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4. The 16 automatic-failure items

FMCSA lists 16 violations that fail the audit by themselves. They fall into five areas:

  • Drug and alcohol (5): no testing program, no random testing, or using a driver who tested positive, refused a test, or had 0.04 alcohol or higher.
  • Drivers (6): using a driver without a valid CDL, with a disqualified license, who is disqualified, or who has no valid medical card.
  • Insurance (2): running without the minimum coverage.
  • Hours of service (1): drivers not keeping logs (fails when most records checked are missing).
  • Vehicles (3): running a truck placed out of service, not fixing defects drivers reported, or no annual inspection (fails when most records are missing).

Almost every failure is a missing program or a missing record, not unsafe driving. That's why our free check works.

Quick quiz

1. Which area has the most automatic-failure items?
2. No drug testing program means…
3. Most failures come from…
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