Your state driver’s licensing agency (SDLA) must know how you intend to use your commercial driver’s license to ensure you meet the requirements for medical certification. The information below will help you to make the correct determination of which category of CMV operation you fall into.
Trucking
Where can I get a copy of my Company Safety Profile?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) maintains a company safety profile on all motor carriers. The public can access much of the information contained in the company safety profile through a program called MCMIS Data Dissemination Program. Additionally, every motor carrier can request its own records. The FMCSA charges a fee to access a company safety profile regardless of who requests it.
Read moreWhere can I get a copy of my Company Safety Profile?
How can I improve in the Controlled Substances/Alcohol BASIC?
Controlled substances and alcohol is just one of seven areas that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) monitors with its Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Category (BASIC) program. Like the other six categories, the FMCSA assigns commercial drivers a percentile rank based on their performance when compared to other drivers with a similar number of safety violations.
Read moreHow can I improve in the Controlled Substances/Alcohol BASIC?
What do I do when my medical certificate and/or variance is about to expire?
As part of its requirements for the Driver Fitness portion of its Behavioral Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASIC) program, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires drivers to undergo a medical examination to prove fitness for duty. Drivers must then present a copy of the medical certificate to the State Driver License Agency (SDLA) in the state where they received their commercial driver’s license (CDL).
Read moreWhat do I do when my medical certificate and/or variance is about to expire?
How do I know if I am subject to FMCSA’s safety regulations?
One of the most basic questions of new commercial drivers is whether they need to operate under the authority of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The answer to this question depends on whether you or your employer meet certain criteria established by the FMCSA. So – are you subject to FMCSA safety regulations?
Read moreHow do I know if I am subject to FMCSA’s safety regulations?
How do I register with the FMCSA to operate in interstate commerce?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) enforces different requirements depending on whether a driver’s routes require traveling intrastate or interstate. If intrastate, it means the driver only complete deliveries within the same state that issued his or her commercial driver’s license. Interstate has to do with commerce that takes place in multiple states. So, as you can see, there’s a big distinction between interstate commerce and intrastate commerce.
Read moreHow do I register with the FMCSA to operate in interstate commerce?
Where can roadside inspection data be viewed?
All drivers and commercial motor vehicles are governed by specific regulations. Unfortunately, not every vehicle and driver complies with these requirements. Noncompliance can cause a safety hazard for everyone on the road. For this reason, the authorities engage in certain activities designed to enforce these regulations.
How can a carrier improve in the Hazardous Materials Compliance BASIC?
Hazardous Materials is one of seven categories that inspectors from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) measure as part of its Behavioral Analysis and Safety Improvement Category (BASIC). It’s like the other six BASICs in that the FMCSA compares drivers with a similar number of safety events to come up with a percentile ranking. The higher the percentage, the greater the likelihood the FMCSA will initiate intervention efforts with the driver. However, this category is unique from the others because it only applies to drivers who transport materials the FMCSA considers hazardous.
Read moreHow can a carrier improve in the Hazardous Materials Compliance BASIC?
How can a carrier improve in the Driver Fitness BASIC?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) maintains seven categories in its Behavioral Analysis and Safety Improvement Category (BASIC) program to provide standards in which to evaluate driver safety. Driver Fitness is one of the seven BASICs. Inspectors rank drivers who have a similar number of safety events such as crashes, violations, or lack of proper recordkeeping, against each other to determine a percentile rank.
Read moreHow can a carrier improve in the Driver Fitness BASIC?
What is a Cooperative Safety Plan (CSP) and are motor carriers required to develop one?
A cooperative safety plan (CSP) is a voluntary structured plan that motor carriers file with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The purpose of the plan is for the motor carrier to address any underlying issues that have or could potentially lead to safety issues and improve its performance.
Read moreWhat is a Cooperative Safety Plan (CSP) and are motor carriers required to develop one?