Compliance

Compliance DOT Inspections DOT Inspection Readiness: What Every Owner-Operator Should Know Before the Officer Walks Up Most inspection failures are preventable. The outcome is usually decided by your pre-trip, paperwork, logs, and maintenance long before you reach the scale. By Donna “By the Book” Reyes HaulSmarterHQ Editorial Published June 2026 Core Principle The inspection starts…

FMCSA audits new carriers within their first 12 months of operations. Most fail not because they’re unsafe — but because their paperwork isn’t in order. Here’s exactly what they look for.