Introduction to Trucking Compliance
Understand the federal rules that govern your operation
What you’ll learn
17 self-paced lessons · Certificate of completion · Access never expires
This course provides a clear, structured introduction to the FMCSA and the regulations that govern commercial vehicle operations: what the agency does, how the trucking industry is organized, how the USDOT number and operating authority work including the MC number, and how the FMCSA enforces its regulations. The course is organized into five modules of short lessons, followed by a final quiz.
1
What FMCSA is and why it exists
3 lessons
- 1The agency and its mission
- 2What FMCSA does, and who it regulates
- 3The agency's scale, and why it matters to you
2
How the trucking industry works
3 lessons
- 1The players in the industry
- 2For-hire vs. private, and what counts as a CMV
- 3Interstate vs. intrastate
3
The USDOT number
4 lessons
- 1What is a USDOT number?
- 2Who needs a USDOT number?
- 3What a USDOT number does, and marking your vehicle
- 4Getting one, and why it matters
4
Operating authority and the MC number
3 lessons
- 1USDOT number vs. operating authority
- 2The MC number, and what authority costs
- 3The chain to active authority
5
How FMCSA enforces the rules
4 lessons
- 1How FMCSA watches the data, and your first 18 months
- 2Roadside inspections and safety audits
- 3Your CSA score, and why it hits your wallet
- 4Course wrap-up
Final Quiz
Covers the whole course