new entrant audit

If the only issue is a few logs over hours, that would not prompt a failure.
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/faq/what-would-cause-motor-carrier-fail-new-entrant-safety-audit-§-385321

 

Don't panic, the new entrant audit is more to make sure you have all the back office paperwork in order, have a system and are following it as best you can. Logbooks weren't really scrutinized in mine, he took a sample of 1 month, I provided a print out of my fuel card transactions, it has city state and time, he quickly looked it over realized I am playing by the rules and that was that. You are better to leave it as you did it, provide explanation if he asks. If you hide something and he finds it, he will look at it all much more closely to see what else you are hiding. As long as your paperwork, drug testing, driver files, maintenance files and all that other stuff you have to file are in order, you don't need to panic.

 

My auditor didn't even look at the toll receipts I had photocopied in the trip envelopes or scale tickets. The fuel card data was sufficient. If I had ezpass and it all matched up I'm sure thats as far as they would look anyway. Can't change that data.

 

They want to know if you have everything in order. It is and AUDIT. He will point out things to make it easier to keep track of stuff. They are not there to fine you but to make sure you have an office with files and a computer. Back up all your files on a cloud or a storage device. Go over the rules again and be informed so you know where everything is. The smarter you are about it, the less time it takes

 

Don't volunteer more info than he wants to hear. Main score will be based off drug testing. Make sure you have maintenance report, accident registry, and the insurance form. Everything else will just be listen and learn. They are not there to fail you and put you out of business but there to make sure you know how to run a trucking business. Anything they find wrong they will fix before they leave. Don't sweat it.

 

Just had mine yesterday. The guy was cool as hell X army and me still in we kicked it off at my front door when he had his laptop bag was ACU design. Dont stress it its easy just file all your papers neatly in a file cabinet and label stuff. Its more of a make sure you have papers in compliance thing.

 

Have you ever been pulled for roadside inspection or had an accident? If either of those occurred they will focus on the logs for the week prior to that. If you get caught with false logs the fine is higher than over hours - especially the 11 & 14 hour violations. The 70 hour violation is a bit more. They'd rather see honest paperwork than false logs, and will be more lenient on that.