Transport Topics / New Entrant Safety Assurance Program

New Entrant Safety Assurance Program

OVERVIEW

New Entrant Safety Assurance Programs affect U.S. and Canada-based motor carriers. New Entrant is a motor carrier not domiciled in Mexico that applies for a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) identification number, in order to initiate operations in interstate commerce.

The New Entrant will be monitored during the initial 18-month period and must:

- Operate Safely
- Maintain up-to-date records
- Conduct periodic inspections and perform maintenance on CMVs.
- Pass the Safety Audit

Within 12 months after commencing operations a certified U.S. Federal Safety Investigator, or a State or Provincial Enforcement Officer of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will conduct a Safety Audit on the New Entrant. The audit will be performed at the carrier’s location or on-line by uploading the necessary documents. The FMCSA will also monitor the New Entrant’s safety performance through roadside inspections and will grant permanent authority upon satisfactory safe compliance.

If passed, FMCSA will continue to monitor the New Entrant’s safety compliance and performance. If failed, New Entrants must satisfactorily implement a corrective action to correct safety management practices. Failure to do so will result in immediate revocation of U.S. DOT registration

A New Entrant will AUTOMATICALLY FAIL the Safety Audit for violations related to Drug & Alcohol as follows:

- No alcohol and/or drug testing program.
- No RANDOM alcohol and/or drug testing program.
- Using a driver who refused a required alcohol or drug test.
- Using a driver the company knows had a blood alcohol content of 0.04 or greater.
- Using a driver who failed to complete required follow-up procedures after testing positive for drugs.

A New Entrant will also fail the Safety Audit for knowingly:

​- Using a driver without a valid CDL.
- Using a disqualified driver.
- Using a driver with a revoked, suspended, or cancelled CDL.
- Using a medically unqualified driver.
- Operating a motor vehicle without having in effect the required level of insurance.
- Failing to require drivers to make hours-of-service records.
- Operating a vehicle declared Out-of-Service for safety deficiencies before repairs are made.
- Not performing OOS repairs reported in driver-vehicle inspection reports (DVIRs).
- Operating a CMV not periodically inspected.