DOT compliance guides for small fleets

Plain-English answers to the questions small trucking companies ask most, each checked against the federal regulations.

How to Designate a C/TPA in the FMCSA ClearinghouseStep-by-step: how employers and owner-operators designate a C/TPA in the FMCSA Clearinghouse, which permissions to give, and what to check after.
How to Buy a Clearinghouse Query PlanEvery employer of CDL drivers must buy a Clearinghouse query plan. Queries cost $1.25 each, never expire, and your C/TPA cannot buy them for you.
The Clearinghouse Pre-Employment Query for CDL DriversBefore a new CDL driver does any safety-sensitive work, you must run a full Clearinghouse query with the driver's electronic consent. Here is how.
The Annual Clearinghouse Query for Every CDL DriverYou must query the Clearinghouse at least once a year for every CDL driver. Learn about limited queries, driver consent, and the 24-hour full-query rule.
Clearinghouse Requirements for Owner-OperatorsOwner-operators under their own USDOT number must register as an employer, designate a C/TPA, buy a query plan, and join a random testing pool.
DOT Random Drug Testing Rates for 2026FMCSA random testing rates for 2026 are 50% for drugs and 10% for alcohol. Learn how to count your pool, figure tests needed, and schedule them right.
What Is a DOT Drug Testing Consortium?What a DOT drug testing consortium or C/TPA does, why owner-operators need one, and what stays your job as the employer even after you join.
DOT Drug and Alcohol Policy Requirements for Trucking CompaniesWhat your FMCSA drug and alcohol policy must include under 49 CFR 382.601, who gets a copy, and why every driver must sign a certificate of receipt.
DOT Reasonable Suspicion Training for SupervisorsDOT requires 60 minutes of alcohol and 60 minutes of drug training for supervisors of CDL drivers. See the rule and how reasonable suspicion tests work.
DOT Drug and Alcohol Record Retention: How Long to Keep Each RecordHow long FMCSA carriers must keep drug and alcohol records under 49 CFR 382.401 (5 years, 2 years, 1 year, training records) and who can see them.
The New Entrant Safety Audit and Your Drug & Alcohol ProgramWhat the FMCSA new entrant safety audit checks for drug and alcohol testing, the 5 automatic-fail violations, when it happens, and what records to have.
The DOT Return-to-Duty Process, Step by StepThe DOT return-to-duty process after a drug or alcohol violation: SAP evaluation, treatment, the RTD test, follow-up testing, and Clearinghouse reports.
DOT Post-Accident Drug and Alcohol Testing (49 CFR 382.303)When FMCSA requires post-accident drug and alcohol testing, the 2, 8, and 32-hour time limits, and what to document if a test can't be done in time.
DOT Medical Card Requirements: What Drivers and Carriers Need to KnowDOT medical card basics: who needs one, how long it lasts, the National Registry exam, how CDL medical status reaches the state, and DQ file rules.
The Annual MVR Review Under 49 CFR 391.25How to meet the FMCSA annual driving record review under 391.25: get an MVR from each licensing authority, review it, and keep a signed, dated note.
DOT Pre-Employment Drug Test: What the Rule RequiresWhen a DOT pre-employment drug test is required, the 382.301 exception, whether alcohol testing is needed, and what to do with a negative-dilute result.
Checking a Driver's Previous Employers: Drug, Alcohol, and Safety HistoryWhat to ask a CDL driver's previous employers, how far back to look, the 30-day deadline, and what the Clearinghouse replaced after January 6, 2023.
Driver Qualification File ChecklistEvery document a DOT driver qualification file must hold under 391.51, what the application must include, and how long to keep each item.
DOT Drug and Alcohol Test Refusals: What Counts and What Happens NextWhat counts as a refusal on a DOT drug or alcohol test, how shy bladder is handled, and what happens next: removal, SAP, and Clearinghouse reporting.
What Does a DOT Drug Test Screen For?The drugs on the DOT drug test panel under 49 CFR 40.82 and 40.85, the status of fentanyl, and whether oral fluid testing can be used yet in 2026.
DOT Alcohol Testing Rules for Trucking CompaniesHow DOT breath alcohol tests work: screening vs. confirmation, who can test, what 0.02-0.039 and 0.04+ mean for a CDL driver, and the timing windows.
How DOT Random Selection Works for CDL DriversThe FMCSA rules for picking drivers for random drug and alcohol tests: a scientific method, equal chance, unannounced dates, going right away, and records.
The DOT Shy Bladder Procedure, Step by StepWhat happens when a driver can't give enough urine for a DOT drug test: 40 ounces over 3 hours, the 5-day medical evaluation, and when it is a refusal.
The MRO's Role in DOT Drug TestingHow the MRO reviews DOT drug tests: the verification interview, prescriptions, safety concerns, dilute and split specimens, and when you get results.
The Annual DOT Drug and Alcohol MIS ReportWhat the annual DOT drug and alcohol MIS report is, when FMCSA asks for it, the March 15 deadline, who certifies it, and how a C/TPA can prepare it.
Reporting Violations to the FMCSA ClearinghouseWhat employers, MROs, SAPs, and C/TPAs must report to the FMCSA Clearinghouse under 49 CFR 382.705, and the deadline for each report.
Marijuana and CBD: What DOT Drivers Need to KnowDOT drivers can't use marijuana, even where state law allows it. What DOT says about CBD, medical marijuana cards, and the 2026 rescheduling steps.
Drug and Alcohol Violations in FMCSA InvestigationsThe drug and alcohol rules FMCSA treats as acute or critical in an investigation, how they affect your safety rating, and the most-cited violations.
Drug and Alcohol Rules Every CDL Driver Must FollowThe drug and alcohol rules every CDL driver must follow under 49 CFR Part 382, Subpart B, explained in plain English for drivers and employers.
Who Needs DOT Drug and Alcohol Testing?Which drivers fall under FMCSA drug and alcohol testing: CDL vehicles by weight, passengers, or hazmat placards, plus the exceptions in 49 CFR 382.103.

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