Getting official-looking compliance mail? Most of it is not from the government. Check any letter against FMCSA before paying.Check at fmcsa.dot.gov →
TruckCompliant
← Compliance glossary

New entrant safety audit

Also: new entrant audit

A new entrant safety audit is the review FMCSA conducts on a carrier during its first period of operation to confirm it has the basic safety-management controls and records in place. It looks at areas such as driver qualification, hours-of-service records, drug-and-alcohol testing, and vehicle maintenance. Passing it moves the carrier out of new-entrant status.

49 CFR 385.321FMCSA: new entrant programLast verified 2026-08-03

Read more: New entrant audit checklist

Check your own carrier, free

Enter your USDOT number and get your due dates, authority status, and full obligation checklist.

Free, no account needed. We read FMCSA's public record for your number.

TruckCompliant is not affiliated with FMCSA, USDOT, or any government agency. Verify details against the linked official sources.