Free FMCSA audit-readiness check
Would your fleet pass an FMCSA audit today?
Enter your USDOT number and answer a few questions. We pull what the public record already shows, simulate the finding an investigator would likely write, name the exact record each one requires, and cite the CFR behind it.
Free. No account. Illustrative self-assessment, not an official FMCSA determination.
What an FMCSA audit checks, and the record behind each item
An FMCSA compliance review (a new-entrant safety audit or a focused/comprehensive investigation) is a records exam. The investigator does not just look at your trucks; they ask you to produce specific documents and check each against a section of 49 CFR. This free check walks the same eight areas a small carrier is most often written up for, names the exact record each one requires, and cites the regulation behind it.
The check is an illustrative self-assessment based on public FMCSA data and your own answers. It is not an official FMCSA determination, prediction, or legal advice. Verify every item against your own records and at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. Penalty figures reference the current $16,550 per-violation maximum.
Driver Qualification Files 49 CFR 391.51
For every driver currently operating, do you have a COMPLETE Driver Qualification File on file (application, MVRs, medical cert, road test or CDL copy) that was complete BEFORE their first dispatch?
- Record required:
- Complete Driver Qualification File per driver (application, MVRs, medical cert, road test or CDL copy)
- Retention:
- Duration of employment plus 3 years (49 CFR 391.51)
- Exposure:
- Up to $16,550 per violation; driver may be placed out of service
Annual MVR review and list of violations 49 CFR 391.25
In the last 12 months, have you pulled and signed an annual MVR review AND collected a signed annual list of violations for every driver?
- Record required:
- Signed annual review of each driver's motor vehicle record (49 CFR 391.25), plus the driver's annual list of violations (49 CFR 391.27)
- Retention:
- 3 years from execution (49 CFR 391.25, 391.27)
- Exposure:
- Up to $16,550 per violation
DOT medical examiner certificates 49 CFR 391.45
Are all DOT medical examiner certificates on file and unexpired today, with a reminder process before each 24-month expiry?
- Record required:
- Current unexpired Medical Examiner's Certificate (MCSA-5876) per driver, filed in the DQF
- Retention:
- Kept current in the DQF (retained per 49 CFR 391.51)
- Exposure:
- Up to $16,550 per violation; driver out of service
Pre-employment drug test and written policy 49 CFR 382.301
Do you have a documented negative pre-employment drug test for each driver, AND a written drug and alcohol policy delivered to every driver before their first shift?
- Record required:
- Documented negative pre-employment drug test per driver (49 CFR 382.301), plus a written drug and alcohol policy distributed to each driver (49 CFR 382.601)
- Retention:
- Negative pre-employment results retained 5 years
- Exposure:
- Up to $16,550 per violation
Random drug and alcohol testing pool 49 CFR 382.305
Are all safety-sensitive drivers in a random testing pool meeting the annual minimum rates (50% drugs, 10% alcohol), with selections and completions documented?
- Record required:
- Random testing pool records: selections and completions meeting the annual minimum rates
- Retention:
- Positive results 5 years; program records per 382.401
- Exposure:
- Up to $16,550 per violation
Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse queries 49 CFR 382.701
Have you run a full pre-employment Clearinghouse query for each driver AND a limited annual query this calendar year for all current CDL drivers?
- Record required:
- Full pre-employment Clearinghouse query per driver and a limited annual query for each current CDL driver
- Retention:
- 3 years
- Exposure:
- Up to $16,550 per violation
ELD records and hours of service 49 CFR 395.8(k)
Are your ELD records retained for the last 6 months and readily producible, with a written malfunction procedure your drivers know?
- Record required:
- ELD records / records of duty status, retained and producible (49 CFR 395.8(k)), plus a written malfunction procedure your drivers know
- Retention:
- 6 months (49 CFR 395.8(k))
- Exposure:
- Up to $16,550 per violation; driver out of service
Vehicle maintenance and inspections 49 CFR 396.3
For each power unit, do you keep a systematic maintenance file, driver vehicle inspection reports (DVIRs), and a current annual inspection report?
- Record required:
- A systematic maintenance file per power unit (49 CFR 396.3), driver vehicle inspection reports (49 CFR 396.11), and a current annual inspection report (49 CFR 396.17)
- Retention:
- Systematic maintenance file per 396.3; DVIRs 90 days (396.11); annual inspection report 14 months (396.17)
- Exposure:
- Up to $16,550 per violation; vehicle out of service
FileFlo keeps every one of these records classified to its CFR citation, tracks each expiry, and rebuilds your audit binder as documents change. The self-check above is a one-time snapshot; the 5-day FileFlo trial connects your existing storage and runs the same checks continuously. FileFlo is a records-and-proof layer, not your logbook or maintenance-tracking system, and is not SOC 2 certified.