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The 5 DOT-FMCSA Violations Destroying Businesses! Will Yours Be Next?

Attention truck company owners! The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is cracking down harder than ever, and the statistics are alarming. 94% of safety investigations in 2024 resulted in violations. That means nearly every company audited is paying the price for non-compliance—and the cost isn’t just financial.


Violations lead to crippling fines, damaged CSA scores, lawsuits, and even the potential shutdown of your operations. If you think this won’t happen to you, think again. FMCSA audits, especially offsite ones, have surged by 400%, and your company could be next.








Here are the top five violations wreaking havoc on trucking businesses in 2024:

  1. Allowing a driver to operate with a suspended or revoked CDL.

  2. Failing to implement an alcohol and/or drug testing program.

  3. Failing to conduct random drug and alcohol tests.

  4. Using a driver who has tested positive for drugs.

  5. Faling to comply with the clearinghouse for the company and drivers


Each of these violations can lead to tens of thousands of dollars in fines, permanent CSA score damage, and loss of your operating authority. If you’re not actively managing compliance with MVR monitoring, DOT drug and alcohol testing, and driver qualification file management, you’re risking everything you’ve worked for.


How These Violations Will Impact Your Business

#1 Allowing a Driver to Operate with a Suspended or Revoked CDL


This is the most common FMCSA violation, cited over 1,300 times in 2024 alone. Yet, many companies unknowingly allow suspended or revoked CDL drivers to operate.


Here’s why this happens: CDL suspensions often occur without employers being notified. By the time you discover the issue, your company is already in violation, facing fines, audit red flags, and possible lawsuits if an accident occurs.


What’s at stake?

  • Fines in the thousands for every violation.

  • CSA score penalties that make it harder to get loads with brokers.

  • Liability lawsuits if an unlicensed driver causes harm.


Trucking Services and Logistics offers MVR checks at pre employment moment and annually, so you can check if a driver’s CDL status changes. Don’t wait for an audit to reveal your compliance gaps.


#2 y #3. Failing to Implement or Conduct Drug and Alcohol Testing.

Drug and alcohol violations are some of the most severe and costly for trucking companies. Together, these accounted for 37% of all acute violations in 2024, with average fines exceeding $8,000 per incident.


Violations include:

  •  Not having a drug and alcohol testing program in place.

  •  Skipping required random testing.

  •  Failing to conduct pre-employment, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, or follow-up tests.


The Consequences:

  •  Hefty fines for every missing or incomplete test.

  •  Increased audit scrutiny, making your company a target for further investigations.

  •  Liability exposure if a driver under the influence causes a crash.

  • If one of your drivers tests positive, they must be removed from safety-sensitive duties immediately.

  • Failure to act could lead to catastrophic legal and financial consequences for your company.


Trucking Services and Logistics ensures your DOT drug and alcohol testing program is 100% compliant. From scheduling tests to managing results, we protect your business from these costly oversights.


#4. Using a Driver Who Tested Positive for Drugs

Letting a driver who has tested positive for drugs get behind the wheel isn’t just a violation—it’s a disaster waiting to happen.

  •  Fines can exceed $10,000 per driver.

  •  If the driver causes an accident, your company could face lawsuits that run into the millions.

  • Your reputation as a responsible carrier will be permanently damaged.


Trucking Services and Logistics helps you manage the FMCSA Clearinghouse so you’re immediately alerted to any positive drug test results and can take swift action. Don’t risk your company’s future by overlooking this critical requirement.


#5. Not complying with the Clearinghouse pre employments querys and annual qeuerys for your drivers.

This violation may seem minor, but the FMCSA takes it seriously. In 2024, companies have been fined thousands for failing to check drivers’ CDL histories in the clearinghouse. Why does this matter? help you hire the righ driver with out any problem and let´s you know if you need to perform additional testing.


BONUS VIOLATION: not having drivers files for your drivers

When the FMCSA calls for an audit, your records must be organized, accurate, and audit-ready. You need to check all your drivers documents before hire them, a pre employmet form is not enough.


This can let you to

  •  Severe fines and penalties

  •  CSA score devastation

  •  Revocation of your operating authority


With Trucking Services and Logistics, you’ll never be caught off guard. We manage your driver qualification files, ensuring everything is up to date and compliant.


The Risks Are Real—Protect Your Business Today

Violations don’t just cost you money—they can destroy your company. A single audit could result in:

  •  Tens of thousands of dollars in fines

  •  Loss of loads from brokes who view your CSA score as a liability

  •  Revoked operating authority, forcing you out of business


But there’s good news: you don’t have to face these challenges alone.


Trucking Services and Logistics is the #1 drug and alcohol consortium for a reason. We help companies like yours:

  •  Avoid FMCSA violations with real-time compliance monitoring

  •  Manage DOT drug and alcohol testing programs with zero hassle

  •  Stay audit-ready with expert recordkeeping and driver file management


Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late


The FMCSA is watching, and the consequences of non-compliance are severe. Protect your business, your drivers, and your future by partnering with Trucking Services and Logistics. !Contact us now to secure your compliance and avoid FMCSA violations. Your company’s survival depends on it!

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