Failed New Entrant Safety Audit? Corrective Action Plan Help

Failed your new entrant safety audit? We read your audit report, list each violation and the proof FMCSA expects, and help you send a complete corrective action plan before your deadline. Simple flat-rate pricing, quoted before you pay.

If you failed, you still have time to act

New carriers are in FMCSA’s new entrant program for their first 18 months, and most get a safety audit during that period. You fail the audit if it finds any of the automatic-failure violations listed in 49 CFR 385.321, or if the audit shows basic safety management controls aren’t in place. FMCSA then sends a notice with a deadline.

• Deadline: most property carriers have 60 days from the notice to show acceptable corrective action. Passenger carriers and placarded hazmat carriers have 45 days.
• Send the plan early: FMCSA’s guidance asks for the corrective action plan within 15 days, so there’s time to review it before revocation takes effect.
• If you miss it: your new entrant registration is revoked and you’re placed out of service until you reapply and qualify again.

Common automatic-failure problems

Most automatic failures come from the drug and alcohol program, which is why our C/TPA services and audit help work together:

• No drug and alcohol testing program, no random testing, or no pre-employment test before a driver started
• Using a driver who tested positive or refused, without return-to-duty
• Using a driver without a valid CDL or medical certificate
• No hours-of-service records, or running a vehicle that was placed out of service
• Insurance below the required level

What we do

• Read your audit report and FMCSA notice.
• List each violation and the evidence FMCSA will expect to see fixed.
• Write the corrective action plan with you and assemble the supporting documents: policies, testing records, driver files, logs and maintenance records.
• Set up what’s missing, such as a drug and alcohol program through our consortium.
• Submit before the deadline and follow up until FMCSA responds.

Violations management online special

Have violations on your record too? $900 per truck for a full year. We review every violation you receive and file a DataQ wherever there is a basis for one, once you send us the requested information. You’ll work with an industry specialist with over 20 years of experience. Removal is never guaranteed, because the reviewing agency decides.

Get the online special

Train your drivers to document roadside inspections

Every online special customer gets our driver checklist: photograph every page of the inspection report, take a wide and a close photo of each cited item, keep the phone’s date, time and location stamps on, and write down what the officer said. Good photos give us the facts to review each violation quickly. Drivers should always follow the officer’s instructions and take photos only when it’s safe and allowed.

How buying online works

You can buy online from start to finish, in five steps.

1. Fill out the short form. Choose the service you need under Service Requested, enter your USDOT number and how many trucks you run. We’ll ask for the rest when we call. It takes about a minute. Or call (208) 437-6557 and press 1 for a live agent.
2. We email your invoice. Your SunPeak invoice comes by email through Zoho Books, with a secure online pay link. The online special is $900 per truck for a full year, for each truck you list. For other services we use simple flat-rate pricing, quoted before you pay, so we confirm your price with you before the invoice goes out.
3. Pay your invoice online. Use the secure link in the email. If the invoice is still unpaid, we call to help you finish.
4. E-sign your service agreement. After you pay, we email your SunPeak service agreement to e-sign through Zoho Sign.
5. A SunPeak agent contacts you the next business day. The next business day after you pay, an agent contacts you to request the information we need and start working on your violations.

Buy online

Want to talk now? Call (208) 437-6557 and press 1 for a live agent, Mon–Fri, 7am–4pm Mountain. Or send the form with your questions, and a SunPeak agent contacts you the next business day.

Frequently asked questions

I failed my new entrant safety audit. How long do I have?
Most property carriers have 60 days from FMCSA’s notice to show acceptable corrective action. Passenger and placarded hazmat carriers have 45. FMCSA asks for the corrective action plan within 15 days so it has time to review it.

What is a corrective action plan?
A written plan that shows FMCSA how each violation found in the audit has been fixed, with proof such as policies, testing records, driver files and logs, and how you’ll keep it from happening again.

Can you make sure I pass?
No one can promise that. FMCSA decides whether the corrective action is acceptable. We make sure every violation is addressed with real evidence and the plan goes in on time.

How much does safety audit help cost?
Safety audit help uses simple flat-rate pricing, quoted before you pay.

What if my registration was already revoked?
You’ll need to reapply and show the problems are fixed. We help you put the fixes in place and prepare for the next audit.

Related help

• DOT violations help (all services)
• DOT drug and alcohol consortium (C/TPA services)
• Out-of-service order help
• Pending suspension and reinstatement help
• Clearinghouse management