Owner-operator insurance costs, semi-truck expenses, and annual registrations can add up and be the demise of any business — unless you have a careful financial plan in place.

Everything you need to know about DOT medical certificates, and then some. The physical toll of driving any vehicle for a living is often forgotten, but that’s why the DOT medical card exists. It is essential to any federally regulated driver’s qualification file.

Commercial truck insurance costs are rising. How can you save on your premiums while keeping the required coverage? If you’ve renewed your truck insurance policy recently, you may have been hit with some sticker shock: as the insurance market hardens in 2025, premiums are rising rapidly. “It’s a hardening market…carriers are coming to us as they are seeing a 25-30 percent increase in commercial insurance premiums across the board,” said Aaron Black, Director of Business Development for Keystone (formerly known as East Coast Risk Management). What does this mean for trucking companies? In addition to higher premiums, standards are also tightening, with underwriters scrutinizing carriers’ safety and compliance even more carefully. According to Black, “Underwriters are looking at risk much more closely than they did in the past.” It’s not just individual carrier risk that is important, but the type of trucks they operate and the industry they’re in,” Black said. “Insurance is a business, and if they’ve found in the past that the payouts for certain vehicle types were too high, for example, they might decide to stop writing policies for those vehicles across the board.” “This is why there aren’t a lot of options for towing or HAZMAT carriers right now. It’s a high risk that many insurance carriers don’t want to take.” Shopping for Truck Insurance? Reducing Your Company's Risk Level is Key to Securing Affordable Coverage. Although you can’t control the commercial trucking insurance market, something in your control can help you secure coverage and get the best possible rates: improving your risk profile. With high-risk companies often paying $100-200K a year more than a policy purchased through the standard insurance market, you’ll want to consider the following steps (at a minimum) to ensure you’re in a good spot before shopping around for coverage. #1: Track Your CSA Score Your company’s Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) score can influence your insurance premiums — for better or for worse. This score represents how well you've maintained roadway safety, compliance with DOT regulations, and avoiding crashes. Scores range from 0-100, with higher numbers showing an increased risk level due to accidents, DOT violations, failed roadside DOT inspections, or a combination of these factors. You can learn more about CSA scores in this Foley article: CSA Scores: What They Are & Why They Matter. Foley's Audit Risk Monitor (ARM) program provides monthly CSA score updates so you can see where your company's risk level stands. If you see any changes to your CSA score, you can react accordingly to fix the problem that's raising your safety and compliance risk (and, potentially, your insurance premiums). #2: Audit Your Safety & DOT Compliance Programs “A big part of what we do at East Coast Risk Management [Keystone] is performing mock audits for carriers to ensure they don’t have any compliance and safety gaps,” Black said. “If there are gaps — that’s where Foley steps in. Together, we can help ensure motor carriers are operating compliantly.” No matter your company size or how long you've been in business, DOT compliance is complicated. But you don't have to try to meet all the DOT regulations on your own. Foley can help ensure you have compliant driver files, you're running the right FMCSA Clearinghouse queries, you're performing accurate DOT drug and alcohol tests on your drivers, and more. #3: Evaluate Your Company's Loss History Your total incurred claims shouldn’t be more than the amount you paid for coverage in any given year. PLUS, insurance companies also have to pay costs to underwrite, purchase reinsurance, and adjust claims on top of claim payments. Remember: insurance companies are a business, and if they think they’re going to lose money on you, they’ll be less likely to provide you with a quote. Or, if they do quote, they will charge you far more than you would like to pay. Simply put, insurance companies will charge you what they believe it will take to make money on you. Therefore, insurance companies usually price what they view as the best-performing companies at two times the expected or average annual claim costs. For those they believe to be poorer performing companies, the costs are often three to four times the expected or average claim costs. #4: Establish a Risk Management Plan Black recommends putting a risk management plan in place before shopping for insurance if a company’s CSA score is a concern. “Even if their scores aren’t great, if carriers can prove that they have a plan for improving their safety and compliance, and have shown they are serious about following through, it can drastically increase their odds of getting coverage.” #5: Implement an MVR Monitoring Program Insurance companies look at these programs very favorably because they help companies like yours effectively manage driver risk and often result in lower insurance premiums. “Companies are required to pull an MVR annually as a best practice, but what about the other 364 days that drivers are out on the road?” Black said. “That provides a lot of opportunities for violations to occur that an employer may not be aware of.” According to David R Leng, CPCU, CIC, CBWA, CWCA, CRM of the Duncan Insurance Group, “Risk Profile Improvement is a simple concept, but it is more complex to implement. As the expression goes, the devil is in the detail.” “If you can get insurance companies to believe you can mitigate future claims, they will discount those claims that did occur in the past and provide you with lower rates than your claims’ data merits from a straight actuarial math standpoint,” he said. “You can influence the assumptions an underwriter uses to set up the actuarial math calculation of your premium.” However, just having policies and procedures written down on paper is not enough. “Insurance companies live by the rule ‘Trust, But Verify’,” he said. “They will want to see proof of proactive programs, how they are managed, what decisions are being made, and what steps are taken when things pop up.” For example, if your telematics shows a driver that repeatedly speeds excessively, or their monitored motor vehicle report has repeated significant speeding violations, and your files show no actions of discipline or termination of the driver, the insurance companies will not believe that you use any of the Risk Profile Improvement programs you say you have implemented. “Unfortunately, insurance companies do not care that drivers are hard to find,” Leng said. “Insurance companies continually state that poor drivers and poor risk management processes lead to more claims, and they will act accordingly when it comes to quoting and pricing insurance policies.” Foley's MVR monitoring program has been proven to reduce driver violations by up to 34 percent. Start investing in the safety of your drivers and get a free demo of our MVR check software. Start Using DOT Compliance Software to Help You Save on Commercial Truck Insurance History tells us that these challenging market conditions could stick around for a while, as the last few hard market periods lasted an average of three years. With that in mind, it’s essential to take whatever risk mitigation steps you can to improve your likelihood of securing insurance — and getting the best possible rate for your business. If you're interested in learning more about the connection between DOT compliance software and lower insurance premiums, check out the Fixing Your Fleet with Foley Services episode on The Power Producers Podcast, where David Carothers interviews our CEO, Joel Sitak, and Head of Solutions Enablement, Scott Mogensen. Foley's compliance experts also offer FREE DOT compliance software demos to help you take control of your truck insurance costs. Request your demo appointment by clicking here, or fill out the form below to get started.

