Get Expert Trucking Consultations and Compliance Assistance
Internal Audits
Internal audits are very important when it comes to determining the health of your company. Everything starts with safety, so it’s important to acknowledge what you do wrong and correct it. You cannot build something solid on a bad foundation. You don’t know if you are DOT compliant or not? Give us a call. We will come in, analyze your files and build a safety plan customized to your business. Don’t wait until DOT knocks on your door.
DOT Compliance Audits
Your safety score is high and DOT just gave you a call?
DQ Files
Hiring drivers can be a difficult task. Do you know what a driver qualification file needs to contain? Are your files in order? We can take this task off your shoulders and take care of your files, keep them compliant and up to date with current records, annual reports and everything else needed.
Drug and Alcohol and Clearinghouse
Are you set up with the clearinghouse yet? Is your drug and alcohol policy current? Starting January 6th, all companies hiring new drivers must be registered with the clearinghouse and run queries on all new hires. All drivers must be enrolled in the random program. It can be difficult and confusing, but we are here to help.
DataQ Challenge
Did your driver just receive a violation that will affect your safety score? Each violation, no matter how small, will raise your safety score and push you closer to a compliance review. DataQ is a program that allows carriers to file concerns about violations and crashes that affects their safety score. Give us a call and let’s see how we can dispute the violations.
Legal Help
If your driver just got a ticket for a moving violation that affects your company safety score and his record as well, you need help finding a lawyer who can fight it on your behalf. Finding the right legal advice and representation can be difficult and time-consuming. We work with traffic lawyers in most of the states, who know the law and local regulations and will go to court on your behalf. You don’t need to lose days of work or your CDL. Always free legal advice, you pay only if you decide to take our offer. Free DataQ challenge included.
IFTA
Registration and Renewal, Filing Quarterly Returns
The International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) is an agreement between most Canadian provinces and most U.S. states. IFTA makes it easier for commercial truck or bus drivers who travel between more than one jurisdiction to report the taxes on the fuels they use. As part of this agreement, registered interjurisdictional drivers can get one single license issued by the jurisdiction where their activities are based. This enables drivers to report and pay taxes to only one jurisdiction, simplifying their obligations.
Taxes that are payable on fuels used by commercial drivers, such as gasoline, diesel, propane, natural gas, methanol, ethanol, and some others, are tracked and collected by all member jurisdictions. Then, based on the amount of fuel consumed and the distances traveled by the driver in each jurisdiction, members share the revenues accordingly. The distances driven and the amount of fuel used in each jurisdiction are recorded and reported by the commercial driver. Not all types of commercial drivers can become licensed under the IFTA. The driver must use a vehicle that’s qualified to be registered under the agreement, which states that a qualified vehicle is one that is used, designed, or maintained for the transportation of persons or property and meets one of the following sizes and weight requirements:
- The vehicle must have two axles and a gross weight exceeding 26,000 pounds or 11,797 kilograms.
- Regardless of weight, the vehicle has three or more axles.
- If the vehicle is used with a trailer, it must have a combined weight exceeding 26,000 pounds or 11,797 kilograms.
Trucking Permits
Trucking permits are required to collect taxes from interstate truckers for fuel and miles operated over the highways of the United States. Each state can have a different tax rate on the fuel purchased and miles driven.
Any truck over 26,001 lbs or in combination over 26,001 lbs must be permitted when traveling across state lines. Truckers can choose to get temporary permits or order annual permits. Annual fuel permits expire on Dec. 31 of each year and temporary permits are typically good for 3 to 10 days. Truckers must also have license tags or temporary permits that allow them to cross state lines. We do quarterly fillings on permits. You MUST file if you have an open account, even if you have no miles to report!
If you need help filing your IFTA, KY, NM, NY quarterly tax returns, give us a call, we can help you!
IRP
The International Registration Plan (IRP) is a reciprocal agreement that authorizes the proportional registration among the jurisdictions (states) of commercial motor vehicles and truckers. This means if a truck is operated in multiple jurisdictions, the owner must annually report mileage driven in each state, and taxes are paid proportionately based on the mileage driven. The good news is the owner may pay those taxes in one jurisdiction—referred to as the base jurisdiction or base state.
