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The New Entrant Safety Audit is a mandatory review conducted by the FMCSA within your first 12 months (and during an 18-month monitoring period) after registering your company’s USDOT Number and interstate operating authority. This audit checks whether you have proper safety management controls in place—covering driver qualification, hours-of-service logs, vehicle maintenance, insurance, and drug & alcohol testing.

• Timing: Typically takes place within 3–12 months of starting operations .
   
• Format: Conducted on-site, off-site, or online, based on FMCSA procedures.
   
• Outcome: You either pass and move toward permanent authority, or fail—requiring a corrective action plan and risking downtime if not resolved.

A Safety Investigation, also known as a Compliance Review (CR), is an in-depth audit conducted by the FMCSA or state enforcement agencies to evaluate a motor carrier’s compliance with federal safety regulations. These reviews typically occur when a carrier has poor safety scores, accidents, violations, or is flagged during routine inspections.

A Corrective Action Plan (CAP) is a formal written response required by the FMCSA when a motor carrier fails a New Entrant Safety Audit or receives a “Conditional” or “Unsatisfactory” safety rating during a compliance review. The CAP outlines the specific steps your company will take to fix violations and bring your operations back into compliance with federal safety regulations.

A Safety Rating Upgrade is the process of formally requesting the FMCSA to improve your company’s safety rating after receiving a “Conditional” or “Unsatisfactory” result from a compliance review or safety audit. An upgraded rating—ideally to “Satisfactory”—helps restore your company’s reputation, improves broker and shipper relationships, and ensures continued operating authority.