Your driver job ads give potential candidates their first impression of your company. If your ad is difficult to read, doesn’t answer common applicant questions, or fails to make the position sound appealing, you’re losing promising hires.

Being proactive, not reactive, when it comes to DOT audits can make or break the chances of your company passing them. Being a federally regulated motor carrier or company with regulated drivers comes with a slew of responsibilities—one of the most important being a safe and reliable business, especially in the eyes of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

Your drivers' hours of service may be impacted by upcoming spring weather. Here's how to use the adverse driving conditions exemption to stay compliant. Many regions across the US can soon expect to see increased levels of rainfall; however, some states are still dealing with sleet, snow, and blizzard conditions. If you're still driving through the white stuff, we recommend this Foley article. It explains specific state snow removal laws to help you stay compliant. You may also wish to review the FMCSA hours-of-service rules, including the adverse driving exception, which is mostly used during snowy conditions. But if you're operating a business with drivers who are traveling through springtime states, you may be wondering... Can CMV drivers use the adverse driving exception during spring storms? Below, we'll answer that question and address how severe weather can impact your operations and the hours-of-service regulations you need to follow. When Can You Use the Adverse Driving Conditions Exception? The FMCSA defines adverse driving conditions as: “Snow, sleet, fog, or other challenging weather conditions, a highway covered with snow or ice, or unusual road and traffic conditions, which were not known to the dispatcher or driver at the time the run began." So, while this may include an unexpected storm or a traffic delay due to a crash, it doesn’t apply to drivers sitting in traffic due to regular or rush-hour congestion. If unexpected adverse driving conditions slow down your drivers, they may drive up to two additional hours to travel distances that could have been completed under normal conditions. This boosts the maximum driving time up to 13 hours for property motor carriers and 12 hours for passenger carriers. It’s important to note that the adverse conditions exemption only applies to driving time. This means that no matter what conditions exist, property motor carriers cannot drive after having been on duty for 14 consecutive hours, and passenger motor carriers cannot drive after having been on duty for 15 consecutive hours. Maintaining DOT Compliance Under the Adverse Driving Conditions Exception If your drivers use an electronic logging device (ELD), they are required to note the adverse driving conditions on their record of duty status (RODS) and include details about the condition. Drivers using paper logs or alternative logging systems are encouraged to note when they experience adverse driving conditions as well. The RODS are the appropriate spaces for your drivers to explain the weather and/or road conditions during spring storms to ensure they fall under the adverse driving conditions exception, so you can maintain your DOT compliance. Put Some Spring in Your Step with Comprehensive DOT Compliance Solutions The adverse driving conditions exception is designed to help your drivers safely travel to their destinations without making rash decisions to stay under traditional hours-of-service restrictions. Ensuring your drivers use the exception appropriately, even in the spring, is key to staying under the FMCSA's radar (avoiding compliance reviews as much as possible). Foley can also help your company avoid FMCSA interventions with Dash, our DOT compliance software. Meeting hours-of-service regulations (and the recordkeeping requirements that accompany them) can be challenging on your own. With the right software solution, you don't need to worry if you're meeting federal guidelines or prepared to pass an audit. Request your FREE DOT compliance software demo with one of our experts now. We'll walk you through your compliance requirements and clear the air with any hours-of-service questions you may have. Fill out the form below to get started.