Vehicle owners are required to register under the International Registration Plan if:
UCR
Unified Carrier Registration Plan (UCR) is the organization of state, federal, and industry representatives responsible for developing, implementing, and administering the UCR Agreement. The UCR Agreement is the interstate agreement, developed under the UCR Plan, governing the collection and distribution of registration information and fees generated under the UCR Agreement.
The UCR Plan established in 2005, requires motor carriers involved in interstate commerce, and other businesses subject to the act, to submit annual fees based on fleet size to supplement funding for state highway motor carrier registration and safety programs.
Form 2290
Anyone who has registered or is required to register a heavy highway motor vehicle with a taxable gross weight of 55,000 pounds or more in their name at the time of first use on the public highways during the reporting period must file Form 2290, Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax Return (HUT).
The filing season for Form 2290 filers is July 1 through June 30. The filing deadline for Form 2290 is based on the month you first use the taxable vehicle on public highways during the reporting period.
For vehicles you first use on a public highway in July, file Form 2290 between July 1 and August 31. The tax for the current filing season will be prorated for vehicles you first use on a public highway after July. File Form 2290 by the last day of the month following the month in which you first used the vehicle on a public highway.
Maintenance Files
We keep records of all your vehicles documentation.
Supporting certain maintenance, inspection, and repair functions for the company. Under the TSS program, we (1) track and maintain copies of the annual inspections for all trucks in the fleet, (2) remind the company when current inspections are due for renewal, (3) document and follow up on proof of repair for vehicle deficiencies indicated by the driver on this daily vehicle inspection report, (4) run periodic DOT carrier profile reports to track on-road performance for the fleet overall, (5) verify that out of service vehicles do not operate until repairs are completed and documented, (6) track the monthly maintenance reports submitted by independent contractors, (7) establish a system to document repair items for vehicle deficiencies discovered during roadside inspections, and (8) evaluate DOT roadside inspections for validity, filing Data Q challenges for improper write-ups as needed.
Company Policies
Building a business on a solid foundation is always the best advice I can give to my customers. Company policy is your statement book where you as a business establish how you want to do things to be successful but at the same time compliant with all DOT rules and regulations. We write policies based on each individual company to meet the DOT requirements and cover all aspects of the business. From drug and alcohol policy, cell phone, to preventive maintenance plan or hours of service, we customize it to your own needs.
Driver Hiring and Training
You know the business and how to run it, but simply hiring a driver and dealing with all the paperwork gives you a headache? No worries, we love talking to drivers and explaining all your company policies and rules and regulations. We take care of the paperwork and all orientation, all left to do is put him in the truck and give him the keys. If you have a driver who received a violation and needs retraining, we are here for you. We have customized retraining programs for all sorts of violations.
Open Corporations in 48 States
If you are a new business owner or simply want to open a corporation, we can help. We assist with opening different types of corporations: Inc, LLC, or sole proprietorship in most of the states in the USA. Updates, changes of your corporation, annual reports, all available at low costs. Easy and affordable.
Open USDOT/MC
We offer full packages for new companies which include an application for USDOT and MC, BOC-3, permits, and all necessary licenses and programs necessary to start and run a trucking business. You have the idea, we can do the rest.
SCAC Applications and Renewals
A SCAC (Standard Carrier Alpha Code) is a unique 4 letter code used to identify transportation companies. A SCAC is required for all carriers doing business with a U.S. Government agency. As such, all carriers crossing the border or loading, unloading at port locations, government locations, are required to have a SCAC in order to identify themselves. The SCAC code must be renewed annually.
Canada Application
If you want to haul loads into Canada or from Canada, you need to be registered with the Canada Border Services Agency. We’ll let you know the requirements and take the hassle off your shoulders. The application needs to be renewed annually, and the fleet must be updated at all times with the Canadian Border. Give us a call if you are interested in operating in Canada.
Claims and Accidents
Handling claims and accidents can be a horrendous and difficult job. After a truck accident, the prospect of dealing with insurance adjusters and claim forms can be more stressful than the accident itself. Filing claims and waiting for decisions can be a battle of attrition, but in many cases, the process is faster and smoother if handled by Professionals. Claims and accidents are usually costly and time-consuming.
Public Notary
You sold a truck, you signed a new contract, or simply need a document signed? Give us a call and we’ll take care of it.