Most Common Reasons Carriers Fail Their New Safety Entrant Audit
New entrant audits were implemented to ensure carriers are following the DOT’s safety standards and regulations. The audit involves reviewing files of "new" carriers to ensure compliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation (FMCSR).
New entrant audits are conducted by carriers uploading requested documents to the FMCSA NEW entrant website. Carriers must submit approximately 13 types of documents, which represent a small sampling of the documents they are required to maintain.
Of these 13 documents, 3 serve as a record of completion of the "Big 3" Pre-Employment requirements for all Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Drivers operating a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) in commerce.
New Entrant Audit ‘Big 3’
The “Big 3”
- pre-employment drug/alcohol screening with enrollment in a drug consortium.
- pre-employment Clearinghouse query.
- pre-employment Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) for the drivers current CDL and in all states where the driver had a CDL in the last 3 years.
Common New Entrant Audit Violations
The most common reasons why truckers fail their new entrant audits are not submitting the requested documents, not completing the 'Big 3', or not responding to the new entrant audit. These violations may result in fines or loss of a carrier's operating authority.
Don’t Lose Your Trucking Authority
While failing a new entrant audit is not uncommon, it can be detrimental to your trucking business. At Aladdin, we've helped hundreds of carriers nationwide successfully pass their new entrant audits. We review your documents prior to your audit to ensure DOT compliance, and even continue to provide assistance in managing your carrier files after you've passed your new entrant audit.
Stay tuned for our upcoming blog to learn how to properly complete the 'Big 3' drug & alcohol pre-employment requirements!
