Welcome to (Pass My Audit.com), operated by Safety First Consulting LLC. Regardless of the industry, any employer, employee, or vehicle involved in the transportation of property or passengers in interstate commerce, (Including New Jersey of transportation of property or passengers in intrastate commerce) with a vehicle of gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or combination weight rating (GCWR) of more than 10,000 lbs., is subject to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR). Your company would be subject to a Safety Audit. A Safety Audit is a review of a motor carrier’s records designed to verify that a carrier has basic safety management controls in place to ensure compliance with applicable Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs), Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMRs), and related record-keeping requirements.
A DOT on-site audit evaluates a company's safety performance and confirms proper and complete recordkeeping. The review also determines if the company has adequate management controls in place to ensure FMCSR compliance.
Safety First Consulting LLC will conduct a Mock DOT ( Department of Transportation ) Safety Audit by retired State Troopers that were certified FMCSA Inspectors, During the Mock DOT Safety Audit, carriers will be asked to submit documentation which verifies that they have established effective safety management controls. We may request documents related to drivers and vehicles, as well as general operating procedures and record-keeping requirements
Carriers will be notified of all violations found during the Mock DOT Safety Audit and provided an explanation of how to address their safety problems.
Companies use our Mock DOT Safety Audit service as a pre-emptive strike to avoid a disastrous real Department of Transportation (DOT) audit. This is a great way to know that your company is up to date with its processes and required documentation before it's too late.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is subject to a DOT Safety Audit?
All New Entrant motor carriers are subject to DOT Safety Audits. Upon issuance of a Federal USDOT number, motor carriers are granted temporary operating authority and automatically enrolled in the DOT’s New Entrant Safety Program – which requires a Safety Audit.
What if I fail my Safety Audit?
New Entrants who fail a Safety Audit cannot obtain permanent operating authority without first correcting any areas of non-compliance found during the Safety Audit.
When will my Safety Audit occur?
On October 1, 2013, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration changed the rules to make the New Entrant Safety Audit occur earlier for motor carriers:
- Most motor carriers will have to undergo the New Entrant Safety Audit within 12 months of registering with the DOT.
- Passenger carriers must undergo the New Entrant Safety Audit within 120 days of registering with the DOT.
Where will my Safety Audit take place?
Your Safety Audit will either occur at your primary business location, or at a local facility, such as a hotel or conference center, along with other New Entrants from the area.
Who will conduct my Safety Audit?
To complete the volume of audits it must conduct each year, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration deploys Federal and state officials as well as representatives from private compliance companies.
What key areas will my Safety Audit focus on?
While other areas may be examined, your Safety Audit will focus on six key areas:
- Driver Qualifications
- Driver Duty Status/Hours-of-Service
- Vehicle Maintenance
- Accident Registers and Documentation
- Controlled Substances and Alcohol Use Testing
- Hazardous Material Requirements
How will FMCSA notify me of my upcoming Safety Audit?
You will be notified of an upcoming audit by mail. The letter will instruct you to call FMCSA and set up a day and time for your audit. Once you’ve been notified, you have 90 days to schedule your audit.
What if I don’t respond to the first Safety Audit notice?
If you fail to schedule your Safety Audit within 90 days of notification, you will receive a second letter. You have 10 days from the date of this letter to schedule your audit. If you do not respond in time, your operating authority will be revoked.
How will FMCSA notify me of my upcoming Safety Audit?
You will be notified of an upcoming audit by mail. The letter will instruct you to call FMCSA and set up a day and time for your audit. Once you’ve been notified, you have 90 days to schedule your audit.
Can you really guarantee that I will pass my audit?
Safety First Consulting LLC will do everything we can to help you achieve a successful audit outcome. However, please be advised that getting into and maintaining compliance with the DOT regulations requires you to complete ongoing activities in a timely manner.
Our Team is available five days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST for clients needing in-audit support. If necessary, a rep will speak directly to an auditor to provide information about products and services provided by Safety First Consulting LLC.. The team can also prepare custom documentation to satisfy an auditor’s request.
What type of support do your provide for an upcoming Audit?
Once notified of an upcoming audit, we kick it into high gear to make sure our Clients are fully prepared for the auditor. We conduct a compliance analysis via telephone covering all of the areas investigated by auditors. Clients will also receive documentation and technical support for any of our services. Additionally, SFC LLC will provide limited support for services offered by other providers.
I’m not expecting an audit. Why should I enroll in your service?
Just because you are not expecting an audit does not mean that that you won’t be hearing from the DOT. FMCSA, the DOT agency charged with ensuring motor carrier safety, conducts thousands of audits each year, and your turn may be right around the corner.
Also, our company will help you get into compliance and maintain it on an ongoing basis. We will help improve your safety compliance, thus making your operation safer.
I’m a New Entrant. I don’t have to worry about a Compliance Review until after my 18-month Safety Monitoring Period, right?
Wrong. Once you are on the road you may be subject to a full Compliance Review even before you receive your New Entrant Safety Audit. Compliance Reviews may be triggered by roadside inspection outcomes or by an accident involving one of your vehicles. There is no excuse for non-compliance and the consequences can be severe. FMCSA expects you to comply with all applicable safety regulations starting from your first day in business.
How may a carrier improve upon on conditional or unsatisfactory rating?
A carrier that has taken action to correct deficiencies that resulted in a poor safety rating may request a rating change at any time. The request must be made in writing to the FMCSA Service Center for the geographic area where the carrier maintains its principal place of business.
How is a carrier notified of deficiencies following a compliance review?
As soon as practicable, but no less than 30 days after the review, the carrier will receive a written notice of the outcome. A letter will be issued from FMCSA’s headquarters office and will include a list of FMCSR and HMR compliance deficiencies which the motor carrier must correct.
When is a motor carrier safety rating issued?
Under most circumstances, the safety rating will be issued to the motor carrier within 30 days following the completion of a compliance review.
Why is my company considered an Unrated carrier?
This simply means that FMCSA has not assigned a safety rating to your company.
What is the difference between a Satisfactory, Conditional and Unsatisfactory rating?
Satisfactory safety rating means that a motor carrier has in place and functioning safety management controls that are appropriate for the size and type of operation of the particular motor carrier.
A Conditional safety rating means a motor carrier does not have adequate safety management controls in place, and this could result in violations.
An Unsatisfactory safety rating means a motor carrier does not have adequate safety management controls in place to ensure compliance, and this has resulted in violations.
When and why are compliance reviews conducted?
A compliance review may be conducted in response to a request to change a safety rating, to investigate potential violations of safety regulations by motor carriers, or to investigate complaints, or other evidence of safety violations. The compliance review may result in the initiation of an enforcement action.
What is a compliance review?
A compliance review is an on-site examination of motor carrier operations to determine whether a motor carrier is meeting the safety fitness standard. Compliance reviews cover the full spectrum of compliance areas, such as drivers’ hours of service, maintenance and inspection, driver qualification, commercial drivers license requirements, financial responsibility, accidents, hazardous materials, and other safety and transportation records.