Spring is on its way, and with spring comes warmer weather and the start of inspection season. Now is the time to start getting your fleets ready for roadside inspections. And speaking of time, don't forget that Sunday, March 12 is the start of Daylight Savings Time. Set your clocks one hour ahead! March is also National Workplace Eye Wellness Month, so now is a great time to remind your employees to schedule their annual eye exams or DOT physicals if their medical certificates are expiring soon. You can also host educational sessions around eye safety or provide eye safety tips to your staff. St. Patrick’s Day is coming up on March 17, and while it's a celebratory day, it also coincides with a day of awareness called Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving a reminder to stay off the roads if you’ve consumed even a little bit of alcohol. Impaired driving is dangerous for you and other drivers on the road, and having a clean record in the DOT Clearinghouse is an added bonus. Register for Upcoming Safety Events March is a busy month! Here are the series of events offered, touching on everything from new technologies to safety: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Vehicle Safety Recalls Week National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) Work Truck Week Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) Truckload 2025 Mid-American Trucking Show (MATS) Find out what you can look forward to at these events below. NHTSA Vehicle Safety Recalls Week No matter what type of vehicle you drive, for personal or professional use, this March 3-9 awareness initiative is one of the most important events occurring this month. During it, the NHTSA encourages drivers to check their vehicles for safety recalls and immediately take them to any local dealership for free repairs. To learn how to check your vehicle for current recalls, click here. NTEA Work Truck Week If your business relies on any type of commercial vehicle (or you simply have a passion for them), you need to be at Work Truck Week 2025 from March 4-7 in Indianapolis, IN. Join leaders in the innovation, design, engineering, maintenance, and parts sectors of the work truck and equipment industries to get an inside look at the latest products and technology from 500 exhibitors. It's an excellent occasion to evaluate vendors' latest offerings, seek new business opportunities within the industry, and even collaborate with current and prospective customers. You can register for this year's Work Truck Week here. TCA Truckload 2025 Hosted in Phoenix, AZ from March 15-18, Truckload 2025 is the premier event for C-Suite executives, managers, and trucking professionals representing for-hire carrier companies and vendors. Attendees will enjoy networking and collaborating opportunities with other industry professionals, and Oz Pearlman is this year's keynote speaker. Additional activities will include inspirational sessions, a special spouse event, and an open forum on today's industry hot topics. Click here to register for Truckload 2025. MATS More than 58,000 people are expected to attend the Mid-American Trucking Show from March 27-29 at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville. The show's "Pro Talks" educational sessions will include updates from the FMCSA and topics such as "Starting Strong: How to Launch a Thriving Trucking Business in Your First 90 Days," and "The Importance of Data Q and Crash Challenges." Other events include the PKY Truck Championship competition, a chance to ride and drive commercial vehicles with the latest technologies, and a Veterans in Trucking event to honor the military. Don't forget about the MATs concert! You're invited to register for this year's MATS by clicking here. Upcoming CVSA Compliance Event: International Roadcheck 2025 Although International Roadcheck is not until May 13-15, now is the time to start preparing. Since 1988, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), along with the FMCSA and several other North American transportation organizations, have sponsored this safety event. International Roadcheck is a high-volume commercial motor vehicle (CMV) inspection and enforcement initiative that is annually conducted by certified inspectors across North America. Trucks that pass inspection will receive a CVSA decal and will be excused from another inspection for three months. Each International Roadcheck focuses on different components of CMVs. This year’s specific focus will be tires and records of duty status. Click here to learn more about the 2025 International Roadcheck event, and keep an eye out for additional Foley articles on how to prepare your fleet for the inevitable inspection blitz! Rely on Foley for the Latest Transportation Industry Updates Foley's experts not only keep you informed on the upcoming industry and safety events throughout the country, but we also stay up to date on the latest DOT compliance regulations. Make sure you check our blog for daily updates! If you think your company is missing any of its DOT compliance requirements, we can help with them too. Schedule a FREE software demo now and talk to a Foley specialist about Dash, our automated compliance software that can make meeting FMCSA regulations (and passing DOT audits) a breeze.

