Quick Reference Guides

Straight-to-the-point compliance guides for owner-operators and small fleet managers. No filler — just the rules you need to know.

FMCSA Quick Start Guide

Everything you need to get registered and operating legally.

Obtain your USDOT number at FMCSA.dot.gov — required before operating interstate
Apply for Operating Authority (MC number) if you're a for-hire carrier hauling regulated freight
File your BOC-3 form (blanket coverage for process agents) before operating
Obtain FMCSA-compliant insurance: $750K minimum for general freight, $1M for hazmat
Register for Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) annually — fees based on fleet size
Apply for IFTA (International Fuel Tax Agreement) if crossing state lines with diesel
Complete your New Entrant Safety Audit within 12 months of starting operations
Set up your Drug and Alcohol Testing Program (consortium or owner-operator self-testing)

The hours-of-service rules every driver must know cold.

11-Hour Driving Limit: May drive max 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty
14-Hour Window: May not drive beyond 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty
30-Minute Break: Required after 8 hours of driving time (off-duty or sleeper berth)
60/70-Hour Limit: May not drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days
34-Hour Restart: Reset 60/70-hour limit by taking 34+ consecutive hours off duty
Short-Haul Exception: Drivers operating within 150 air miles may qualify for no ELD/logbook requirement
Adverse Driving Conditions: May extend driving window by up to 2 hours in hazardous conditions
ELD Mandate: Most carriers must use FMCSA-compliant Electronic Logging Devices

What goes in a DQ file, how long to keep it, and when to review it.

DQ file required for every CDL driver — must be maintained at your principal place of business
Required docs: employment application, MVR, CDL copy, medical certificate, road test certificate
Pre-employment drug test: must pass before first dispatch — retain results in DQ file
Annual MVR review: required every 12 months — document the review date and findings
Previous employer records: request safety performance history for past 3 years
Retention periods: DQ files retained 3 years after driver leaves; accident records 3 years
Medical certificate expiration: drivers must have a current DOT medical card — track expiration dates

Walk into your next audit prepared. Know the audit types, what auditors check, and how to pass.

Compliance Review (CR): Full-scale audit of safety management controls, records, and violations
Focused Review (FR): Triggered by specific violations — targets one or two factor categories
Roadside Data Review: Automated review of roadside inspection and crash data
Safety Rating Scale: Satisfactory, Conditional, Unsatisfactory — Conditional or Unsat triggers follow-up
Prep step 1: Pull all driver DQ files and verify completeness before any audit
Prep step 2: Run a full FMCSA SMS score review — know your CSA violation points before auditors do
Prep step 3: Audit your Hours of Service logs for missing entries, falsification red flags
Prep step 4: Verify drug & alcohol testing records are complete and compliant

Key regulations every owner-operator and fleet manager must know.

49 CFR Part 382: Drug and Alcohol Testing Program requirements for CDL drivers
49 CFR Part 383: CDL standards — driver licensing, testing, disqualification rules
49 CFR Part 391: Driver qualifications — eligibility, medical standards, DQ files
49 CFR Part 395: Hours of Service regulations — driving limits, rest requirements
49 CFR Part 396: Vehicle inspection, repair, and maintenance — DVIR requirements
49 CFR Part 390: General FMCSA regulations — recordkeeping, definitions, penalties
FMCSA Safety Measurement System (SMS): Scores your fleet on 7 BASIC categories monthly
CSA violations can affect your Safety Rating, insurance premiums, and DOT audit priority

BridgeWorks One™ tracks every deadline, document, and inspection for your fleet.

BridgeWorks Academy™ offers step-by-step compliance education, certification programs, and training courses for owner-operators and fleet managers.