The 37-Step Level I Inspection: What to Expect During Roadcheck
International Roadcheck kicks off May 12. For three straight days, inspectors across North America will be pulling over and inspecting commercial motor vehicles at a pace of nearly 15 trucks per minute. While this year’s spotlight is on cargo securement and ELD compliance, most Roadcheck inspections are full Level I inspections. This 37-step process evaluates […]
Skip the Shop: Virtual DOT Annual Vehicle Inspections Are Here
As a motor carrier, every minute your trucks are off the road is a minute your company isn’t making money. Some downtime can’t be helped. Occasional repairs are inevitable, and driver rest breaks will always be required. But the annual vehicle inspection? That doesn’t have to mean a full lost day per truck and trailer. […]
Diesel Above $5 Per Gallon: How Motor Carriers Can Protect Their Margins
Diesel prices have surged over the past several weeks, and motor carriers across the country are feeling the impact. The national average for on-highway diesel reached $5.40 per gallon for the week ending March 30, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That’s more than 50% higher than this time last year and closing in […]
6 DOT Drug Tests CDL Drivers May Be Required to Take
Drug and alcohol testing violations are among the most common findings in FMCSA safety investigations. Between 2022 and 2026, Part 382 violations accounted for roughly one in four of all citations issued during carrier audits, with failures in pre-employment testing, random testing, and post-accident testing topping the list. The first step in preventing these violations […]
The April 30 IFTA Deadline Is Coming: Are You Ready?
The end of Q1 means one thing for motor carriers operating across state lines: your first quarterly IFTA fuel tax filing of the year is due April 30. Whether you’ve been through this process a dozen times or you’re relatively new to interstate operations, this is one deadline you don’t want to miss. Let’s walk […]
New FMCSA Rule Tightens Eligibility for Non-Domiciled CDL Drivers
After months of legal challenges and regulatory uncertainty, the rules for non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses are about to change. On February 13, 2026, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a Final Rule that significantly tightens who can obtain, renew, transfer, or upgrade a non-domiciled CLP or CDL. The rule is scheduled to take […]
How Motor Carriers Can Prepare for International Roadcheck 2026
In just a few months, commercial vehicle inspectors across North America will begin conducting roadside inspections at a rapid pace. They’ll be examining nearly 15 commercial motor vehicles every minute for three consecutive days. The effort is part of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) International Roadcheck, the largest targeted enforcement initiative for commercial motor […]
What to Do If You’re Facing a Refusal of Audit
As we covered in our last post about this, a refusal of audit is when FMCSA can’t complete a compliance review because the carrier doesn’t cooperate or can’t produce required records. Even when it’s unintentional, it can escalate enforcement quickly. Our previous post explained the “what” and “why.” This article is the “what now:” the […]
Understanding “Refusal of Audit” Under FMCSA Rules
Most carriers do not think about an FMCSA audit until the email or letter shows up. Then it is a scramble: logins, binders, DQ files, maintenance records, the whole mess. One thing that makes FMCSA take a harder look, fast, is when a carrier refuses to cooperate with an audit or compliance review. Whether it […]
Understanding the MCS-150 Form and Biennial Update Requirements
Getting your USDOT number is the first step to operating legally as a motor carrier. But keeping that registration current is just as important. FMCSA requires carriers to update their information through a filing called the MCS-150. While it’s a relatively simple form, it plays a critical role in maintaining an active operating status and […]