Free First 30 Days Checklist

Free · Edition Oct. 2026 · Educational only. Not legal advice. Not affiliated with FMCSA. Check current 49 CFR.

Before your first load - ☐ Insurance filing (BMC-91/91X) shows active on FMCSA L&I. Legal name and address match exactly. (387.7; FMCSA) - ☐ MCS-90 endorsement saved at your principal place of business (387.7(d)) - ☐ BOC-3 shows "on file". Confirmation saved. (Part 366) - ☐ UCR paid for the current year (and next year if it's Oct–Dec) at ucr.gov (367) - ☐ Enrolled in a drug and alcohol consortium/random pool (382.305) - ☐ Verified negative pre-employment drug test for every CDL driver, including you (382.301) - ☐ Clearinghouse registered. Pre-employment full query run. (382.701) - ☐ Written D&A policy given to drivers, with signed receipts (382.601) - ☐ DQ file for each driver: application, MVR, road test or equivalent, medical certificate (391.51) - ☐ ELD installed and on FMCSA's list. Instruction packet and 8 blank grids in the cab. (395.22(h)) - ☐ Truck marked on both sides: legal name + "USDOT ######", readable at 50 ft (390.21T) - ☐ Annual inspection done for each unit, with proof on the vehicle (396.17)

Days 1–30 - ☐ End-of-day DVIR whenever a defect is found or reported; safety defects repaired (and certified) before the vehicle runs again. One-truck carriers are exempt from the written report, but the daily check is still smart. (396.11) - ☐ Log review every week. Keep RODS and supporting documents 6 months. (395.8(k)) - ☐ Every fuel receipt and trip record saved (IFTA miles by state) - ☐ IFTA/IRP set up with your base state if you have qualified vehicles - ☐ Form 2290 filed if the truck is 55,000 lb+ (due the last day of the month after first use) - ☐ Accident register set up (best practice even with no entries; required contents and 3-year retention in 390.15(b)) - ☐ MCS-150 month found: last USDOT digit = month, next-to-last odd/even = year (390.19T) - ☐ Calendar set: insurance renewal (−60 days), UCR (opens Oct 1), IFTA quarters, medical card expirations

Day 30 self-check: Could you hand an auditor any driver's full file, their last 30 days of logs, and their truck's maintenance records in 10 minutes? Not yet? The New Authority: First 90 Days kit has the full guide, all 16 automatic-failure items, a 12-month calendar, and an Excel workbook that tracks everything. → Get the kit