Expert Insights on DOT Compliance
In-depth analysis, regulatory updates, and practical compliance guidance from transportation attorneys and industry experts.
Trucksafe joins CCJ to discuss impact of marijuana rescheduling for trucking
Trucksafe’s Brandon Wiseman recently joined CCJ’s 10-44 podcast to discuss how the Drug Enforcement Administration’s proposal to reschedule marijuana as a Schedule III drug could impact DOT drug testing. Check out the article here or the video below!
How drivers return to duty following a drug or alcohol violation
As of February 2024, there are over 163,000 CDL drivers in so-called “prohibited status” in the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse, meaning they are prohibited from operating commercial vehicles due to a drug or alcohol violation. Of those 163,000+ drivers, 76% have not even started the regulatory process through which they could get back to driving. That process, known as return-to-duty (RTD), is meant to rehabilitate drivers through evaluation, education, and follow-up testing. It’s what we’
Brandon Wiseman
Understanding DOT road tests
Ensuring commercial drivers are properly qualified to operate heavy trucks or buses is a major part of complying with federal and state motor carrier safety regulations. That shouldn't come as a surprise since defects in drivers' qualifications routinely contribute to significant accidents. Indeed, Part 391 of the federal safety regulations contains dozens of rules carriers must follow before allowing an individual to operate a commercial vehicle on public highways. Things like pre-employment dr
Brandon Wiseman
Trucksafe & Haul launch cutting-edge managed services offering
For today’s fleet managers, navigating the complex world of DOT regulations and ensuring fleet safety can feel like an uphill battle. But what if you could hand over the reins and focus on what you do best – running your business? That’s exactly what the groundbreaking partnership between Trucksafe Consulting, LLC and Haul, a cutting-edge AI-powered fleet risk management software provider, aims to achieve. Through this strategic alliance, Trucksafe expands its offerings with the launch of Trucks
Understanding FMCSA verifications of employment
Vetting commercial drivers to ensure they are properly qualified is one of the foundational regulatory obligations placed on motor carriers by federal and state safety regulations. As we've discussed in other articles, there's a lot that goes into qualifying drivers. But there's one aspect of driver qualification in particular that seems to cause quite a bit of confusion, and that's the so-called "verification of employment" or "safety performance history request" process. In this article, we br
Brandon Wiseman
FMCSA soliciting waiver requests to reinstate meal & rest break laws
In what seems like an unprecedented move, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is soliciting regulatory waiver requests from the public, which, if granted, could reinstate California's and Washington's meal and rest break rules as applied to regulated commercial drivers. In a notice published to the Federal Register on August 14, 2023, the FMCSA explained, "the Agency will consider petitions for waiver of its December 21, 2018, and January 13, 2020, decisions preempting the St
Brandon Wiseman
When trucking regulations run amok
Regulations have been my profession, my life, for many years. Trucking regulations, to be precise. I’ve devoted my career to helping fleets better understand and comply with the hundreds of safety-related regulations that govern their operations. And I step in to defend those fleets when they inevitably run afoul of the rules. Trucking is a heavily regulated industry, understandably so. It’s dangerous. Thousands of people die in the U.S. each year in accidents involving large trucks and buses, n
Brandon Wiseman
Top 5 personal conveyance mistakes
It’s 2023, and personal conveyance remains one of the most misunderstood and abused aspects of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. It is one of the leading contributors to log falsification violations, roadside out of service orders, elevated hours-of-service scores, downgraded safety ratings, and civil penalties. In fact, personal conveyance misuse is so prominent that it has its own violation code in the Safety Measurement System (SMS) methodology.With so much at stake, it’s critical
Brandon Wiseman
5 steps to improve your out of service rates
Out of service rates are important metrics for regulated motor carriers. These rates, which are publicly available on each carrier’s SAFER profile, indicate how frequently a carrier’s vehicles and drivers are being placed out of service (i.e., prohibited from operating) for serious violations during roadside inspections. As we detailed in a previous article, out of service rates are one of five critical safety metrics that fleets should be closely monitoring and working to improve. High rates ca
Brandon WisemanNever Miss an Update
Get in-depth DOT compliance articles and breaking regulatory news delivered right to your inbox
Join thousands of safety professionals staying informed on DOT compliance