FMCSA Compliance Review: What to Expect and How to Prepare
As the season shifts, staying informed and prepared is key to keeping your fleet safe and compliant. In this post, we’ll cover essential tips and reminders for navigating FMCSA Compliance Review’s, spring driving tip, daylight saving time, and upcoming safety events.
In this issue:
- Prior to the Review.
- Frost Laws in 16 States and 9 Provinces.
- Daylight Savings.
- International Roadcheck May 12-14, 2026.
- The 2026 Idealease/NPTC Safety Seminars are Being Planned!
Read, share, and/or print this week's Safety Bulletin.
Check out past Idealease Safety Bulletins.
Typically, when a motor carrier is contacted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) or its state motor carrier enforcement division about an audit or intervention, it will likely be because its Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) scores have crossed a threshold and the FMCSA now has the carrier on its radar. There may be other reasons why audits occur, but the CSA score being an issue is the most common. Since there are limited FMCSA enforcement officers, they may contract with your state carrier to conduct interventions and audits.
Other reasons why an audit or intervention could occur:
- A carrier is new to the industry (New Entrant).
- The FMCSA is following up after a conditional or unsatisfactory review.
- A carrier has had a high-profile fatal accident or a hazardous materials spill involving an accident.
- A carrier requests an audit.
- Someone has filed a written complaint with the FMCSA about noncompliance with regulations.
How much notification do carriers receive in advance of a compliance review?
Carriers are usually notified by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration through a written letter, typically receiving two weeks’ notice before the review. However, if significant noncompliance or violations are suspected, the administration may conduct and unannounced visit.
Prior to the Start of the Review
As soon as they arrive at your place of business, ask for their identification. You need to ensure that they are legitimate federal or state employees; asking for this should not be a problem since all federal and state employees are required to carry identification.
As soon as they arrive at your place of business, ask for their identification. You need to ensure that they are legitimate federal or state employees; asking for this should not be a problem since all federal and state employees are required to carry identification.
Lastly, provide your preferred method of contact for the audit (e.g., text, phone). You are the main contact for compliance and should give the auditors any documents they request.
After the audit, the auditors will meet with the company owner or president to review and sign the results. You can discuss any violations at this time. Stay calm and professional. If you disagree with a violation, politely ask for their reasoning and point out any missing documents. Remember, regulations can be interpreted in different ways, so share your understanding if needed.
What Must Carriers Produce for a Review?
Before the audit, the officer will review your company information and bring records from the CSA program about your drivers and vehicles. They will know which drivers or vehicles had violations or accidents and will likely ask for documentation about those events.
When you give them documents, only provide exactly what they ask for—nothing more. For instance, if they want hours-of-service records for five days, don’t give them the whole month. If the request is unclear, ask them to specify the dates needed.
These are some of the records that may be requested during a compliance review:
- Proof of financial responsibility (MCS-90 — for carriers with for-hire authority only)
- Driver qualification and training files
- Drug and alcohol testing policy and records, if applicable (CDL drivers only)
- Records of duty status (logs) and supporting documents
- Inspection and maintenance files (including technician certifications for brake repairs and annual inspections)
- Hazardous materials records, if applicable
- Accident registers and copies of accident reports
- Medical certifications of drivers
A motor carrier, by regulation, has two business days (48 hours) to produce records upon request.
What Can a Carrier Expect During a Review?
The officer usually starts with a short interview and a quick facility tour. They will ask simple questions about your operations, safety, and driver training.
Next, they will review your documents. Set up a table or desk for them to use and make sure they can access all necessary files and records. If you store files electronically, be ready to show or print them.
If you are an Idealease customer, contact your representative right away if you are notified of a review. They can prepare your maintenance files for the officer.
What Should Carriers Do During the Process?
Next, they will review your documents. Set up a table or desk for them to use and make sure they can access all necessary files and records. If you store files electronically, be ready to show or print them.
If you are an Idealease customer, tell your representative as soon as you are notified of a review. They will get your maintenance files ready for the officer.
