New Entrant Audit

Our gooberment at work. You might want to get three references on yourself so you what kind of person you are.

 

#1 is easy...order a MVR on yourself, and create a contact sheet for your past ten years worth of employment, with check boxes next to them. Print out, check off those which can still be contacted, and file.

#2 should be able to be faxed from the rental company.

#3, what exactly would he have been looking for? Prior owner's service records?

 

Monthly maintenance recap I imagine.

Every inspector does things different.

 

BigKid2. please let me know which state you had the audit in? I am in TN.

your post sounds really good, cause I am freaking out about missing something for the audit. It's nice that even if I forget something like the BMV report on myself, I may still pass just fine. Thanks

 

serozhah, I noticed you've posted frequently about your audit in several threads...

Wanted to give you a run down of my audit in Ohio two years ago. Like you, I am a one-truck/one-trailer operation (on my second trailer). My audit was conducted at a government building, and I brought my two hanging folder totes with me that had all my info. The guy whose audit before me was wearing jeans and a tee shirt, and it was clear he had issues with his paperwork but they still let him slide.*

I went in a suit and tie and had my laptop. Anything I needed that was electronic, could be emailed to him (I had my air card with me as well).

First, it was authority, registration, insurance, and proof of inspections.

I failed to have the MCS-90 on me. But, my insurance carrier emailed it to me for him (turns out I had it, but I had it in the truck not realizing it must be kept at the place of business). I had just bought a brand new trailer (2013), that had a factory default inspection decal on it, and when he saw the registration showing it was a 2013 (inspection was done later 2012), he didn't ask for anything further on that.

Next was driver file. I had my application, my background check, my MVR, and had already filed an annual review showing tickets/accidents (had neither the previous year) when I started my authority. He asked to look at my log book, and glanced at the first page and gave them back to me. He already knew that I had driven for 6 years at the time, and knew I knew how to log. He asked if "these times are legal" and remarked he could check them against my fuel card (it time stamps) or toll receipts (EZPass time stamps) and they'd match. He didn't take the effort to look. Neat, clean, logs worked fine. He did make a small issue over how I handled my logs once completed. I emailed myself copies every week-to-10 days and kept the paper copies in my truck until I went home. Now, I know with big carriers, scanning your logs with trip-paks is something they do often and I saw no issue with doing that myself. He didn't press the issue, nor did he mark anything on the audit form.

Then it was drug consortium, and he checked my records for when my last random was and proof of my initial pre-employment drug screen. Because I am with CMCI, and I get my letter via mail, the date on the letter and the date I did the drug test were off by about 2 weeks. When he realized why, he accepted that (I now have it emailed to me, so it makes it easier and less delay).

Since I don't run hazmat, there was nothing else really to go over. I had made it clear to him I had no intention of hiring anyone else, but he asked me a few questions on protocol IF I were to hire someone. This was done WHILE he was finishing up the audit and printing copies for me. I didn't fail anything (MCS-90 was handled there at the moment). We talked a while regarding Hazmat regs (he is generally a hazmat roadside inspector) and was telling me a few stories of idiots hauling hazmat that he ran across doing things they're not supposed to do.

Was a real nice guy.

Anyways, that's my experience.

Remember, your NESA is supposed to be informative and helpful. There's only a few things that can shut you down. That is having non-qualified CDL holders drive for you (suspended, DUIs, no medical card), having drivers without CDLs drive for you, failing to have a pre-employment drug test of employees or a random testing policy and procedure. Even if you were the worst logger in the world, they're going to work with your in your NESA. You won't get fined for what happens in your NESA, but do realize if you really screw the pooch, you might be facing an expedited DOT Audit in the future that won't be as lenient.

 

whats an annual review? Thanks

 

I think I will just say that I never went through toll roads I don't think they have access to that data. right? I know they don't get to see my prepass time stamps cause prepass says so on their website...

 

I see you have 1 year experience, so you probably haven't done one.

You're required to have an annual review with the carrier you drive for. This is a summation of all traffic related convictions you had in the last twelve months. This is filled out and signed by the DRIVER and held in the Driver Qualification File of the carrier you work for. OOIDA can get you the exact form.

You also must do an MVR on yourself for that year, and then, as the carrier, mark yourself as "meets minimum requirements". Which, you must meet the minimum requirements (certain tickets can disqualify you, and more than a certain number of tickets for certain infractions will disqualify you).

You need this form.