State permits can and have been a costly “oh, I wasn’t aware of that” moment for many carriers first getting their feet wet in new territory. Don’t wait for a ticket to learn more about what states requirements permits, who it applies to, and what your filing options are. Take a few minutes to inform yourself and protect your company against citations from unforeseen requirements.

So, you want to be your own boss and hit the open road, but the thought of buying a massive Class 8 semi-truck feels out of reach? You're not alone. Every year, many aspiring entrepreneurs turn to hotshot trucking as their way into the transportation industry. But what is it really, and is it the right move for you?

If you're running a trucking company, you have a long list of regulations to follow. One of the most important in recent years is the FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. While it might seem like just another piece of government paperwork, the Clearinghouse is a critical tool for road safety and a non-negotiable part of your DOT compliance.

If you just got a letter saying you failed your safety audit, you need to act fast and smart. Your next job is to create and send in a Corrective Action Plan (CAP). This isn't just filling out a form. It's a detailed plan that proves to the FMCSA you’ve figured out where things went wrong and have put solid fixes in place so it won't happen again.

A fundamental shift in how the trucking industry is regulated is on the horizon. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has confirmed that beginning in October 2025, it will officially cease the issuance and use of traditional operating authority numbers, including Motor Carrier (MC), Freight Forwarder (FF), and Mexico-domiciled carrier (MX) numbers. This change marks the end of an era for identifiers that have been a cornerstone of the industry for decades.

Picture this: A DOT officer pulls into your terminal for a safety audit. They ask for your driver qualification files. Your stomach drops as you scramble through filing cabinets, desperately searching for motor vehicle report you swear you pulled last month. Sound familiar? You're not alone, and the consequences of being unprepared are more severe than most carriers realize.

This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about FMCSA safety audits, including the 16 automatic failure violations that can instantly end your audit, plus a complete preparation strategy to ensure your success.

The rules of the road have fundamentally changed. As of June 25, 2025, a violation of the long-standing English Language Proficiency (ELP) rule is no longer a minor citation but a career-halting offense. For commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers and the carriers that employ them, failure to meet this standard will now result in an immediate Out-of-Service (OOS) order.

While IFTA streamlines the final submission process into a single quarterly report, the responsibility for meticulous, error-free record-keeping remains squarely on the carrier. The core of this system, and its most critical compliance requirement, is the IFTA quarterly filing.

Don’t be caught off guard by assuming you are not subject to FMCSRs because you don’t cross state lines.

Stop leaving safety to chance. Invest in knowledge, invest in safety, invest in PSP reports.