On Thursday, August 21, 2025, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) updated its temporary waiver, extending the allowable use of paper medical examiner’s certificates from 15 days to 60 days after issuance. This is an important update relating to the transition to the Medical Examiner's Certification Integration (NRII) final rule.

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.

Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025 at 2:00 PM ET Staying compliant with FMCSA Clearinghouse regulations is no longer just about checking boxes. Running driver queries, collecting consent, and maintaining records are now the starting point—not the finish line. Join Foley’s expert-led webinar to uncover the full scope of what it takes to stay compliant, avoid costly violations, and use the Clearinghouse as a strategic tool for audits and risk management.

Thursday, August 28, 2025 @ 2:00 PM ET Join our panel discussion, hosted by Foley compliance experts Josh Decker, Sean Donovan, and Jacob Mullins and as we review the latest developments in transportation regulations.

Thursday, August 21, 2:00 PM EST As a fleet or safety manager, operations director, or IT professional overseeing a commercial fleet, juggling multiple technology vendors for all your hiring, monitoring, and compliance needs can be complex, inefficient, and expensive. Consolidating your tech stack could be the answer to a simpler, seamless workflow, with the added benefit of providing you with deeper insights that can better help you maintain compliance and improve your insurance risk profile. Join our experts for an insightful webinar where we'll explore the benefits and best practices of consolidating tech vendors for commercial fleets. In this session, we'll address the challenges of managing multiple technology vendors and provide actionable strategies for simplification and increased efficiency.

Join Foley's expert webinar to learn how to maintain compliance with the DOT Clearinghouse during the hiring and onboarding process for new drivers. This informative session will cover essential strategies and best practices to ensure your company adheres to the latest regulations.

If your commercial driver fleet is growing this year, you must run specific background checks according to federal regulations.

The FMCSA is transitioning to a 100% digital process for DOT medical certificates on June 23rd, 2025. What does this mean for drivers and those who manage DOT compliance? Watch our new webinar to find out how to comply before the deadline.

The FMCSA has once again raised the fines for recordkeeping violations, putting you at risk of financial penalties of up to $1,584 per violation for each of the file requirements you have not met. If you don’t have an automated compliance solution, you’ll need to find your missing driver qualification documents, create digital copies, and submit them to an auditor within 48 hours when requested. Join our new webinar for an in-depth overview of your DOT driver file requirements so you’re prepared if an audit request comes your way.

Join us for an essential webinar where Pedro Ferras from Foley and Sam Watts from Wattsmen Diesel House, will guide you through the crucial steps of hiring safe and reliable drivers. This webinar will provide you with expert insights, comprehensive guidance, and practical tips to ensure your fleet operates with the highest standards of safety and compliance.

Protect Your Fleet and Insurance Premiums

Download our free guide to learn about DOT Drug and Alcohol Testing and get the newest updates about Oral Fluid Testing.

If your drivers and/or vehicles were caught with violations during the International Roadcheck roadside inspections, your company’s risk for a DOT audit is now higher.

The FMCSA switched to a fully digital process for DOT medical certificates on June 23, 2025. What does this mean for commercial drivers and compliance managers?

Your organization is considering hiring an applicant, contingent on the results of a criminal history check. What happens next?

Download our free guide for simple steps you can take to hire and onboard the best drivers for your construction business – all while staying 100% compliant with Regulation Part 391.

Most, if not all, State Department Licensing Agencies (SDLAs) have started sending commercial driver’s license (CDL) downgrade letters via US mail to those drivers with “prohibited” Clearinghouse statuses under the new Clearinghouse-II regulation.

With 45 locations, managing compliance for drivers and warehouse employees can be complicated, but after working with Foley, the Lindenmeyr Munroe team is seeing real savings in time, as well as lower risk. Foley's real-time notifications are surfacing the right data for each location, so every important alert can be handled proactively.

As a text messaging software solution provider, Avochato knows the power of instant communication. They needed the same advanced approach with their hiring process. Foley’s background screening software offered a better solution than their former impersonal, outdated provider.

In this customer video, Bob Hickey talks about how partnering with Foley has helped their business reduce their risk exposure when it comes to compliance and insurance.

Being new to the trucking industry can feel stressful. Especially when 90% of trucking companies fail in the first 12 months.

Conductor finds a nimble and progressive background check partner in Foley, plus a seamless applicant tracking system (ATS). With Greenhouse Software as their ATS, Conductor had already structured and streamlined their hiring process. But Conductor’s background check vendor (one of the largest in the US and arranged through their former parent company) couldn’t deliver the type of candidate experience that adhered to their strong company culture.

In this customer video, Diana Cooley talks about the benefits she has seen with Foley's Drug and Alcohol Testing, Clearinghouse, Audit Risk Monitor, and Customer Support.

Foley's User-Friendly Solution Helps PKS Achieve Total Compliance and Save Time PKS Concrete Pumping Services turned to Foley to streamline their onboarding and compliance processes. With Foley's user-friendly software, PKS achieved total compliance and saved their team hours each week. The software automated tasks such as drug and alcohol testing, driver file management, DOT physicals, and MVR monitoring, making the onboarding process 75% more efficient.

Streamlining Fleet Management and Improving Compliance: Pet Food Experts' Success with Foley Pet Food Experts, a family-owned distributor of pet food and supplies, faced challenges in managing their fleet of 95 drivers. They needed a cost-effective solution that offered more than just compliance and fleet management features.

Foley streamlined compliance and onboarding so AERO BridgeWorks is audit-ready. AERO BridgeWorks started with manual paper files and reviewing a driver file required the team to look through 3–4 separate locations. The team also needed help making sure they were DOT-compliant.

What gaps or inefficiencies are slowing down your hiring and onboarding processes? Take this quick quiz and find out.

Take our quick assessment to determine your audit risk – as well as what you can do to prepare.

Our quick quiz will walk you through your requirements to make sure you’re running a safe and compliant program.

How much could you save with an MVR Monitoring Program?

Learn what inspectors will be looking for during the CVSA Roadcheck – and whether your company is prepared.

Make sure your driver files are ready for an offsite audit and beyond with our quick compliance quiz.

Are you running risky background checks? Take our short quiz to find out!