Mock DOT Audit Help in Wisconsin

Private fleets make up a large part of the Wisconsin directory

Our carrier directory lists about 65,620 motor carrier records with a Wisconsin address. About 45,250 are marked private and about 25,670 are marked for-hire. Those directory classifications should not be treated as mutually exclusive categories, but they show that a substantial share of Wisconsin operations move their own property rather than operating only as traditional trucking companies.

That matters in a compliance review. A manufacturer, contractor, agricultural business or distributor can be subject to motor carrier safety requirements even though transportation is not its primary business. A mock audit should confirm which federal and Wisconsin requirements apply before treating every vehicle or driver the same.

Areas worth checking include annual driving-record inquiries and reviews, current medical qualification information where required, qualification documentation, drug and alcohol testing coverage, hours-of-service records and maintenance controls.

What a Wisconsin review should cover

A useful review should be built around the regulations that actually apply to the carrier:

• Driver qualification files and required driver investigation records
• Hours-of-service and ELD records, including use of any short-haul exception
• Drug and alcohol testing and Clearinghouse compliance for drivers subject to Part 382
• Inspection, repair and maintenance records, including annual periodic inspections and roadside inspection follow-up
• Accident-register records and related supporting documentation
• Operating authority and financial-responsibility records where they apply
• Hazmat records where applicable, including training and other required documentation for affected operations

About 4,900 Wisconsin directory records are flagged for hazardous materials, so carriers in that group should make sure the reviewer understands both the FMCSRs and the hazardous-material requirements that apply to the operation.

A mock audit is not an FMCSA Safety Audit or compliance investigation. It cannot issue or change a federal safety rating, and it does not replace an official New Entrant Safety Audit. A useful report should identify the record or procedure reviewed, the applicable requirement, the problem found and the corrective action needed.

Before you book a provider in Wisconsin

Ask whether the provider works remotely, on site or both, and whether it has experience with your type of operation. Confirm how many drivers, vehicles and months of records are included in the scope. If you have intrastate-only operations, ask the provider to separate federal requirements from Wisconsin requirements rather than assuming the same rule applies to every file.

Have your driver and vehicle lists, recent HOS records, drug and alcohol program records, roadside inspection reports and maintenance records available. For a Milwaukee operation, see mock DOT audit help in Milwaukee. If Clearinghouse administration is the weak point, start with DOT Clearinghouse compliance help in Wisconsin. You can also read how the mock DOT audit service works nationwide or browse all DOT compliance services in Wisconsin.