the advice or assessment of their health would not be quite as accurate. While Chiropractors are just as capable of offering accurate physicals and medical advice, consider if you have a preference and if you require a medical examiner that is the same sex as you.  Do I Have to Pay for the DOT Physical? Whose responsibility it is to pay for your DOT physical varies from company to company — there are no rules or requirements. Some companies will pay for it because it is necessary to do the job and they want to either provide it as a benefit or have control over where the physical is done. Others, however, expect the driver to pay for it since it is likely the driver will need the physical anyway. It simply depends on the company you are working for.  Do I Have to Get a New DOT Physical if I Start a New Job? No, from the DOT’s point of view, the medical card is valid anywhere in the country, provided it’s up to date. You can use that medical card no matter what company you work for, so if you get a new job, you do not have to get a new medical card.  However, it’s worth noting that some drivers find that the new company requires them to have a physical done by their medical examiner, and some have a company policy of requiring all new drivers to get a new physical before they start driving for them. However, if this is the case, they will usually pay for the physical.  The DOT physical may be new to you now, but after a few years, it will become routine and be a mild inconvenience to you every year or two. Provided the company you work for has no internal policies around their drivers’ DOT medical exams, you can get your physical anywhere in the country provided it’s with a Certified Medical Examiner. If you have any other questions about the DOT physical or your ability to pass, explore our DOT physical guides and articles for more information here. Or, if you're a safety or hiring manager responsible for your drivers' DOT physicals, check out our automated DOT physical management program. Links to Related Articles in This Series: The DOT Physical: Everything You Need to Know DOT Physicals: Can Chiropractors and Other Doctors do DOT Physicals? DOT Physicals: Vision Requirements for the Eye Exam DOT Physicals: Can You Pass with a High BMI or While Overweight? DOT Physicals: Can You Pass with a Hernia? DOT Physicals: Will I Pass with Diabetes? DOT Physical Blood Pressure: Requirements & Tips for Passing DOT Physicals: Can I Pass With Sleep Apnea? DOT Physicals: What if I have a Medical Condition? DOT Physicals: Do They Include a Drug Test? How to Prepare for Your DOT Physical? DOT Physicals: What Happens When You Fail? Fail a DOT Physical? You Have a Right to a Second Opinion DOT Physicals: Understanding Medical Variances

The Unified Carrier Registration period is officially open. Are you required to file a UCR for 2025? The UCR Board made a statement in the past that changed the definition of what is a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). They also changed who needs Unified Carrier Registration to legally operate in interstate commerce. Below, we cover the definition of a CMV, what the UCR is, and when UCR filing is due for the upcoming year. What is a commercial motor vehicle? All CMVs that operate in interstate commerce (meaning across state lines) are required to have a valid UCR registration. But what qualifies as a CMV? Here’s how the UCR Board defines it: The vehicle has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of at least 10,001 pounds — whichever is greater. The UCR Board also added that eligible vehicles include those with connected trailing equipment having a gross combination weight rating or gross combination weight of at least 10,001 pounds, whichever is greater. The vehicle carries placarded amounts of hazardous materials, regardless of vehicle weight. The vehicle is designed to carry more than 10 passengers. The UCR Board has added that the driver is included in this number. While these changes may not seem significant, it’s important for carriers and drivers to know whether or not they needed a UCR in the past, they should double-check these definitions to see if they are liable. Otherwise, they may not be compliant and risk being subject to fines, violations, and vehicle detainment. What is Unified Carrier Registration? The UCR is a state revenue-sharing program and interstate compact established by federal law in 2005 that requires all operators of commercial vehicles who are involved in interstate and international travel to register and pay annual fees. Fees collected through the UCR program are used to fund the enforcement of safety and compliance programs throughout the country. Companies who make arrangements for the shipment of goods, such as brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies, are subject to UCR payments — as is any company with a federal MC number. When is the Unified Carrier Registration due? Carriers must file their UCR for the upcoming year no later than December 31 of the preceding year. For 2025 UCR registration, payments must be made no later than December 31, 2024. The UCR filing period officially opened on October 1, with payment amounts based on the size of a carrier’s fleet. It’s important to note that leased vehicles under a carrier’s DOT number are also their responsibility. File Your Unified Carrier Registration Renewal Now If you don’t file your annual UCR and your drivers are caught moving freight over state lines, enforcement officials could detain your vehicles, and you could be required to pay additional fines and penalties — which, depending on the state, can be as high as $5,000 for first-time offenders. Is your UCR registration ready for 2025? Rather than waiting until the last minute, Foley can manage the registration for you and ensure your UCR is updated and compliant. Click here or call (860) 530-6310 to let Foley take UCR filing off your end-of-year compliance to-do list.

A criminal background check is a key part of the pre-employment screening process, as it can provide a deeper understanding of a person's character, habits, and safety values. When evaluating this information, however, it's important to remember that it isn't simply what a person did in the past that matters, but when the arrest or conviction occurred. City, state, and federal employment laws ensure everyone is given a fair chance at rehabilitation — and, in time, a clean slate that prohibits consideration of certain adverse information.

Over 9,000 vehicles and 2,000 drivers were placed out of service during the CVSA Roadcheck 2024 inspections.

How can DOT compliance software help you meet upcoming annual safety and compliance deadlines? With the first day of fall officially behind us, it’s time to look ahead on the calendar to see what’s happening in the safety and transportation industry in October. Here are this month’s DOT compliance and safety events:

