Practical guides and checklists to help you stay compliant, pass inspections, and keep your business moving.
The Supreme Court's 9-0 ruling in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport means freight brokers now face liability for hiring unsafe carriers. Here's what every owner-operator needs to know about their CSA scores, safety rating, and compliance documents — before the loads dry up.
Read article →A complete checklist of every document an owner-operator must carry, store, and keep current to pass roadside inspections and DOT audits — including CDL, medical card, insurance, and more.
Read article →DOT inspections can happen anytime. Learn the six levels of inspection, what officers look for, and exactly which documents you need within arm's reach to avoid violations and out-of-service orders.
Read article →Your CSA score affects your ability to haul loads and stay off the FMCSA radar. Here's how the seven BASIC categories are calculated, what percentiles trigger interventions, and steps to bring your score down.
Read article →IFTA fuel tax returns are due four times a year. This guide covers the quarterly deadlines, how to calculate miles and gallons by jurisdiction, and the most common mistakes that trigger audits.
Read article →The FMCSA new entrant safety audit is pass/fail and arrives within your first 12 months. Here's the full checklist, the 16 violations that cause automatic failure, and how to prepare before the notice arrives.
Read article →A lapsed DOT medical card can put you out of service on the spot. This article covers who needs one, how long it's valid, what conditions affect certification length, and how to avoid missing renewal.
Read article →A plain-language guide to every document owner-operators must have in the cab during a roadside inspection — from CDL and medical card to vehicle registration, insurance, and IFTA license.
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