Over the past decade, nuclear verdicts have become a big issue for the trucking industry. According to a study by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), these judgments have risen sharply — a whopping 967% between 2010 and 2018. For million-dollar lawsuits involving a truck crash, it’s pushed the average verdict size to $22.3 million. Not only are these verdicts putting companies out of business, but they’re causing insurance premiums across the industry to skyrocket. According to the ATRI report on this issue, one motor carrier was forced to close its doors after its single-year insurance rates nearly doubled from $340,000 to $700,000. And they haven’t been the only casualty of the insurance hike — there have been many other fleets and family-owned businesses that have been forced into closure, as well. The Role of Reptile Theory One of the reasons these verdicts are thought to be so effective is because of a litigation tactic known as “reptile theory.” It was first used in 2009, and the strategy behind this approach is to play on the jurors’ emotions by prompting feelings of anger and fear — and ultimately encouraging these detrimental nuclear verdicts. The plaintiff’s attorney has one job: to win the case. And they’ll do just about anything to get there. As a trucking company, there’s nothing you can do to prevent these tactics in court. But you can take the necessary safety and compliance steps to avoid a lawsuit in the first place. How to Build a Culture of Safety Although not all accidents can be prevented, data from the FMCSA found that only three percent of all crashes were the result of environmental factors. A whopping 87 percent of crashes were the result of driver error and 10 percent were due to mechanical issues with the truck. In other words? By creating a culture of safety and compliance in your company, you’ll not only make it much less likely that your drivers will be involved in an accident, but you’ll be creating a solid shield of protection to fight back against claims of negligence should you find yourself sitting in a courtroom someday. It’s without a doubt, the simplest and least expensive way to protect the future of your company. Create & Maintain Compliant Driver Qualification Files According to the ATRI report, in every case where the driver’s history played a role in the accident, the defendant was found guilty of negligence. However, it’s also an area that is completely avoidable — both by having thorough background screening processes in place and by maintaining compliant Driver Qualification Files (DQFs). It’s Time to Transition to Digital Driver Files Non-compliant driver files are a big industry problem. In fact, they account for many of the top acute and critical FMCSA violations annually. The top five driver qualification file violations are as follows: Driving a commercial motor vehicle while disqualified Using a physically unqualified driver Not keeping inquiries into driving records in a driver qualification file Failing to maintain a driver file on each driver Not keeping a medical certificate in a driver file It’s not that these files are necessarily difficult to create when a new driver is hired (though there are often steps missed in the process), but it can be difficult for companies to keep these files updated on an ongoing basis — and the more drivers they hire, the more difficult it gets. Free Guide: How to Manage Compliant Driver Files If you think you might be committing any of these violations or your DOT driver files are hurting more than helping you, don’t worry, there is light at the end of the compliance and litigation tunnel. Luckily, you don’t have to go it alone when it comes to your DQFs and ensuring you’re meeting — or exceeding – DQF regulations and best practices. Foley’s Driver Qualification Files Solution To comply with the FMCSA’s offsite audit requirement, driver files should be maintained in a secure, digital format. Foley offers easy-to-use driver file creation and maintenance in our exclusive platform, Dash. We’ll convert your paper files to an electronic format so they can be easily downloaded and presented to a compliance officer (or a judge if you’re ever faced with a lawsuit). All files are securely stored to prevent tampering. Dash also keeps track of important dates and provides alerts when a CDL or medical card is up for renewal, or a change is detected on the driver’s MVR report. At Foley, we’ll evaluate your current safety and compliance procedures and set you up with our automated compliance platform that will help keep your files organized and compliant. Take our free quiz to see if your driver files are where they need to be, or click here to get started with a free Dash demo today.