NYS marijuana laws — regarding use and testing — have changed in recent years. But federal regulations and the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse still take priority for truck drivers. The New York State Department of Labor announced that employers may not include marijuana on its drug testing panel for most employees in the state in October 2021. This followed the legalization of recreational marijuana use in the state earlier in the same year. According to guidelines released by the DOL, employees (in most instances) must be allowed the freedom to use recreational marijuana outside of the workplace. Similar to alcohol use, restrictions only come into play when the substance is used during work hours or creates “articulable symptoms of impairment” that either impact the employee’s performance or the overall safety of the workplace. The only employers exempt from this rule are those who hire state and/or federal employees. This would include employers of safety-sensitive commercial vehicle drivers. What NYS Marijuana Laws Mean for DOT-Regulated Companies If you employ DOT-regulated drivers who reside in the state of New York, the above drug testing regulations will not apply to them. They should be enrolled in a federally regulated drug and alcohol testing program that includes marijuana on the drug testing panel. This means that although recreational marijuana is legal in the state in which they reside, it is illegal for them to consume it as a federally-regulated employee. If they produce a positive drug test result for marijuana use, you will be required to pull them from duty and report the results of that test to the DOT Clearinghouse. That driver will then need to complete the return-to-duty process before they’re able to operate a CMV for any employer in the future. However, suppose you employ non-CDL drivers, front-desk staff, or other non-federally regulated employees that reside in New York. In that case, you can no longer include marijuana on your drug tests for these employees – either for pre-employment drug tests or random drug tests. Educating Employees on New York Drug Testing Laws It’s important to reiterate to your federally regulated drivers that marijuana is still prohibited for safety-sensitive employees and that a positive drug test for the substance will result in them being pulled from the road immediately. Over 159,000 positive drug tests for marijuana were reported to the FMCSA Clearinghouse this year alone — a number that continues to rise as medical and recreational marijuana is legalized across the country. It's important to warn your DOT-regulated drivers about the potential dangers of using CBD, which may contain trace amounts of THC and has been known to contribute to a positive drug test result. If they are uncertain whether the product they’re using is 100% safe, they should err on the side of caution and look for an alternate remedy that is not CBD-based. Managing Your DOT Clearinghouse & Drug Testing Programs Navigating DOT drug test rules is no easy task, especially if you employ a mix of DOT-regulated and non-regulated workers. But working with a reliable third-party administrator (TPA) like Foley can make it a little less confusing and stressful. Our compliance experts will work closely with you to determine who on your employment roster needs to be enrolled in a DOT drug and alcohol testing program, and who needs to be enrolled in a drug-free workplace program. Foley also specializes in DOT Clearinghouse compliance. We can help register your company, ensure you're getting the right consent to perform compliant Clearinghouse queries, and report positive drug test results to the Clearinghouse on your behalf. Ready to make drug testing easier and have peace of mind that you're following the most recent New York drug testing laws? Get a free demo of our drug testing program today. This Foley article has been updated with the latest regulatory information as of September 30, 2024.

What is MVR Monitoring and how does it work? As a Department of Transportation-regulated business, you’re well-accustomed to the process of pulling annual Motor Vehicle Reports (MVRs) for every driver you employ. You must do so to meet federal recordkeeping requirements. Still, this process doesn’t just check a box to ensure your compliance as a company that relies on commercial drivers — it is an important step to make sure that safe, qualified drivers are behind the wheel. This ultimately helps protect your business, your drivers, and other motorists. The only problem: What happens when one of your drivers gets a DUI or commits a serious traffic or safety violation a day, week, or month after you pull their annual report? Or if they have their license suspended for another significant offense? It can be difficult to keep track of all your drivers, all the time. And unless they voluntarily come clean with new information on infractions or violations, you’ll be in the dark until the next annual review or audit. For a growing number of carriers, the solution is MVR Monitoring. These automated programs actively monitor the MVRs for CDL drivers on an ongoing basis to help businesses more easily identify problems, address concerns, and put corrective action plans in place (if needed) before an out-of-service issue arises. Don’t get caught off guard — not staying in the know about your drivers can be costly, dangerous, and have serious ramifications for your business. Here’s how you can protect yourself. How Do MVR Monitoring Programs Work? Much as the name would suggest, MVR Monitoring keeps tabs on drivers by constantly monitoring their driving records and looking for new information. As soon as there is any change, or “hit,” found on an MVR for CDL drivers, an updated report is pulled and evaluated for accuracy. Employers are immediately alerted to any “hit” and receive the updated MVR for review. These “hits” could be anything from accidents to DUIs, to speeding tickets or other motor vehicle violations or convictions. They could also signify CDL suspensions or revocations, safety violations, or medical certificate downgrades. MVR hits also include positive changes, such as when a driver renews or updates their CDL or medical certificate. As an added benefit, enrollment in an MVR Monitoring program often fulfills the Department of Transportation’s annual MVR requirement by running a new MVR for CDL drivers annually for each driver’s file and annual violation review. Why MVR Monitoring is Important Unsafe drivers are a huge liability, and the statistics say it all: The commercial fleet accident rate is 20%, and the average cost for motor carriers when one of their fleet is in an accident is $6,000. That amount grows astronomically — to an average of $150,000 — if injuries are involved. As Foley has found with its own digital solution, MVR Monitoring can help prevent up to 34% of common Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) violations. According to the Department of Transportation, the top violations for commercial motor vehicles include: Moving violations: Speeding; following too closely; improper lane changing; reckless driving; improper turning; failure to yield to right of way; railroad grade crossing violations; and failure to obey traffic control devices. Driving with a suspended or revoked license. Not having a current medical certificate. Driving under the influence of drugs or while in possession of an intoxicating substance. Failing to use a seat belt. Using a hand-held device. Having an unauthorized passenger on board. Failing to conduct pre-trip inspections. Failing to use/improper placement of warning devices. The cost of these violations can be steep — in the thousands of dollars per infraction. Then there’s the lost time and money if you have to pull a driver from the road and search for a temporary or permanent replacement. Your insurance premiums will likely go up — or your provider might decide to drop you — and your partners and customers may be hesitant to work with you, or decide to take their business elsewhere. Most significantly, your Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) score and safety rating could be impacted. Depending on the severity (and number) of the offense(s), you could even be hit with a Conditional or Unsatisfactory rating — both of which, while also being incredibly costly, can involve a long road to recovery as you take corrective action. Simply put, as a company operating under the watchful eye of the Department of Transportation, you are ultimately responsible — and liable — for your workers’ actions. Staying up to speed on each MVR for CDL drivers can help you identify those at highest risk, so you can work with them to reduce incidents and improve their safety on the road. It can also help you more quickly identify unqualified drivers who might otherwise have continued hauling freight unchecked until their annual record caught up with them. MVR Monitoring keeps you in the know, allowing you to operate a safe, compliant fleet and maintain a strong safety rating. When you are armed with the information in real time, you can take immediate corrective action. What’s more, making use of a motor vehicle report monitoring service for monthly records can reduce administrative time — so you can stay focused on what’s most important to you: Running your business. Foley’s Continuous MVR Monitor Program Not continuously monitoring your drivers’ MVRs is risky and could end up being costly, but Foley is here to help protect you. We provide you with a secure, dedicated online portal that can be accessed anywhere via phone, tablet, or computer. All of your drivers are then enrolled in the program and continuously monitored, and whenever new information is detected, their updated MVR is immediately uploaded, and you receive real-time e-notifications. Our MVR for CDL drivers program is part of a comprehensive screening and compliance portal that will help you better manage your drivers’ safety and regulatory requirements. Don’t get caught off guard. Protect yourself today.

