What happens if I don comply with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations?
All motor carriers who must follow the FMCSRs are subject to a U.S. DOT compliance audit. Based on evidence of compliance, or lack thereof, you will be issued a safety rating of either satisfactory, conditional, or unsatisfactory. If you do not comply with the regulations, you may be issued a poor rating, which may cause you to lose operating authority, cause your insurance rates to increase, or cause shippers to cease using your services. Poor results from an audit can cause more than a bad safety rating. The criminal penalties for knowingly and willfully violating any part of the FMCSRs are: employers are subject to a fine of $27,500.00 and/or imprisonment not to exceed one year, and employees are subject to a fine of $2,750.00.
