How come no one mentioned how much work is involved for authority audit?

OP you should’ve just kept moving forward with your authority. If you did have stuff messed up you wouldn’t have gotten any fines from the new entrant audit, they would’ve let you know what you need to change or are doing incorrectly. Then they will come back again in a few months and make sure you’re doing it. If you’re still not doing it correctly at that time then the fines will start.

 

I don’t think I was ever in risk of any violation. Just had conversations over what was expected or viewed as acceptable. I like to have the correct info. Unfortunately even that sometimes doesn’t mean every Officer will agree. I’d rather not and never have except once in Pa. argued with them. That’s what Court is for.Im interested mainly in not getting ticketed for some small detail. As was the case in Pa. with Local DOT cert. Cops on a revenue hunt.

 

Follow this guide. If you cannot handle these steps I would advise you to lease on somewhere and run under their Authority.

https://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/newentrant/Data/Docs/Safety Audit Guidebook.pdf

 

Maybe I missed it but how do you plan to keep your insurance?

 

I don't blame you it is a rollercoaster ride.
As with most businesses though you develop a rhythm. IFTA, UCR, New York, New Mexico etc. A sticker here a sticker there and so on. As if maintenance and finding freight weren't enough to deal with.
Most is still a gamble. I guarantee there are illegal things in my logs / permit book / truck in general. It is just the nature of the beast. I have an ex friend in Texas who spends his whole life trying to be a good little boy and shine an apple up for teacher every day.
He goes to bed with a copy of the rules under his pillow. I find this pathetic. My feeling is get out there and learn by doing. Note what is considered important and what is not.
I will give 3 examples.
1. I got a full on inspection in Arizona in a rest area. The guy gave me a violation because I had a garbage bin on the floor on the passenger side.
WHYffs I asked.
Because in the case of an emergency we can't have anything impeding the passenger side.
So pull the stupid plastic garbage bin out of the way.
Can't do that he said - could strain my wrist. Here is your violation.
2. Same in Iowa. Your GPS isn't in the regulation position.
WTF!!
Yes it can only be at the top of the windshield 6" down.
That blocks my sun visor.
Can't help that here is your violation.
3. Ohio, same again. You don't have the letters US in front of DOT. I'll let you off but watch yourself.
Okay captain.
I still have the garbage can sitting there, my GPS is still in the same position and eventually when I feel like it I'll put US stickers on.
This is all part and parcel of the turd tossing that takes place out on the road. You just say it is my turn in the barrel today and smile. I make more money than them and I am more free. So they can kiss my sit upon.

 

Ohio gave me the same talking on the not having "US" dot. I told him I've never been out of the US period let alone with the truck. I still need to get some stickers somewhere. But when I do it will be some other stupid thing like trash can.

 

It's all about revenue for the State. You gotta pay to play!

 

If people didn’t realize you were a troll before, they should now after that post.

 

Before my first entrant audit I did spend some time here and read other people's experiences and precisely prepared myself for that event which turned out easygoing and just the way it was described here. The only difference was that I did not have to receive them at home, but I went to the local DOT office.
However, I have to admit that such things as the truck maintenance or driver's employment file was compiled and "created" to the their liking 1 day before the audit. I do keep my maintenance record in my Excel Spreadsheet format and the next time I am called for another audit I will update the original file the night before the audit - I don't like redundancies. It is also much easier with ELD (at least I found something good about them) as Keep Truckin automatically does my IFTA reports and keeps my logs in one place - lot's of time saved there. Other things such as Quarterly IFTA filings, NM, NY, KY permits, once a year 2290, UCR, IFTA Renewal IRP, bienial MCS-150, Drug Consortium Renewal are the things to remember but they're easy enough to update yourself. First you need to be explained where and how to. Paperwork burden? It is not like I am spending that much time on all that paperwork. I venture to say that I spend 100 more time typing BS sometimes here on TR than on the actual authority paperwork. Ha. Ha.