As you know, there are many rules and regulations to comply with in the industry, from DOT record-keeping requirements to the physical condition of your drivers. But one of your most significant concerns? FMCSA intervention thresholds. If you’re not familiar with them, these thresholds are strong indicators of your company’s risk of crashes, and your overall safety fitness level. Exceeding intervention thresholds can put you on Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) priority lists, and result in fines and violations. If they are bad enough — and worse, if you don’t do anything about them — they could even put you out of business. FMCSA Intervention Thresholds & Crash Risk Intervention thresholds are based on seven Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Category (BASIC) percentiles. These are set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) under the agency’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) scoring program. These seven BASICs include: Unsafe Driving – Speeding, reckless driving, improper lane change, inattention, or failure to use seatbelts Hours of Service (HOS) Compliance Crash Indicator – History of crash involvement Driver fitness – Invalid license, medically unfit to operate a CMV Controlled substances/alcohol – Use or possession Vehicle maintenance – Failure to make necessary repairs Hazardous materials compliance – Leaking containers, improper packaging, and/or placarding Need more details on these BASICs and how they impact your DOT compliance? This free Foley guide explains their impact on your CSA score and recordkeeping requirements. Based on relation to crash risk, the FMCSA has determined the following intervention thresholds for each of those BASICs: Unsafe Driving, HOS Compliance, and Crash Indicator: 65% (with percentiles of 50% for passenger vehicles and 60% for hazardous materials vehicles); Driver Fitness, Controlled Substances/Alcohol, and Vehicle Maintenance: 80% (with percentiles of 65% for passenger vehicles and 75% for hazardous materials vehicles); Hazardous Materials Compliance: 80% How FMCSA Thresholds are Set Carrier safety performance in the SMS system is based on the previous 24 months of on-road performance, inspection and crash data, as well as any Acute and Critical Violations found during investigations over the last 12 months. As expected, more recent inspections weigh more heavily on SMS calculations. Violations are broken down into three time periods: Those that occurred within the last six months; those that occurred between six months and one year ago; and those older than 12 months, but more recent than 24 months. Carriers are then grouped by BASIC with other carriers with a similar number of safety events, and then assigned a percentile from 0 to 100, prioritizing them for interventions. Exceeding FMCSA Thresholds: The Consequences & What You Can Do On-road performance, investigation results, annual audits, and safety events such as International Roadcheck can all result in a carrier being identified for CSA interventions. During any of these, a company could also be given “Conditional” or “Unsatisfactory” ratings, which puts them at increased risk for audits, not to mention more scrutiny from auditors, inspectors, and federal entities. Then there are the fines and potential lost business from carrying such a negative reputation. Companies like yours can improve their BASIC thresholds by demonstrating improved performance at roadside inspections and remaining violation-free so that their poor inspections eventually fall outside the 24-month timeframe. They can also increase their standing when going an entire year without any BASIC violations — this is particularly important when it comes to the Unsafe Driving and Crash Indicator BASICs. The SMS also stops flagging motor carriers a year after Acute or Critical Violations have been issued. Stay off the FMCSA's Radar with Foley It can be confusing to understand all these FMCSA regulations and their various consequences. Ensure that you and your drivers are informed of the BASICs. Also, remain vigilant about the physical condition of your fleet. You can also boost your chances of passing DOT audits and improving your FMCSA safety rating by partnering with Foley. The Foley Audit Risk Monitor keeps track of where you stand with the FMCSA, and if you're at risk of an audit due to your BASICs performance. Contact us today or request a FREE DOT compliance software demo to learn how we can help you remain in good standing when it comes to the BASICs and stay below FMCSA intervention thresholds!

Make sure you have the proper consent to run your annual Clearinghouse queries before the end of 2024. Since the official commencement of the FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse in January 2020, the federal government has proved that it is taking drug and alcohol testing and reporting seriously. FMCSA-regulated employers must run pre-employment and annual Clearinghouse queries on all current and prospective drivers. This is to ensure that they are not prohibited from operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs)—or performing other safety-sensitive functions — due to unresolved drug or alcohol violations. Because the information contained in the FMCSA Clearinghouse is sensitive and can impact employment, employers must receive consent from drivers before conducting queries of the system. If they don’t, they will be in violation and subject to steep fines. Two Types of FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse Queries & What They Show As of January 2020, DOT-regulated employers are required by law to be registered within the FMCSA Clearinghouse system and use it to run queries on drivers. There are two different types of queries that these companies must run: limited and full. Both require driver consent, but the type of consent depends on the query. Limited Clearinghouse Queries Limited queries allow employers to determine if a driver’s Clearinghouse record contains any information about resolved or unresolved drug or alcohol program violations. However, they do not release any specific violation information contained in the driver’s Clearinghouse record. Limited queries are run: As annual checks on currently employed drivers. As ad hoc/periodic checks on drivers. Consent can be received outside of the Clearinghouse and via electronic or paper signature. The consent form must also specify a time range that allows the employer to run queries on the employee. Remember, you can only run a query if a driver provides consent—and you must then retain the consent form in a secure location. If a driver refuses to consent, they must be pulled from duty until the required queries have been run. If the Clearinghouse returns a record on a driver, you must: Conduct a full query to release violation and/or return-to-duty details. If this query is not conducted within 24 hours, the driver must be removed from operating a CMV or performing other safety-sensitive functions. Full Clearinghouse Queries In contrast to limited queries, full queries allow employers to see detailed information about any drug or alcohol program violations in a driver’s Clearinghouse record. They are run: As pre-employment checks on prospective drivers. As ad hoc/periodic checks on drivers. When a limited query has returned records on a driver. Consent must be received electronically within the Clearinghouse—for every full query performed for every individual driver. If consent is provided, a full query will be conducted, and full violations and/or return-to-duty details (if any) will be released. If a driver refuses to consent, however, you will be notified, a query will not be run, and the driver will be prohibited from performing safety-sensitive functions until they've provided their consent to run the query. Consequences for Non-Compliance with the FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse Because the FMCSA Clearinghouse is subject to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, there are consequences for running queries without consent. The Department of Transportation (DOT) set a fine of $5,833 for each violation of any provisions in the Clearinghouse. This applies to all drivers, employers, and medical review officers. For employers, that would be $5,833 per violation—so if you don’t receive consent for every driver as required, it could be costly. Bottom line: Follow the Clearinghouse query consent rules for all prospective and current drivers. Background on the FMCSA Clearinghouse The Clearinghouse is a secure online database providing real-time information about commercial driver’s license (CDL) and commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holders’ drug and alcohol program violations. It was enacted by Congress to improve highway safety by keeping drivers in violation off the roads and ensuring that they receive required evaluation and treatment before operating a CMV or performing other safety-sensitive functions. It also makes it easier for employers to meet their pre-employment investigation and reporting obligations, as well as for the FMCSA to determine employer compliance with testing, investigation, and reporting requirements. The Clearinghouse contains the following information: Report for duty/remain on duty for safety-sensitive functions with alcohol concentrations of .04 or greater or while using any other drug other than those prescribed. Alcohol or drug use while performing or within four hours of performing a safety-sensitive function. Alcohol or drug use within eight hours of an accident or until the post-accident test is completed, whichever occurs first. Positive tests for use of specified drugs. Refusal to submit to a required alcohol or drug test. Per federal law, both employers and commercial motor vehicle drivers must register in the FMCSA Clearinghouse. Consortia/third-party administrators (C/TPAs), medical review officers, and substance abuse professionals must also register. Keeping up with these requirements can be overwhelming, and the statistics are startling: More than 230,000 violations have been recorded in the Clearinghouse, and more than 70% of those drivers are still in prohibited status, according to the latest Clearinghouse Monthly Summary Report. Partner with a Third-Party Administrator for Complete FMCSA Clearinghouse Compliance Foley offers comprehensive DOT Clearinghouse program management in our platform, Dash. Once you're enrolled, we'll collect timely consent from your drivers and run full, limited, and follow-up queries on your behalf. Hands-free Clearinghouse compliance is possible with Dash! If you still need to run your annual Clearinghouse queries for 2024, reach out to one of our compliance consultants now. Our team will ensure you're all set before the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve.

