New Entrant Program
The purpose of the New Entrant Program is to introduce new interstate motor carriers to federal safety standard and regulations. For the first 18 months, a carrier registers and receives a USDOT number, they are considered a new entrant. Within the 12 months after the new entrant begins operating, a safety audit will be conducted.
Suspended vs Revoked
There is often a confusion between suspension and revocation. The similarity between the two is that both make it illegal to operate on US roads. The differences are:
- the penalties
- the requirements to reinstate your driving privileges
Revocation
- The first driving-after-revocation conviction can be either a criminal or civil offense, depending on the reason the operating privilege is revoked.
- Second and subsequent driving-after-revocation convictions are criminal offenses. Penalties may include jail time.
Suspension
- Driving-while-suspended convictions are civil offenses. Penalties do not include jail time.
URS vs UCR
URS is short for “Unified Registration System,” a new electronic on-line registration system that will modernize and simplify the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) registration process and serve as a reservoir of information on all entities regulated by the Agency.
UCR is short for “Unified Carrier Registration,” which is not an FMCSA program. It concerns an agreement among the states set up by Congress governing the collection and distribution of registration information and UCR fees paid to states by motor carriers, private motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies. The fees are in support of state motor carrier safety activities.
USDOT vs MC Number
The purpose of a USDOT number is to identify carriers that operate in interstate commerce. As for the MC number, it’s purpose is to identify carriers that transport regulated commodities for hire in interstate commerce. Usually, items that have been changed from their natural state are regulated commodities and do require an MC number. All for-hire carriers must still have operating authority and with it an MC number.
Motor Carrier
Motor carrier (designation), a company which employs large semi-truck and bus drivers. You can look up a motor carrier by name, DOT number or MC number on our website.
Private Motor Carrier
A private motor carrier transports its own cargo, usually as a part of a business that produces, uses, sells and/or buys the cargo that is being shipped. A private motor carrier transports its own goods and is required to have a USDOT number but does not need operating authority (MC number).
For Hire Motor Carrier
An authorized for-hire motor carrier transports passengers, regulated property or household goods owned by others for pay. If you are a for-hire carrier, in addition to the USDOT number you will also need to obtain operating authority (MC number).
CSAT Enrollment
CVC Section 34520 requires motor carriers and drivers to comply with the CSAT requirements of the United States Secretary of Transportation, as set forth in Part 382 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
Additionally, upon the request of an authorized employee of the CHP, motor carriers are required to make available for inspection copies of all results and other records pertaining to controlled substance and alcohol use and testing conducted pursuant to federal law, including those records contained in individual driver qualification files.
CSAT Exception
Exemptions are allowed for your driver if:
- He/she is in a current program, with your company, which is required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). If such time your driver is removed from the FMCSA program they must be immediately enrolled in your CSAT program.
Grant Program
FMCSA safety grant funding opportunities are available primarily to State and local government agencies in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.