What Is DOT Compliance?

DOT compliance means following all safety, registration, and record-keeping rules of the U.S. The Department of Transportation (DOT) and its enforcement arm, FMCSA, set up commercial motor carriers.

It covers securing a USDOT number, maintaining driver qualification files, filing biennial MCS-150 updates, paying annual UCR fees, obeying Hours-of-Service limits, keeping vehicle inspection logs, and running drug-/alcohol testing programs. Staying compliant avoids costly fines, out-of-service orders, and insurance headaches.