Foley is here to answer your questions about DOT compliance and prepare your business for DOT audits. You may remember part one of this Foley article series we published earlier this month. As promised, here's part two!

This year’s Truck Driver Appreciation Week officially kicked off yesterday and will last through Saturday, September 21.

How sleep apnea may impact your DOT physical exam results is a hot topic in the trucking industry. Becoming the driver of a commercial vehicle over 10,000 pounds means that you must pass the DOT physical, which must then be retaken at least once every 2 years. The DOT physical exam is done to ensure you are fit and healthy enough to safely operate such a large vehicle. The DOT physical assesses many areas of your health, but one of the areas that has received a lot of focus in the past few years is the detection of sleep apnea. In this article, we’ll guide you through the DOT physical requirements around sleep apnea, and whether you can pass if you have it. If you are new to DOT physicals, make sure you head over to read our overview first to understand what the physical involves. What is Sleep Apnea? Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes your breathing to stop involuntarily for short periods when you are sleeping. It is a serious condition that may lead to hypertension (high blood pressure), stroke, heart problems, and diabetes, so it needs to be treated and monitored carefully. If left untreated, it may impair the ability to do your job as a CMV driver and cause motor vehicle accidents. There are three forms of sleep apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea – caused by the airway becoming narrowed, blocked, or weakened. This is the most prevalent sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea – where there is no airway problem but the brain fails to send the correct signals to the respiratory system. Mixed sleep apnea – a combination of the above. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common health issue in the US. It affects 2 – 9% of adults, though it is believed that many more cases remain undiagnosed, and is more prevalent among men than women. Can You Pass the DOT Physical if You Have Sleep Apnea? Yes, but to pass your DOT physical, your OSA needs to be under control. Like many other “serious” health conditions, having OSA does not mean you are immediately disqualified from operating a CMV, the DOT just wants to know that the condition is under control and so you are healthy enough to operate such a large vehicle. By its nature, OSA disrupts your sleep quality and patterns, and so can negatively impact your alertness and reaction times – two things that are necessary to avoid accidents. Provided your sleep apnea is diagnosed and treated, you will pass the DOT physical. Can I Pass the DOT Physical if I Have Undiagnosed Sleep Apnea? The DOT physical has been updated in recent years to make sure drivers who are likely to suffer from sleep apnea are tested. This means that if you have a high BMI or a certain neck width, you will need to submit to a sleep study. If you have a BMI of over 40, or 33 and meet certain conditions, you will need to undergo further testing. To find out more about these requirements, read our article on BMI and the DOT physical. Being diagnosed with a condition is always stressful, especially if you feel as though it can affect your livelihood. However, as soon as you have the right treatment you can pass your DOT and carry on with your work. This could take as little as 30 days. Is a Sleep Apnea Test Required for a DOT Physical? A sleep apnea test is not required for a DOT physical unless you meet certain requirements, which includes having a BMI over 40, a neck-width of over 17 inches for males or 15.5 inches for females, or a BMI over 33 while meeting other requirements, which you can find in our article about BMI requirements for the DOT physical. How is Sleep Apnea Treated? The FMSCA states that Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) therapy is the (and their) preferred treatment for OSA. This can be provided by an AutoPAP (Automatic Positive Airway Pressure) machine or the more well-known CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine. A CPAP machine provides pressurized, filtered air that keeps your airway open, allowing you to breathe easily. An AutoPAP essentially does the same thing, but changes with the sleeper’s needs. Does DOT Require a CPAP for Mild Sleep Apnea? If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, then this will depend on the results of your sleep study, and how recently you had that diagnosis. Largely, the DOT does require someone diagnosed with sleep apnea to have some form of PAP machine. These machines ensure you get a full and refreshing night’s sleep and are fully prepared for the next working day. It’s a win-win situation, and drivers who have PAP machines report having an incredible quality of sleep and an all-around improved quality of life! What are the CPAP Requirements for the DOT Physical in 2024? If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea and have a PAP machine, you will need to have a DOT physical once every 12 months to ensure you are still managing your condition properly. This involves documenting your PAP use for 30 consecutive days (or, ideally, more) and showing that you have used your PAP device for at least 4 hours on 70% of nights in the past 30 days, you also need to report no major sleepiness or fatigue for your first DOT physical. For your yearly DOT physical, you’ll need to show the CPAP report for the entire time period since the last medical card expired and the date of the physical. The DOT wants to monitor your condition closely to ensure you are managing it well, because more than 60-90% of people with sleep apnea have it as a symptom of obesity. Obesity can lead to many health complications that may make you a risk behind the wheel of a CMV, so frequent physicals will ensure no condition goes unnoticed. Do You Need a CPAP Report for a DOT Physical? As we covered above, if you have a CPAP (or AutoPAP) machine, you will need to bring a report to your DOT physical to demonstrate that your sleep apnea is under control and that you take it seriously. If it is your first DOT physical, this will be 30 days of records, and for your yearly physical, this will be a report that covers the time from the expiration of your last medical card until the date of your DOT examination. If you cannot meet these requirements, your medical examiner may give you a 30-day certification to allow you to continue working while collecting 30 days of continuous data. If this is done, they can extend it to 60 days, and if that requirement is also reached, they’ll extend it to 90 days, and finally, you’ll get your one-year medical certificate. In short, it’s well worth staying on top of your records! Can CDL Drivers Have Sleep Apnea? Yes – all of the above advice applies. You can have sleep apnea, but it just needs to be under control. Should you refuse treatment once OSA has been identified, you will be denied your CDL. Remember that every element of the DOT physical is geared toward ensuring that you and the public are safe. OSA treatments are easy to use and once your OSA is under control, you’ll not only feel better thanks to better sleep, but you can have a long career. What is the Maximum DOT Physical Sleep Apnea BMI? If you have a BMI of over 40, you’ll need to have a sleep study if you have not been diagnosed with sleep apnea. Finding out you have sleep apnea is never the end of your career – it simply requires treatment so you can sleep better and thrive in your daily life. Once you have a diagnosis, all you need to do is keep a record of your usage and you won’t have a problem passing the DOT physical in the future. You’ll be able to continue enjoying your life and your job as much, if not more, than you did before, knowing that you are protecting your health and that of others. What are the New DOT Physical Requirements for Sleep Apnea in 2024? The new DOT physical requirements for sleep apnea are around detecting the likelihood of you having sleep apnea. If you meet certain conditions, your medical examiner is obligated to submit you for a sleep study to find out if you suffer from sleep apnea or not. If you do not meet these requirements, you will not have to submit to a sleep study. If you have a BMI over 33 and 3 to 4 of the following conditions, your medical examiner will need to submit you for a sleep study before allowing you to pass your physical: Over 42 years old Male or post-menopausal Hypothyroidism Neck size of over 17 inches for males, or 15.5 inches for females Small airway Loud snoring Hypertension (treated or not) Type 2 diabetes (treated or not) History of stroke, coronary artery disease, heart arrhythmias Micrognathia or retrognathia Witnessed sleep apneas Schedule DOT Physicals with Ease Foley's DOT physicals program allows you to schedule and send your drivers to a medical examiner that's convenient for them. No matter where they're headed, you can find a DOT physical exam location near them. Schedule your free demo of our DOT compliance software, Dash, and see how easy it is to manage your drivers' DOT physicals! Links to Related Articles in This Series: The DOT Physical: Everything You Need to Know DOT Physicals: Can Chiropractors and Other Doctors do DOT Physicals? DOT Physicals: Vision Requirements for the Eye Exam DOT Physicals: Can You Pass with a High BMI or While Overweight? DOT Physicals: Can I Get a DOT Physical in Any State? DOT Physicals: Can You Pass with a Hernia? DOT Physicals: Will I Pass with Diabetes? DOT Physical Blood Pressure: Requirements & Tips for Passing DOT Physicals: What if I have a Medical Condition? DOT Physicals: Do They Include a Drug Test? How to Prepare for Your DOT Physical? DOT Physicals: What Happens When You Fail? Fail a DOT Physical? You Have a Right to a Second Opinion DOT Physicals: Understanding Medical Variances