The DOT physical eye test must be passed to ensure the safe operation of your company's vehicles and maintain your DOT compliance. Over 12 million people over 40 in the US have vision impairment, so it’s certainly not an uncommon issue to come up in a DOT physical. The DOT (Department of Transportation) physical is designed to ensure any driver of a large commercial vehicle (CMV) weighing over 10,000 lbs is healthy enough to safely operate the vehicle. If you’ve recently found out that your vision has deteriorated, or if you are preparing for your first DOT physical, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the DOT vision requirements so you can walk into your physical feeling confident about your ability to pass and get your medical card. If you’re not sure what to expect from your DOT physical exam, make sure you read our overview here, but to find out about what the eye exam entails, read on. What Eye Chart is Used for the DOT Physical? The DOT physical eye chart is the Snellen eye chart, which can be found in any doctor’s office or optician’s office. You stand or sit 10 feet away from the chart and are asked to read the lines. Alternatively, the Titmus Vision Tester, which is a small device that measures vision, may be used, though this is rare. What are the Vision Requirements for a DOT Physical? To pass the DOT physical, you need to have 20/40 vision in each eye with or without glasses, and a field of vision of at least 70 degrees in each eye. You also need to have the ability to recognize different colors of traffic lights and signals that show red, green, and amber. If you require glasses to correct your vision to this level, you must wear them at all times while driving, and this will be noted on your certificate saying “Qualified only if wearing corrective lenses.” If you choose to use contact lenses, this is also permissible, provided you are used to wearing and using them. The use of telescopic lenses is not acceptable for driving CMVs. You can apply for the Federal vision exemption if you do not meet the Federal vision standard, provided you meet all other physical standards. Click here to find out more. What is the DOT Eye Test for? The DOT eye test is designed to ensure you have sufficient natural vision or sufficient corrected vision to allow you to safely operate a CMV. It tests for your distance vision, peripheral vision, and color blindness. Should I Wear My Glasses or Contact Lenses for the DOT Vision Test? If you normally wear your glasses or contact lenses for most of the day, then it’s a good idea to go to your physical wearing them as normal. You can then tell the Medical Examiner that you wear them all the time, and you can tell them about your quality of vision. They will likely allow you to complete the vision test wearing your glasses or contact lenses. What Does Your Eyesight Have to Be to Pass a DOT Physical? To pass the DOT physical eye test, your eyesight needs to be at least 20/40 on the Snellen eye chart, with or without corrective eyewear in each eye, and both eyes. Your peripheral vision needs to be 70 degrees or better in both eyes. Can I Pass the DOT Physical Eye Exam with Monocular Vision? You cannot pass the DOT physical eye exam with monocular vision, but if you pass the physical in all other aspects, then you can apply for a Federal Vision Exemption. To be applicable for the Federal Vision Exemption, you need to have at least 20/40 vision in your good eye, and 70 degrees peripheral vision in that eye too. New Webinar Series: Clearinghouse Recordkeeping & Data Management Can I Pass the DOT Physical if I’ve Had Laser Eye Surgery? If you’ve had laser eye surgery, then you should have an extremely good quality of vision and won’t have any problems passing the eye test. What Happens if You Fail the DOT Eye Exam? If you fail the DOT physical eye exam but pass all other aspects of the exam, you can apply for Federal Vision Exemption. Your Medical