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.
You may be an owner-operator, office manager, VP of operations, HR professional, or even a safety and compliance director; however, no matter what your official title may be, DOT compliance isn't at the top of your list of experiences — or it isn't there at all.
Below, we'll dive into some of the most common questions professionals like you have when they're new to DOT compliance and the many, many federal requirements that are included, so you can successfully manage your company's compliance.
Before you scroll, here are the questions we'll answer:
As you read through, you'll see quite a few acronyms that are frequently used in the DOT compliance industry. Get the definition of the most popular terms and acronyms in this Foley article: 50 Trucking & Transportation Terms You Need to Know.
No matter the type or size of your company, if you have a DOT number, you need to follow the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs).
In addition to having a DOT number, your company is federally regulated if it meets even one of the following descriptions:
Your drivers must have specific commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) to operate the above vehicles. We explain the different types of CDLs and endorsements your drivers can/should have, plus what any restrictions on their CDLs may mean in this Foley article.
In short, yes. The applicant must sign and date the application, and you must provide a Summary of Rights to any applicant, since the information included on the application will be used in the required background screening process. The Summary of Rights informs candidates that they can review and dispute any information about them provided by previous employers.
Everything your job application needs to include is covered in this Foley article: 10 Steps to a DOT-Compliant Application.
Foley's driver-first digital application is designed with busy CDL drivers in mind, and it can be completed from any mobile device. We highly recommend making the application process quick and easy to give drivers the best first impression of your company (and to make your job easier!)
Not only should you run background checks on new drivers to ensure you're making a good hiring decision, but you must also do so to comply with FMCSRs.
Here are the checks you must perform on every prospective driver:
We explain what each of these checks involves in this helpful Foley article: Understanding Your DOT-Required Background Checks
It's important to note the changes to the drivers' Safety Performance History as well. As of January 6, 2023, you need to check the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse for drivers' drug and alcohol violations as part of the pre-employment process; however, you will still need to reach out to previous employers for moving violation information. You can get more information on this process here.
DOT physicals generally must be done every 24 months, but the specific "expiration" date of any driver's previous physical will be noted on their medical certificate. Some medical examiners may wish to check drivers more frequently to monitor certain health conditions, such as high blood pressure.
Your company may also opt to perform DOT physicals as part of the pre-employment process to ensure the driver is considered healthy enough to successfully fulfill the job requirements.
This Foley article answers some of the most-asked questions about DOT physicals.
There are six specific occasions when a driver needs to take a DOT drug test. Below are the types of tests and what is involved with each one.
You don't have to navigate all these tests on your own. Foley's drug and alcohol testing program makes everything from ordering tests to receiving results quick and painless.
If your CDL driver has tested positive for any substance and you're not sure what to do, this Foley article may help.
Your company should already have a drug and alcohol policy in place, but it should include additional information that relates to your safety-sensitive employees.
As a best practice, include the above drug and alcohol tests and their descriptions so employees know under which circumstances they may be selected for screenings.
This FMCSA checklist should be used to help develop a policy that checks all the boxes with your compliance requirements, specifically section two.
Now that you know what these DOT compliance matters involve, you might feel a little better about keeping your company compliant.
But you may also feel overwhelmed.
Don't worry! Foley helps professionals like you get the compliance solutions they need every day to make their jobs easier, so they can focus on other important business matters (like their day-to-day job duties). Our automated DOT compliance software ensures you're always following FMCSRs.
You don't have to just take our word for it, either. See why the Compliance Manager at Torc, an autonomous transportation innovator, said this:
I appreciate the effort from the Foley team. It has made my life a whole lot simpler. My mantra is always ARE: Audit Ready Everyday.
You can read the full Foley customer success story here.
Ready to leave DOT compliance stress behind and be audit-ready every day? Fill out the form below and get started with a free software demo now.