DOT compliance is complicated, but Foley's solutions make it simple. If you've moved into a new position that handles your company's DOT compliance and you don't know where to start, you're in the right place.

Running Clearinghouse queries on themselves is just one part of owner-operators complying with the FMCSA Clearinghouse. Do you drive for your own company? Whether you’re the only driver or you manage a small fleet, you must comply with the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse to avoid violations and fines of up to $5,833 for each one you may commit. Owner-operators must comply with the following FMCSA Clearinghouse requirements: Run an annual Clearinghouse query on themselves at least once during a 12-month rolling period. Designate a consortium/third-party administrator (C/TPA) in the Clearinghouse. Get the details about each of these requirements (and how DOT compliance software can help) below. Running Annual FMCSA Clearinghouse Queries Every owner-operator who is enrolled in a DOT drug and alcohol testing program must be registered in the FMCSA Clearinghouse. Once that process has been completed, they are expected to log in to their Clearinghouse account and run a limited query on themselves annually. The designated C/TPA may also run these annual queries on their behalf. If you haven't run a Clearinghouse query on yourself or CDL drivers, this Foley article explains how to do it: Five Steps to Querying the FMCSA Clearinghouse Owner-operators must also keep a record of their annual Clearinghouse query in their own driver qualification file. The FMCSA allows owner-operators to self-manage their driver files, which means it is solely up to them to ensure their qualification documents, such as their employment application, CDL, and medical certificate, meet federal standards and are not expired. DOT compliance software automatically tracks these expiration dates and manages your driver files on an ongoing basis. That way, you don't need to worry about missing key documents if you're ever faced with a DOT audit. How to Find an FMCSA Clearinghouse C/TPA To ensure that owner-operators have a third party who can report drug and alcohol testing violations they or other company drivers have committed, the DOT required that all owner-drivers have a C/TPA designated in the FMCSA Clearinghouse before the January 6, 2020 implementation date. If you haven’t yet designated a C/TPA, you’ll want to do so immediately. Look for a C/TPA who is both an expert in DOT drug and alcohol testing and has kept up with the latest FMCSA Clearinghouse regulations. If you choose the right provider, they’ll be able to manage all of the Clearinghouse requirements on your behalf, which may multiply if you have numerous drivers working for you. These requirements include: Reporting drug and alcohol violations to the Clearinghouse Reporting negative return-to-duty results, as well as updates when a driver completes their follow-up testing plan Running pre-employment Clearinghouse queries on each new hire Running annual Clearinghouse queries on all current drivers Keeping thorough records of all Clearinghouse queries run on all company drivers If you don’t yet have a C/TPA, start your research now so you have plenty of time to find and designate your third-party administrator before this year's annual query deadline. How to Designate Your FMCSA Clearinghouse C/TPA As you work your way through the FMCSA Clearinghouse registration process, you’ll be prompted to designate your C/TPAs. In the search box on this page, simply begin typing in the name of the third-party administrator you’re working with and select them from the results below. If your C/TPA doesn’t show up, it means that they haven’t yet created a Clearinghouse account. If this happens, you should contact them to make sure they’ve completed their Clearinghouse registration. If they are registered, you should click the blue “Designate” button next to their name. You’ll then have an opportunity to select what tasks you’d like to authorize the C/TPA to perform on your behalf. The options include: Reporting violations Reporting return-to-duty information Conducting Clearinghouse queries You can then complete your Clearinghouse registration process. Trust Foley as Your FMCSA Clearinghouse C/TPA At Foley, we have DOT Clearinghouse packages available for owner-operators that will manage your federally mandated requirements and ensure you’re compliant with the ever-changing regulations (like the Clearinghouse-II coming this November). We're ready to take one less compliance task off your already-full plate. To get a FREE demo of our FMCSA Clearinghouse program and DOT compliance software, click here, or fill out the form below.

