J.J. Keller has added a New Entrant Resource Center to its web site with information about the passing criteria needed to pass a new entrant safety audit mandated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.


Beginning on December 16, 2009, failure to comply with any of the 16 regulations dating back to February 17, 2009, will result in a failed audit, and revocation of a carrier's U.S. DOT new entrant registration.

Many new companies that passed the old audit would fail the new audit, according to Betty Weiland, a transportation subject matter expert with J.J. Keller & Associates. "More than 99 percent of new companies audited between 2003 and 2007 passed the audit that had been in place," she said. "If they would have been audited using the new criteria, 47.9 percent would have failed. In the future, new companies will have to do a much better job complying with the regulations."

Besides the new rule, the site covers the basics of:
• registering the company with federal and state agencies
• IFTA and IRP processes
• driver qualification
• drug and alcohol testing
• maintaining required documentation
• many other DOT requirements

In addition to regulatory issues, the business area of this resource center explains the basics of operating a motor carrier business, such as the business plan, banking and accounting, insurance, establishing basic policies and procedures, and the differences among sole proprietor, partnership, corporation and limited liability companies.

The site provides transportation FAQs that address common questions new entrants have, as well as the latest transportation news that affects motor carriers in general.

The New Entrant Resource Center can be accessed at: www.jjkeller.com/25035