The numbers are grim: 94% of trucking company audits result in at least one violation. For most trucking company owners, that first knock on the door by a DOT auditor doesn’t go as planned.
What’s Really Happening with DOT Audits?
About 60% of all critical violations found in audits are related to recordkeeping, not maintenance, not driver behavior. Paperwork.
That single statistic should shock you awake. A missing medical certificate. An expired Motor Vehicle Record (MVR). An incomplete driver qualification (DQ) file. These aren’t egregious failures—they’re organizational oversights. And they could cost you thousands.
The Audit Landscape Has Changed
For the fourth consecutive year, 2024 (2025 data is forthcoming) brought with it a rise in on-site audits; over 8 out of 10 audits are now conducted on-site. On-site refers to auditors appearing at your facility with a checklist, interviewing your staff, and auditing your physical (and digital) records.
This represents a sea change. On-site audits are broader in scope, more invasive, and much more likely to turn up violative practices than their offsite cousins.
Why Small Fleets Take the Hardest Hit
You think you’re too small to get audited? Think again. Over half (54%) of the companies that were audited operated fewer than 7 power units. Smaller fleets are in the auditor’s sights because auditors realize they’re more likely to have manual systems with holes.
What This Means for Your Bottom Line
One violation = $1,544 minimum fine. Multiple violations = thousands more. Nearly 1 in 4 audits resulted in a fine, and total fines exceeded $27 million in 2024.
The question isn’t whether you’ll be audited. It’s whether you’ll be ready.
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ComplyDQ: Digital driver qualification file management that keeps your recordkeeping audit-proof. Stop worrying about compliance. Start driving growth.
Sources:
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) 2024 Audits Year in Review
- J. J. Keller Encompass Fleet Management Data
- FMCSA Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS)