Is the DOT planning an audit just for $?

Good evening to you all on the forum. My father in law was tipped off by someone who works in the CHP BIT audit department that there's a high chance his company will get audited by the DOT. His company had a rough year a few years ago but since then has improved so Im wondering if this audit is just about collecting money?

A couple years ago one of his trucks had an accident. No one was seriously hurt. He said companies are rated with DOT scores and said his were not good but they have got better. The one that is still a problem is Hours of Service. That one got better but it has been floating around a "threshold" since the accidents. Also he has not only improved the scores but also reduced the amount of trucks. The company went from over 15 to now about 5 only. On top of that he hasn't received any violations for or major violations where they shut the truck down in half a year maybe longer.

Why would the DOT go after a company that is downsizing and not having more problems? From the idea I got of the scores, the HOS is still high from old violations. Shouldn't they have done an audit after the accident? The man loaned me some money to buy my home a while back so I try to help on things even if he doesn't ask for help. I'm just trying to figure out whats really going on. Thank you.

 

I see what you are saying but wouldn't the system they use take into consideration that the violations happened when there were more trucks? Because if not every time someone reduced their fleet their scores would automatically look worse even if they weren't doing worse on the road.

 

Actually the accident happened over 2 years ago. Is it common for something old to come up like that way later? Maybe because there's so many other accidents to review?