Beginning Jan. 1, the Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will impose stricter minimum requirements to improve the safety performance of new motor carriers.

Applicants will be required to demonstrate knowledge of safety regulations through an application process, and will undergo an on-site safety audit within the first 18 months of operations before receiving permanent operating authority.
Carriers failing to demonstrate basic safety management controls during the 18-month period will be denied permanent operating authority. New entrants must certify that they will comply with applicable requirements covering driver qualifications, hours of service, controlled substance and alcohol testing, vehicle condition, accident monitoring and hazardous materials transportation.
All new entrant motor carriers must complete an application package consisting of a MCS-150 and a MCS-150A. This application may be completed on-line at www.fmcsa.dot.gov, or by calling (800) 832-5660 to request an application by mail. For-hire motor carriers must complete an OP-1, or OP-1(P), the BOC-3, and pay a $300 filing fee. Private, and exempt for-hire carriers will not be required to pay any fee. Once the application package is completed, the carrier will be granted a new entrant registration (USDOT number).
After being issued a new entrant registration, the carrier will be subject to an 18-month safety-monitoring period. During this safety-monitoring period, the carrier will receive a safety audit and have their roadside crash and inspection information closely evaluated. The carrier will be required to demonstrate it has the necessary systems in place to ensure basic safety management controls. Failure to demonstrate basic safety management controls may result in the carrier having their new entrant registration revoked.
The carrier will be notified in writing that the "new entrant" designation will be removed from their registration at the end of the 18-month safety-monitoring period, if the carrier meets the following requirements: The new entrant has passed a safety audit, or has not been deemed "unfit" following a compliance review; and the new entrant does not have any outstanding civil penalties.
The safety audits will primarily be conducted on-site at the carrier's principle place of business. However, some safety audits may be conducted at other locations.
Carriers can get educational and technical assistance packages on-line at the above web address. Carriers without Internet access can contact J.J. Keller at (800) 327-6868 to purchase a copy of the educational and technical assistance package.