The penalties are going up. Again.
The Steady March of Increasing Fines
The maximum daily penalty for committing DOT recordkeeping violations has increased from $1,544 to $1,584, and the maximum total penalty is now $15,846 instead of $15,445.
This is part of a larger trend. The fines have increased by a multiple of 1.02598, effective December 30, 2024.
It doesn’t sound like much. A $40 increase per day. But over multiple violations, across multiple drivers, the math gets ugly fast.
What This Really Means for Your Fleet
One recordkeeping violation: $1,584 Two violations: $3,168 Five violations: $7,920 Ten violations (average small fleet): $15,840
And that’s assuming it’s just recordkeeping violations. Throw in a few Driver Fitness issues or failed renewals, and you’re easily into $20,000+ territory.
The Trend Line Is Clear
Maximum fines allowed by law are tied to inflation and have increased by 20% over the past four years.
That means penalties will continue to rise. The cost of non-compliance isn’t staying the same. In many cases it’s growing faster than many trucking company’s revenue probably is.
Prevention Is Now the Business Case
It’s not just about compliance anymore. It’s about economics and protecting your business. With penalties increasing annually and audits increasing annually, 94% of audits resulting in at least one violation, the financial case for prevention is overwhelming. If you can make it easier why wouldn’t you?
Spend $2,424/year on compliance automation or gamble with $15,000+ audit fines. The math is obvious. (example using ComplyDQ For a 50-truck fleet: $10 (first 2 drivers) + (48 drivers × $4=$202/month)
Lock in your 2025 compliance budget before it gets worse.
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ComplyDQ: Automation that costs less than one violation and prevents most of them entirely.
Sources:
- FMCSA Civil Penalties 2025 Updates
- Foley: FMCSA Fines Have Increased Again (2025)
- Federal Register: FMCSA Fine Adjustments