DOT and CDL info

I just had my first DOT audit today. Thankfully I passed.
I have to get some things changed but the guy was very helpful and gave me his # to call him with any questions. He wants me to be compliant and pointed me in several good directions. I will post more on what I have learned as I go through it. hey are not all out to get us.I think my positive attitude and questions helped a lot. I think it is important for us to remember they have a job to do and if that attitude comes across ....with the right person we can benefit from it.
 
One thing I learned is that federal Dot and NYS Dot have different requirements for a Class A driver.
 
I remember my first DOT experience. Got stopped by a Highway Patrolmen to do a roadside inspection and he started to rattle off the violations we had (all smaller maintenance issues). My boss pulled up and asked him what the problem was, he starts to explain that he's writing us a ticket for all of our violations. My boss gets out of the truck and holds up his arms, both in casts (he'd broken both wrists jumping a two lane road on his mountain bike) and said "sorry sir, I've gotten a little behind on maintenance". Priceless.
 
allmark said:
I just had my first DOT audit today. Thankfully I passed.
I have to get some things changed but the guy was very helpful and gave me his # to call him with any questions. He wants me to be compliant and pointed me in several good directions. I will post more on what I have learned as I go through it. hey are not all out to get us.I think my positive attitude and questions helped a lot. I think it is important for us to remember they have a job to do and if that attitude comes across ....with the right person we can benefit from it.
Click to expand...
I've been through the audit as well here in RI. They are definitely helpful, but regardless of what they tell you at the audit, the roadside guys can destroy you with details that aren't necessarily covered in the audit.

Also, beware of companies calling after your audit claiming to be 'with' DOT or FMCSA offering help. They somehow get your info once you're in the system and call to offer 'help,' which is just a marketing scam to rope you in while you're still digesting everything from the audit. I spoke to someone at FMCSA after this happened to me and they said it was borderline illegal, and it happens all the time.

-Tom
 
Just attended our local green industry expo here in Denver. One of the seminars was on FMCSA & DOT requirements. A few things I had overlooked: MCS 150 biennial update, the definition of a commercial vehicle and the associated requirements, and the difference between interstate and intrastate to FMCSA.
I didn’t realize that you could lose your DOT # if you don’t complete the MCS 150 update. It’s freakin’ easy, took me about 10 minutes after I got the PIN # from them.
Commercial vehicles are any vehicle used in commerce that weighs over 10,001#’s and whoever is driving is subject to FMCSA requirements. There’s a shipload of them.
If you’re crossing state lines or traveling more than 150 road miles or 100 air miles you might be an interstate carrier not an intrastate carrier. That’s a big deal that I don’t (or haven’t yet) totally grasped.
Also curious, how many of you guys knew it was illegal to have alcohol in a commercial vehicle? Ya, that means that 12 pack or bottle of wine your guys got tipped. Second, have you ever checked your FMCSA safety score?
 
Reed2179 said:
Just attended our local green industry expo here in Denver. One of the seminars was on FMCSA & DOT requirements. A few things I had overlooked: MCS 150 biennial update, the definition of a commercial vehicle and the associated requirements, and the difference between interstate and intrastate to FMCSA.
I didn’t realize that you could lose your DOT # if you don’t complete the MCS 150 update. It’s freakin’ easy, took me about 10 minutes after I got the PIN # from them.
Commercial vehicles are any vehicle used in commerce that weighs over 10,001#’s and whoever is driving is subject to FMCSA requirements. There’s a shipload of them.
If you’re crossing state lines or traveling more than 150 road miles or 100 air miles you might be an interstate carrier not an intrastate carrier. That’s a big deal that I don’t (or haven’t yet) totally grasped.
Also curious, how many of you guys knew it was illegal to have alcohol in a commercial vehicle? Ya, that means that 12 pack or bottle of wine your guys got tipped. Second, have you ever checked your FMCSA safety score?
Click to expand...
gotta link about that MCS150 action?

yea the possession with intent to booze is outta control !
 
FYI Frash, I had never updated. I think it was '02 when I got my DOT# so, really another one of those gov't things that they only enforce if you are a real problem child. The officer who gave the class said it's lawyers who look for this stuff to show your company is not paying enough attention to safety. Helps ambulance chasers get the big $ settlements.
 
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