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Stay on Top of DOT Regulations with Fleet Trax

With all of the rules and regulations for compliance with the Department of Transportation (DOT), it is hard to actually know if your fleet meets the demands. Let’s take a look at all the guidelines to see if your fleet is compliant.

What Types of Fleets Need E-Logs?e-log-devices

A lot of businesses are not even aware they need E-Logs since DOT regulations mainly target trucking companies, but a DOT number is required for any company that deals in interstate commerce and meets the following rules:

  • Has vehicles that transport any hazardous material that requires an intrastate commerce safety permit
  • Has a Gross Vehicle Weight of over 10,001 lbs for vehicles with or without a trailer attached
  • Has vehicles that transport 8 passengers for compensation or vehicles that transport 15 or more passengers WITHOUT compensation

There are also 32 states that require intrastate commercial motor vehicle registrants to have a DOT number, so be sure to check and see if your state is on the list.

What Happens When Your Vehicle Gets Audited?

In the event that one of your vehicles gets pulled over by a state trooper, your driver will need to provide the proper documents showing they are DOT compliant. These include

  • Proof of required insurance coverage for motor carriers
  • An MSC-90 form that is co-signed by your insurance provider
  • A copy of your company’s Accident Register

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A driver’s HOS log will also be inspected to make sure there are no violations according to the FMCSA guidelines. This is a VERY time-consuming process which can be quite problematic if an E-Log system is not in place, which is why it is important to implement a system that records the most accurate logs possible.

Maintenance Guidelines

If you have a commercial vehicle that meets the FMCSA’s specific qualifications for maintenance inspection, then your vehicle will be audited for safety factors such as tire pressure, oil changes and other various concerns. Your drivers should always have inspection reports and the vehicle maintenance file on hand during this type of audit.

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DOT Compliance Tips

As you know by now, it is essential to always be prepared in case one of your drivers is audited. Here are some tips to help avoid DOT fleet compliance issues:

  • Get your drivers up to date on all the FMCSA Compliance Regulations and have them sign a form stating they have been educated on the matter
  • Verify your employees’ driving records are current and their hours of service are accurately recorded
  • Make sure a maintenance program for your vehicles has been properly implemented so you can show the necessary maintenance records to an inspector
  • Perform and record pre and post inspections for your vehicles for each trip
  • Record all of your DOT recordable accidents

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Why DOT Compliance Matters

With the FMCSA rulings still up in the air, making sure your fleet is DOT compliant can be very confusing. The safety and integrity of your company will be absolutely essential to staying in business, especially since DOT violations can be very costly — in some cases DOT fines can be an upwards $100,000. A lot of smaller fleets that are not DOT compliant will run the risk of being put out of business entirely if they do not have a proper E-log solution in place.

Our smartphone and hard-wired fleet tracking systems provide E-logs that are FMCSA-certified and will ensure your business is DOT compliant by the time the mandate hits without worry.

Our E-log system features include:

  • The ability to see the HOS status of your entire fleet
  • Color coding system
  • Reduced risk of violations
  • Real-time reporting
  • Mobile and tablet interface
Contact Us Today

Call us today at (855) 999-7828 or fill out the form below to learn more about our HOS log systems and how we can help your fleet get compliance fast.

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