Examiner may refer you to have your vision tested by a specialist to determine if you are safe to operate CMVs or they may recommend you apply for the Federal Vision Exemption. Make sure your Medical Examiner continues to complete your physical so you can apply for the exemption. What Does the DOT Physical Eye Exam Involve? Your Medical Examiner will ask you about any changes to your vision, ability to see in the dark, and other changes to your eye health. If you have experienced any changes, they may inquire about how those issues are being treated or kept under control. They will then examine your eyes to look for abnormalities and any other issues that may disrupt your vision or cause problems in the future if it goes unchecked. Once the physical examination is over, your Medical Examiner will test your distant visual acuity in each eye, and your distant binocular vision acuity. You must score 20/40 for all 3. This is usually done with a Snellen eye chart but is sometimes used with a Titmus screening instrument. Next, they will test your peripheral vision. Your peripheral vision needs to be at least 70 degrees in the horizontal meridian in each eye. This is usually tested using the confrontational method, which is simply where you look at the Medical Examiner’s nose and are asked to tell them how many fingers they’re holding up in your peripheral. Alternatively, the Titmus device will be used. Finally, they’ll check your ability to identify different colors to ensure you can distinguish between red, amber, and green. Should I Get an Eye Test Before My DOT Physical? Passing your DOT physical eye test isn’t something you need to worry about, provided you are looking after your eye health and vision. If you are worried that your vision has deteriorated or may not be good enough to pass the DOT physical eye test, it may be a good idea to get an eye test before your DOT physical so you can have the correct glasses or contact lenses that will allow you to pass the physical. The DOT physical eye exam does not need to be stressful, and if you look after your eye health and wear corrective eyewear, you shouldn’t have a problem passing the eye test. If you are concerned, consider getting an eye test before your DOT physical so you know where you stand, and won’t have any avoidable surprises. The last thing you want is to go to the physical, find out you need corrective eyewear, and have to retake the physical to pass. If you have any other concerns about what you need to pass, you can find all of our DOT physical articles here. Schedule Your Drivers' DOT Physical Exams with Foley Worrying about whether your CDL drivers will pass their DOT physicals is stressful enough; you don't have to add scheduling these physicals before your drivers' medical certificates expire to the list. Dash, Foley's DOT compliance platform, takes the stress out of managing DOT physicals for fleets of all sizes. Plus, with its intuitive, immediate notifications, you get plenty of a heads-up to ensure your drivers' physical exams are scheduled ahead of their med card expirations. Click here to schedule a free demo of Dash and see how easy DOT physical management can be for you and your team. Links to Related Articles in This Series: The DOT Physical: Everything You Need to Know DOT Physicals: Can Chiropractors and Other Doctors do DOT Physicals? DOT Physicals: Can You Pass with a High BMI or While Overweight? DOT Physicals: Can I Get a DOT Physical in Any State? DOT Physicals: Can You Pass with a Hernia? DOT Physicals: Will I Pass with Diabetes? DOT Physical Blood Pressure: Requirements & Tips for Passing DOT Physicals: Can I Pass With Sleep Apnea? DOT Physicals: What if I have a Medical Condition? DOT Physicals: Do They Include a Drug Test? How to Prepare for Your DOT Physical? DOT Physicals: What Happens When You Fail? Fail a DOT Physical? You Have a Right to a Second Opinion DOT Physicals: Understanding Medical Variances