Stay calm, be helpful, and answer all requests honestly and quickly. Audits can be stressful, but keeping organized and following your safety procedures will help you succeed.
Top Audit Violations
Top five acute regulations (DOT testing and CDL violations):
| Rank | Violation |
| 1 | Allowing a driver to operate with a suspended/revoked CDL (383.37A) |
| 2 | Failing to implement an alcohol and/or drug testing program (382.115A) |
| 3 | Failing to implement a random controlled substance or alcohol testing program (382.305) |
| 4 | Allowing a driver with more than one CDL to operate a CMV (383.37B) |
| 5 | Failing to randomly test for drugs and/or alcohol (382.3052) |
Noncompliance with a single acute regulation is considered a serious violation and requires immediate corrective action.
Top five critical regulations:
| Rank | Violation |
| 1 | Not using the appropriate method to record hours of service (395.8A1) |
| 2 | False records of duty status (395.8E1) |
| 3 | Driving record inquiries not kept in DQ file (391.51B2) |
| 4 | Using a CMV that is not periodically inspected (396.17A) |
| 5 | Using a driver before receiving a pre-employment result (382.301A) |
Critical regulations are rules that, if broken, show poor management. Repeated violations can lower your safety rating. If 10% or more of reviewed documents have violations, it’s considered a pattern of noncompliance.
Frost Laws in 16 States and 9 Provinces
Spring can make driving difficult because changing ground temperatures can damage roads and vehicles, causing bumpy rides.
Carriers need to follow spring weight limits set by states and provinces to avoid damaging roads and equipment.
Many places set these limits from late February to May. Drivers should look for signs about weight limits or speed reductions in thawing areas.
Drivers may need to check state websites to see which roads are open. If they find a weight restriction, they should take a different route or contact dispatch for help.
Ignoring these rules can lead to fines, road or vehicle damage, and even accidents.
For laws in each state and province:
https://oversize.io/regulations/frost-laws-by-state
Daylight Saving Time Begins Sunday, March 8
Daylight saving time starts on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at 2 a.m. Clocks move forward one hour.
Remind drivers about the time change so they can plan ahead. Route drivers should be extra careful since daylight hours will change.
Use this time to change batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Sleep experts suggest at least 7 hours of sleep each night. People often get about 40 minutes less sleep on the night of the time change, so plan to rest more if possible to avoid feeling tired.
Not all states and territories observe daylight saving time. Hawaii, most of Arizona, and some U.S. territories do not participate.
International Roadcheck — May 12–14, 2026
International Roadcheck is a three-day event where inspectors check commercial trucks and drivers across North America for safety and compliance. Nearly 15 vehicles are inspected every minute during this period, making it the largest event of its kind.
Since 1988, over 1.8 million roadside inspections have taken place during Roadcheck. The event also raises awareness about the importance of safe trucking.
CVSA sponsors International Roadcheck with participation from:
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
- Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators
- Transport Canada
- Mexico’s Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation
The 2026 Idealease/NPTC Safety Seminars Are being planned!
Idealease and the National Private Truck Council NPTC hosted 18 safety seminars in 2025. We are getting ready for the next sessions in the Spring and Fall of 2026. The one-day seminars will focus on basic safety and compliance, regulation changes and CSA. The seminars will be provided to all Idealease customers, potential customers and NPTC members at no charge. The seminar provides valuable information applicable for both novice and experienced transportation professionals.
Upcoming Spring seminars confirmed:
- 4/23/2026 - Mobile, AL
- 4/28/2026 - Pleasanton, CA
- 5/28/2026 - Tampa, FL
- 5/7/2026 - Madison, WI
- 5/28/2026 - Tampa, FL
To register for an upcoming seminars in 2026, click on the following link.
http://www.idealease.com/safety-seminar-registration
*The Idealease Safety Bulletin is provided for Idealease locations and their customers and is not to be construed as a complete or exhaustive source of compliance or safety information. The Idealease Safety Bulletin is advisory in nature and does not warrant, guarantee, or otherwise certify compliance with laws, regulations, requirements, or guidelines of any local, state, or Federal agency and/or governing body, or industry standards.
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