Arnold Safety Blog

Q. Who has to fill out log books?
A. If you drive beyond 100 air miles from your terminal, or work more than 12 hours in a shift, you do.  If you drive a non-CDL vehicle, there are numerous exceptions that apply to you, instead of the 100 air mile rule.
Eric Arnold is a Former Enforcement Agent [...]

The simplest advice (which often the best) on maintenance is 1) keep the vehicles in proper working condition at all times, and 2) write everything down you do to the vehicle in the way of maintenance.

The rules state that a CDL driver must complete a logbook every day.  Except if they stay within a 100 mile radius, and report back to the office within 12 hours.  In that case, they may record the time started, time finished, and the total number of hours worked that day.  This can be done [...]

What is the best way to survive a DOT audit?  The short answer is, “don’t get audited”.  This is done by staying off DOT’s radar screen.  DOT primarily conducts its audits from its Safestat list.  The Safestat list is a hit list of what DOT considers to be the most hazardous motor carriers.  DOT keeps [...]

Every driver of a commercial motor vehicle is required to have a driver qualification file.  In this file are a variety of documents which demonstrate to the world that this driver is qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle.  This applies to drivers in interstate commerce (usually meaning crossing state lines) if they operate a [...]

As I have said time and time again, the primary reason you follow the safety regulations is to protect yourself from liability, as well as preventing accidents, and protecting your drivers and the motoring public.  Avoiding DOT fines is a secondary bonus to being in compliance with the rules.  Here is a story of a [...]

DOT probably levies more penalties for failing to drug and alcohol testing than any others.  Particularly to the smaller, local type companies who are not your traditional “for-hire” motor carriers, ie, landscapers, utilities, construction companies, etc.  If you have vehicles which require a CDL license, you are subject to drug and alcohol testing.  This includes:  [...]