Onboarding automation and driver qualification file management software are just two of Foley’s many programs that can help grow your fleet quickly and compliantly. It takes about 28 days to turn an applicant into an official hire for the transportation industry, according to research by the DHI Group. If your employee onboarding process is taking this much time (or longer), you need to address what’s slowing down your process of getting new employees behind the wheel.

The terms "background check" and "criminal record check" are often used interchangeably, but they are two different things. Let's clarify what they mean. What is a background check? Pre-employment background checks provide employers with critical insights into their candidates. These insights enable employers to hire with more confidence. Why is this so important? Simple. Bad hires can cost companies big bucks.

Foley fields many questions regarding instant drug tests vs. lab-based testing. Below, our drug screening experts give our readers the scoop. What is an instant drug test? What is a lab-based drug test? An instant drug test is exactly as its name implies—you get the results right away, at the point where it's collected, usually within a few minutes. It's what we call an immunoassay screening; its purpose is to detect any presence of that category of drugs in the specimen. The result is either negative (it's not present) or non-negative (it is present). An instant drug test can't officially give a "positive" result.

When done correctly, the truck driver job application completed by your commercial drivers can help kickstart the DOT driver qualification file creation process. Your CDL drivers are one of your most valuable assets. They help keep your business running, successful, and thriving. Still, it’s a common complaint that reliable and hardworking people can be hard to find. So, when you do go through the process of finding and hiring a new driver — and you find someone that you’re excited to bring on board with your company — it’s important that you get the process right. Not only will this ensure that you’re able to get the relationship started on a positive note, but also that you’re hiring compliantly. Remember, as a business operating under the Department of Transportation’s (DOT’s) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there are hiring processes you MUST have in place to comply with 49 CFR Part 391 – Qualifications of Drivers and Longer Combination Vehicle (LCV) Driver Instructors. There are also best practices you SHOULD follow — including running criminal background screens — to ensure you recruit and retain the best possible drivers for your business. What is Regulation Part 391? Regulation Part 391 helps ensure that all federally-regulated motor carriers are qualified to be on our nation’s roadways — in terms of their physical health, professional experience, and motor vehicle record. These regulations apply to any carrier, no matter how many drivers they employ, that operates a vehicle involved in interstate commerce that: Weighs at least 10,001 pounds Carries more than nine or more passengers Transports materials deemed hazardous under the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act Intrastate carriers that operate in a state that adheres to the federal regulations must also comply. If you are an intrastate carrier, it’s important to understand the requirements in the state where your trucks operate. It All Starts With the Truck Driver Job Application There are specific rules for how you collect information from candidates. To comply with DOT regulations, the application must be signed and dated by the applicant and include very specific information. Upon hire, this application kicks off the required background check process and becomes part of the Driver Qualification File. But what specific candidate information do you need to get in the job application to begin the driver qualification file creation process? This Foley article explains exactly what a DOT-compliant job application asks for: 10 Steps to a DOT-Compliant Job Application. Drivers must also get a Summary of Rights because the information in this application will be used for background screening. This summary informs drivers that they have the right to review the information provided by previous employers and dispute any findings. This could require a previous employer to resend the correct information, or, if an agreement can’t be made, allow the driver to include a rebuttal statement with the information. Drivers can submit a written request immediately upon applying or up to 30 days after being employed or denied employment. Prospective employers must provide information within five business days of the request. Make the switch to digital driver files now! How to Get Commercial Drivers on the Road Faster The DOT driver job application is a critical part of the driver file process, as it contains all of the information needed to compile the files from the start of their employment. To streamline the hiring process and get drivers on the road more quickly, you should have all prospective drivers fill out a full DOT-compliant application if they’re interested in a position with your company. This will ensure you have all the information required to both complete the required background checks and create the driver qualification file once you’ve made a hiring decision. To further streamline the process, consider working with a DOT compliance partner who can set you up with a mobile-friendly, digital application. Not only are these applications easy for drivers to fill out and submit while they’re on the road, but all of the information collected in the application will be uploaded to a secure digital file where you can review their qualifications. Foley's Apply By License feature in our Dash Platform allows candidates to take a picture of their driver's license to start the job application process and quickly provide basic information regarding their qualifications. The Right Platform for Quick Hiring & Easy DOT Driver File Creation If you’re working with a partner like Foley, your driver's application information can be used to automatically begin the process of completing the driver’s required DOT background checks and compiling their driver qualification file with our exclusive Dash Platform. For Foley customers, this file is saved securely in their Dash Platform account where it can be easily downloaded for an offsite audit. We’ll also send alerts and notifications during the entirety of the driver’s employment to help you stay on top of upcoming due dates (for CDL and medical card renewals, for example). To learn more about our DOT driver qualification file creation and management program, or get a free demo of the Dash Platform, click here!

Safety enforcement events and roadside inspections are always at their height during the summer season. As we continue to enjoy summer vacations and the warmer weather, it's important to remember safety and DOT compliance never stop. This month, we're reminding you of IFTA filings, driving sober campaigns, and Brake Safety Week. 2nd Quarter IFTA Filings Due on July 31, 2024 This is an important reminder that second-quarter IFTA filings were due July 31, 2024. Remember, the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) is a tax collection agreement in the US and Canada. It aims to make it easier for truckers and trucking companies to pay taxes on fuel. Are you struggling with keeping track of your fuel purchases? Foley knows IFTA inside out! Let us help you navigate it. The next IFTA filing deadline is October 31, 2024, which will be here before we know it. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over: August 16 – September 2, 2024 “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” is an annual enforcement event aimed at preventing impaired driving among motorists and truck drivers. This year, it goes into effect across the country from August 16 to September 2, 2024. During this time, law enforcement steps up their efforts in searching for drunk drivers — all in the hopes that these increased efforts will serve as a deterrent as well. According to the NHTSA, one person is killed about every 39 minutes in a drunk-driving crash. That amounts to more than 13,000 people each year. The timing of this annual event is no coincidence, either. Sadly, drunk-driving deaths tend to increase over Labor Day weekend. Now is an excellent time to make sure you’re up to date with the latest DOT drug and alcohol testing regulations. This Foley article is a great place to start. Brake Safety Week: August 25 – August 31, 2024 This week-long enforcement initiative kicks off on August 25 this year. The sponsor of the event — the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA)—notes that during this week “commercial motor vehicle inspectors conduct brake system inspections (primarily Level IV Inspections) on large trucks and buses throughout North America to identify brake-system violations.” Don’t let the name “Brake Safety Week” fool you, however. While the emphasis is on brake systems, inspectors will be conducting full roadside inspections during the event. Here’s what you can expect. Start Preparing for Annual DOT Compliance Requirements Now Once Labor Day passes, it’s a hop, skip, and jump to Q4 and all those end-of-year DOT requirements. Don't wait until the last minute to finish your yearly tasks, like Clearinghouse driver queries and UCR filings! Or better yet — get on an automated system like Dash, the Foley Platform, so you don’t have to think about them every year. Get a free DOT compliance software demo today or fill out the form for more information on our solution.