Thursday, March 20 | 2PM ET

Join Sam Watts of Wattsmen Diesel House and Pedro Ferras, Foley DOT Compliance Expert, for an informative Industry Chat on the Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) program!

Making the shift to digital recordkeeping for your driver qualification files is no longer optional.

The FMCSA’s seven Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs) each have unique recordkeeping requirements.

Some of the most important matters to check off your DOT compliance to-do list when you’re starting a trucking company are your permits and registrations.

A new phase of the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse went into effect in November 2024, and it had a major impact on companies with CDL/CLP drivers.

The FMCSA has been known for cracking down on companies that violate its strict federal regulations.

If your commercial driver fleet is growing this year, you must run specific background checks according to federal regulations.

Throughout their careers, many truck drivers consider becoming owner-operators or starting a trucking company. But the process involves many steps with the FMCSA – which can be confusing and expensive if done incorrectly.

Download our free guide for simple steps you can take to hire and onboard the best drivers for your construction business – all while staying 100% compliant with Regulation Part 391.

Most, if not all, State Department Licensing Agencies (SDLAs) have started sending commercial driver’s license (CDL) downgrade letters via US mail to those drivers with “prohibited” Clearinghouse statuses under the new Clearinghouse-II regulation.

Commercial Auto Insurance Market Trends & Renewal Rate Savings Tips FEATURING:

When a commercial driver is enrolled in the DOT return-to-duty process, their employer must report specific information to the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. Many employers will be enrolling prohibited CDL/CPL drivers in the RTD process now that the FMCSA Clearinghouse-II is in effect and revoking the commercial driving privileges of drivers with DOT drug and alcohol violations. In this guide, we walk you through the step-by-step process of all the RTD reporting requirements you must meet if your drivers have been impacted by the new Clearinghouse-II.

The 2025 Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) renewal window is now open.

Starting this year, State Driver Licensing Agencies (SDLAs) will revoke commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) or commercial learner’s permits (CLPs) based on drivers' statuses in the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse.

When you run queries on your drivers in the FMCSA Clearinghouse, you may see many different statuses produced throughout the process. What are the statuses, what do they mean, and what actions do you need to take for each one?

Your Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) score is determined by how well your drivers and company represent DOT compliance and roadway safety.

The DOT Clearinghouse has been in effect since January 2020. You’d think by now that everyone would have it figured out, right?

With 45 locations, managing compliance for drivers and warehouse employees can be complicated, but after working with Foley, the Lindenmeyr Munroe team is seeing real savings in time, as well as lower risk. Foley's real-time notifications are surfacing the right data for each location, so every important alert can be handled proactively.

As a text messaging software solution provider, Avochato knows the power of instant communication. They needed the same advanced approach with their hiring process. Foley’s background screening software offered a better solution than their former impersonal, outdated provider.

In this customer video, Bob Hickey talks about how partnering with Foley has helped their business reduce their risk exposure when it comes to compliance and insurance.

Being new to the trucking industry can feel stressful. Especially when 90% of trucking companies fail in the first 12 months.

Conductor finds a nimble and progressive background check partner in Foley, plus a seamless applicant tracking system (ATS). With Greenhouse Software as their ATS, Conductor had already structured and streamlined their hiring process. But Conductor’s background check vendor (one of the largest in the US and arranged through their former parent company) couldn’t deliver the type of candidate experience that adhered to their strong company culture.

In this customer video, Diana Cooley talks about the benefits she has seen with Foley's Drug and Alcohol Testing, Clearinghouse, Audit Risk Monitor, and Customer Support.

Foley's User-Friendly Solution Helps PKS Achieve Total Compliance and Save Time PKS Concrete Pumping Services turned to Foley to streamline their onboarding and compliance processes. With Foley's user-friendly software, PKS achieved total compliance and saved their team hours each week. The software automated tasks such as drug and alcohol testing, driver file management, DOT physicals, and MVR monitoring, making the onboarding process 75% more efficient.

Streamlining Fleet Management and Improving Compliance: Pet Food Experts' Success with Foley Pet Food Experts, a family-owned distributor of pet food and supplies, faced challenges in managing their fleet of 95 drivers. They needed a cost-effective solution that offered more than just compliance and fleet management features.

Foley streamlined compliance and onboarding so AERO BridgeWorks is audit-ready. AERO BridgeWorks started with manual paper files and reviewing a driver file required the team to look through 3–4 separate locations. The team also needed help making sure they were DOT-compliant.

What gaps or inefficiencies are slowing down your hiring and onboarding processes? Take this quick quiz and find out.

Take our quick assessment to determine your audit risk – as well as what you can do to prepare.

Our quick quiz will walk you through your requirements to make sure you’re running a safe and compliant program.

How much could you save with an MVR Monitoring Program?

Learn what inspectors will be looking for during the CVSA Roadcheck – and whether your company is prepared.

Make sure your driver files are ready for an offsite audit and beyond with our quick compliance quiz.

Are you running risky background checks? Take our short quiz to find out!