If you decide to get your own DOT number and strike out on your own, one regulatory requirement you will need to be aware of is the “new-entrant safety audit.â€
This is an in-depth audit conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. It involves examining six areas of the new carrier’s safety compliance and practices. It is normally conducted within the new carrier’s first 18 months of operation. As the investigator will want to see some established records and processes, normally the safety audit will not be done until the carrier has been in operation for at least six months.