Small trucking companies need to do their homework to boost their chances of passing DOT roadside inspections and compliance audits. If you've completed the process of obtaining a DOT number, you've already had some experience with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Many small trucking business owners assume their time with the FMCSA ends when that process is complete. After all, we tend to think of them as the agency whose primary responsibility is to monitor long-haul trucking fleets with numerous drivers. Interestingly enough, many large trucking fleets remain in fairly good standing with the FMCSA while the “little guys” tend to find themselves in hot water. Why is that? You may think that larger trucking companies would encounter more problems with the DOT, but as any small business owner who has undergone a DOT inspection or DOT audit can confirm, that's not always the case. How does the FMCSA differentiate between small trucking companies and large motor carriers? In a nutshell, it doesn’t. The FMCSA holds any company that is required to have a DOT number (and, depending on where they operate, motor carrier number) to the same standards regardless of their type of business or the size of their company. If your business owns or leases at least one Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) of 10,001 pounds or more, or if you are a hazmat carrier and require placarding, you are subject to an FMCSA audit and must be in compliance with federal regulations. Many small trucking company owners don’t believe that maintaining compliance with federal regulations is a component of their business that deserves time and effort. The thinking is, after all, I am just a small business… Why does the FMCSA care about me? This exact mindset can get you in trouble. Just as filing your taxes with the IRS is a necessary component of your business, so is maintaining compliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). How can I make sure I comply with the FMCSRs? There are several steps you can take to assess your compliance. #1: Learn the Federal Regulations that Apply to You Pick up an FMCSRs book or log on to the FMCSA website to familiarize yourself with the regulations. Foley's compliance experts can also walk you through your company's specific requirements, based on the vehicles you drive, where you travel, and the freight you haul. #2: Get Organized with DOT Compliance Software Organization is crucial to meeting the FMCSRs. You should create a digital filing system specifically designed for keeping the following records, at a minimum: Driver Qualification Files Driver Logs/Time Records Vehicle Maintenance Records Drug & Alcohol Testing Documents Roadside Inspection Reports Accident Reports Do you struggle to keep up with paperwork or manage your digital files? Consider outsourcing the work to a company that specializes in DOT record-keeping requirements. Using DOT compliance software that tracks your regulatory documents for you will cost a lot less money, time, and stress than trying to iron out a problematic audit with the FMCSA. #3: Explore DOT Compliance Training Resources Complying with the FMCSRs doesn't come naturally or happen overnight. You need to be well-educated in your federal requirements in order to succeed as a small trucking company and continue to grow. Foley's resource library contains an extensive amount of free educational content to help you get started, including: On-Demand Webinars Downloadable Guides Interactive Quizzes How do I know if I'm at risk of being audited by the FMCSA? Although an FMCSA audit is always a possibility, certain factors can increase your risk of being selected. #1: Accidents Even one accident can put you on the FMCSA’s radar. If an accident does occur, it's crucial to set up a file specifically containing documents related to the accident and maintain any and all documentation for at least 3 years after the crash. #2: Roadside DOT Inspections There tends to be some confusion around whether a roadside inspection can negatively affect your safety rating, but it's very straightforward. If you or another company driver is pulled into a DOT inspection, the goal is to avoid being cited for any violations — including both driver and vehicle violations. If an officer logs a violation of an FMCSA regulation, even if it's not an out-of-service violation, it can be used against your company, and possibly alert the FMCSA to pay more attention to you in the form of additional roadside inspections or DOT audits. #3: Failure of a New Entrant Safety Audit It is never a good thing to start on the wrong foot. The FMCSA tends to monitor companies that did not pass their New Entrant Safety Audit. Can I track my FMCSA audit risk? With Foley, the answer is yes. You don't need to be in the dark about where your company stands with the FMCSA. Foley's Audit Risk Monitor (ARM) program tracks your audit risk and updates you on a monthly basis, that way you can pinpoint any problem areas with your safety or compliance and fix them before an auditor contacts you. Our compliance experts at Foley understand that federal regulations are vast, complex, and daunting. It's easy to feel as if the FMCSA is “out to get the little guy,” but safety is the primary objective of the agency's many requirements. Having an adequate understanding of the regulations and implementing effective DOT compliance software can go a long way in avoiding FMCSA interventions and reducing your risk of a DOT audit. Schedule a free demo of our all-in-one DOT compliance software, Dash, today and get the peace of mind you need to operate your small trucking business safely and compliantly.

Foley’s DOT drug and alcohol testing program can help you during this confusing time.

