Rules & Regulations for Truck Drivers in DOT Compliance
You're behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound machine.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) wants to make sure you know exactly how to operate it safely.
These rules aren't just bureaucratic red tape.
They protect you, your cargo, and everyone sharing the road with you.
Let's break down everything you need to know about DOT compliance. We'll keep it simple and practical.
Carry The Right License And Medical Card
You need a valid CDL with the correct endorsements for your vehicle and cargo.
Disqualifications apply if you commit certain major or serious offenses, even in a personal vehicle.
Review the tables in 49 CFR §383.51 so you know what triggers a disqualification.
Keep your DOT medical certification current.
A DOT physical is valid for up to 24 months unless your examiner sets a shorter period for monitoring.
Schedule renewals early so your record stays “certified.”
Follow Hours of Service (HOS) Rules
Know the basics:
- 11 hours driving after 10 hours off.
- 14-hour on-duty window.
- 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving.
- 60/70-hour limit in 7/8 days, with a 34-hour restart.
- Sleeper berth splits (e.g., 7/3 or 8/2) when used correctly.
Run short-haul?
You may be exempt from logs and the 30-minute break if you operate within 150 air-miles and return to your reporting location within 14 hours.
Keep accurate time records for six months.
Use an ELD if you must keep a record of duty status. Most interstate drivers do.
Limited exceptions exist, but the default is “ELD required.”
Stay Sober And Pass Your Tests
DOT has strict alcohol and drug rules. Do not use alcohol within four hours of going on duty or operating a CMV.
Do not operate with any measurable alcohol concentration. A BAC of 0.04% or higher leads to disqualification.
Random testing rates for 2025 remain 50% for controlled substances and 10% for alcohol. Expect to be selected.
Know the Clearinghouse reality.
Since 2020, more than 321,000 drug and alcohol violations have been reported.
As of March 1, 2025, 182,588 drivers were in “prohibited” status, and 287,371 had at least one violation on record.
Over 74,000 drivers have completed a negative return-to-duty test.
These numbers show how closely this is monitored.
Another key rule now protects the public and you.
States must downgrade the CDL of any driver in “prohibited” status within 60 days until the return-to-duty steps are complete.
That requirement took effect nationwide on November 18, 2024.
Buckle Up And Put The Phone Down
Seat belts are mandatory for you and cab passengers in property-carrying CMVs. Buckling up saves lives and avoids citations.
FMCSA notes an estimated 14% of CMV drivers still skip seat belts—let’s keep raising that number of users.
Handheld phone use and texting while driving are prohibited. Use hands-free only, and keep dialing to a single touch.
Inspect Your Vehicle - Every Day And Every Year
Do a thorough pre-trip.
You must be satisfied the vehicle is safe before operating it. Review and sign off on any prior noted defects that were repaired.
Complete a DVIR at day’s end only if you found or were told about a defect on a property-carrying CMV.
Passenger-carrying drivers must file a DVIR daily. Carriers must fix listed defects and keep reports for three months.
Every CMV also needs a periodic (annual) inspection covering all required parts, including each unit in a combination.
Make sure your truck and any trailer carry proof.
Secure The Load
Cargo must not shift, leak, or fall. Follow the general cargo securement standards and commodity-specific rules. Use the right number and strength of tiedowns and check them during the trip. Violations here are common during Roadcheck.
If You Haul Hazmat, Add These Steps
Hazmat employees must receive function-specific training, with recurrent training at least every three years. Keep records.
If you need an HME on your CDL, complete the TSA Security Threat Assessment with fingerprints. TSA recommends applying at least 60 days before you need it.
Use Enforcement Trends To Your Advantage
Roadside results show what inspectors focus on.
In CVSA’s 2024 International Roadcheck, U.S. inspectors placed 5.1%of drivers out of service. Hours-of-Service was the top driver OOS category.
Vehicle OOS was 23.2%, led by brake defects.
These patterns match what drivers see daily: brakes, tires, lights, HOS, and paperwork.
Keep Your Driver Qualification File Items Current
Your carrier maintains a Driver Qualification File for you.
It includes your application, MVRs, medical certificate information, and more.
Keep your info up to date so the file stays clean.
Quick Daily Checklist
- CDL, medical certification, and any endorsements valid.
- Pre-trip done. Defects fixed or documented.
- ELD working and set to the correct status.
- Load secured and rechecked during the trip.
- Seat belt on. Phone on hands-free only.
- Plan breaks to stay within HOS.
- No alcohol within four hours of duty.
- If hazmat, carry shipping papers and emergency info.
Why This All Matters
Compliance protects lives and careers. It also saves time and money. Staying within HOS and using seat belts reduce crash risk. Clearinghouse and random testing keep impaired driving off the road. Annual inspections and good DVIR habits prevent breakdowns and violations. The rules work best when you work them into your routine.
Final Tip
DOT compliance isn’t just about avoiding tickets. It’s your craft and your commitment to safety.
The numbers prove the need: in 2020, 97% of people who died in large-truck and passenger-vehicle crashes were in the smaller vehicle.
You operate heavy equipment. The rules reflect that responsibility. Follow them.
Stay alert. Keep America’s freight moving.
Your career and everyone’s safety depend on it. When something feels off, choose caution.
Take the safer option, even if it adds time. Safe arrivals beat fast arrivals, every time.
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