The annual safety event kicked off July 7 and will last through July 13. The 2024 Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) Operation Safe Driver Week has officially started. Throughout the week, law enforcement officials will be on the lookout for unsafe driving behaviors such as speeding, texting, operating a motor vehicle without wearing a seatbelt, improper lane change, and aggressive driving. Bringing awareness to and preventing these risky driving habits to encourage safer roadways is the goal. What We Learned from Operation Safe Driver Week 2023 Speeding was the top unsafe driving behavior drivers received warnings or citations for during Operation Safe Driver Week 2023. Between the US and Canada, 4,592 warnings and 2,634 tickets were given to commercial motor vehicle drivers, and officers issued 1,164 warnings and 1,860 tickets to passenger vehicle drivers. The CVSA has selected reckless, careless, and dangerous driving as the focus areas for this year's enforcement event as they continue to threaten the safety of our roadways. “As unpopular as traffic citations are among drivers, we know that driver behavior does respond to contacts with law enforcement and warnings and citations,” said CVSA President Chief Jay Thompson of the Arkansas Highway Police. “Roadway safety is our top priority and this traffic enforcement initiative supports our goal of making sure everyone driving on our roadways is doing so safely.” Use MVR Monitoring to Track & Flag Unsafe Driving Behaviors If your company's drivers are caught speeding or cited for any other risky driving habits this week, it's the perfect time to address their potentially hazardous driving behaviors. Motor vehicle report (MVR) monitoring programs make it easy to keep an eye on your drivers while they're behind the wheel. Any traffic citations that are reported to their driving record automatically trigger a notification, so you're the first to know. Your drivers may not tell you about their speeding tickets otherwise! Stay in the know about your drivers' risky behaviors with Foley's MVR Monitor. It can help you operate a safer fleet, and potentially save you on all-time-high insurance premiums. Be the First to Know About Roadside Inspections & Traffic Violations with CSA Monitor Would all of your drivers tell you if they were pulled over during their shift? Even if they did, would they let you know if they received a citation? Foley's CSA Monitor provides you with complete visibility by watching for roadside inspections and citations for violations, such as speeding, so you don't need to worry about these factors impacting your Compliance, Safety, and Accountability score (and skyrocketing your risk of being audited by the FMCSA). Both MVR Monitor and CSA Monitor are hosted in Dash, the Foley Platform, for streamlined DOT compliance and driver data monitoring. Get a free platform demo now to start tracking your employees' habits in the driver's seat and have peace of mind about the safety of your fleet.

Effective employee monitoring can protect workers, clients, and your business. Home healthcare agencies face a unique challenge in maintaining a productive and professional workforce: How do you keep tabs on workers who are out and about in the world, driving in their cars and visiting homes, rather than sitting in cubicles for eight hours a day? Luckily, a smart solution exists: employee monitoring.

Summer celebrations are in full swing! Here are some important July 2024 safety events to take note of. NHTSA Vehicle Theft Prevention Month Most people probably think they’ll never have a vehicle stolen from them, but it’s actually a very common problem. Vehicle theft occurs every 39 seconds in the U.S., and 804,400 motor vehicles were stolen in 2020! That’s why the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) encourages drivers everywhere to be more aware of the circumstances surrounding vehicle theft. This PDF from the NHTSA can provide your fleet with helpful reminders to recognize when it can happen and how to stay safe. UV Safety Awareness Month Yet another issue most drivers don’t take into consideration is the danger of ultraviolet (UV) rays, especially while on the open road. While the sun is shining and the temperatures are rising this month, consider stressing the importance of protecting the skin, eyes, and lips from UV rays to your employees. Exposure to UV rays, both from the sun and artificial sources like tanning beds or welding torches, causes most skin cancers. Taking extra precautions like applying (and re-applying) sunscreen, wearing sunglasses, and keeping lip balm with SPF handy can significantly reduce the risk of these cancers. Now go have some fun in the sun! Upcoming July 2024 Awareness & Safety Events Fourth of July Even after Independence Day has passed, the festivities may still carry on and have lingering effects, such as drinking and driving. According to Traffic Safety Marketing (TSM) data, 493 people died in motor vehicle crashes over the July 4th holiday period (6 p.m. July 2 – 5:59 a.m. July 6) in 2020. Alcohol-impaired driving crashes contributed to 41 percent of those fatalities. Now is the perfect time to emphasize to your employees that buzzed driving is drunk driving and that it's unacceptable on and off the job. It’s also a perfect opportunity to make sure your DOT drug and alcohol testing programs and policies are compliant and up to date. CVSA Operation Safe Driver Week The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) Operation Safe Driver Week will be taking place July 7-13, 2024. This year’s focus is reckless, careless, and dangerous driving. Law enforcement will be on the lookout for unsafe driving practices throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico. Remind your drivers to avoid speeding, driving drunk or under the influence, driving distracted, and other risky behaviors while behind the wheel. This should be their mindset every time they sit in the driver’s seat — and not just during this annual safety event. Find out more about Operation Safe Driver Week in this Foley article: Are You Ready for CVSA Operation Safe Driver Week? IFTA Fuel Tax Reminder Even though the month of July has just started, don’t forget – 2nd Quarter IFTA fuel taxes are due on July 31! Stay Up to Date on All Things DOT Compliance with Foley No matter how busy the summer 2024 season gets, Foley has your back with the latest DOT compliance updates.

HARTFORD, CT — Foley, a leading provider of DOT compliance, data monitoring, and hiring software solutions, is stepping up its efforts to assist companies in navigating the new phase of the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse regulations set to take effect this year. With significant changes on the horizon, Foley is committed to ensuring that businesses employing commercial drivers are fully prepared and compliant.

Get the answers to some of the most common questions small trucking company owners have about their DOT drug and alcohol testing requirements.

At Foley, our sales team members are constantly reporting poor customer service is the biggest pain point our prospects deal with before partnering with us. We know this because we hear horror stories every day, which is one of many reasons why we strive to always deliver a six-star customer experience.

Carriers with poor CSA scores may be suspended from or denied access to the Amazon Relay load board. Amazon is one of the most widely known companies offering local and long-haul delivery opportunities for trucking companies, especially owner-operators, as part of its Amazon Relay program.

Summer 2024 is almost here, and so is a long list of safety awareness initiatives, fun and informative industry events, and an important DOT compliance registration deadline.

Our Roads, Our Safety® Week starts May 5, 2024, and encourages everyone to be aware of large vehicles on the roadways.

HARTFORD & NORTHUMBERLAND, May 1 – Foley and Keystone have built a strategic partnership, combining Foley’s industry-leading driver data software and DOT compliance programs with Keystone’s unique commercial insurance and risk management solutions for US companies with transportation sectors.

What is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)? Whether you're starting a trucking company or adding a transportation sector to your business, you need to know what the FMCSA is and how its regulations impact you and your employees. Below, we answer the top questions about the FMCSA to provide clarity on this complicated federal agency.

Important updates on oral fluid testing, electronic custody and control forms, and the FMCSA Clearinghouse. Keeping up with the latest DOT drug testing requirements can feel like a daunting task. That's why partnering with a third-party administrator like Foley makes a lot of sense. We'll always have your back.

Both the FMCSA and CVSA published important updates this month. Catch up on the latest federal news. 2024 International Roadcheck Dates & Focus Areas Confirmed Mark your calendars: The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has confirmed the dates for this year's highly anticipated International Roadcheck: May 14-16.