Insights & updates

Trucking compliance blog

Expert insights, regulatory updates, and practical tips for motor carrier compliance from Consultran's experienced team.

July 14, 2026

Minnesota DOT Drug Testing Consortium: Costs & Enrollment

What a DOT drug testing consortium is, who has to join one, what it costs in Minnesota, and how enrollment works — explained for carriers and owner-operators.

Do Freight Brokers Need a USDOT Number?

Brokers don't need a USDOT number the way carriers do — but FMCSA's registration system assigns one anyway. Here's what brokers actually need.

Owner-Operator Drug Testing: Why One Driver Needs a Consortium

FMCSA drug and alcohol testing rules apply to owner-operators with a single truck. What the one-driver rule requires, and how a DOT consortium satisfies it.

MOTUS Update, Week 2: Portal Fixes, Paper Delays, L&I Blackout, and a Bug Board

Eight days into MOTUS: FMCSA's fix for the May 15 Portal cutoff, paper-form delays, stale L&I and SAFER data, and motusbugs.com to track what's still broken.

How to Claim Your USDOT Number in MOTUS

MOTUS is live and every motor carrier must claim their USDOT number. Here's the 5-step process, what to have ready, and the snags carriers are hitting now.

FMCSA's MOTUS Is Live — But Almost Nothing Works Yet

MOTUS launched, but USDOT claims, MCS-150 filings, transfers, and Login.gov checks are failing across the board. Here's what's broken and what's still unclear.

The DOT Return-to-Duty Process, Step by Step

After a positive DOT test or refusal: the SAP evaluation, treatment, the observed return-to-duty test, and the follow-up plan — how a driver legally gets back.

FMCSA Clearinghouse for Small Carriers: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to register with the FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse, run pre-employment and annual queries, and stay out of prohibited status — for small carriers.

FMCSA: Carriers Must Update Portal Profiles Now to Claim USDOT Numbers in MOTUS

FMCSA says carriers who don't update their portal profile before MOTUS launches may be unable to claim their USDOT number. Here's what to do now.

DOT Post-Accident Testing: The 8-Hour and 32-Hour Rules

When a crash requires DOT drug and alcohol testing, which accidents qualify, and the 8-hour and 32-hour clocks that start the moment it happens.

Pre-Employment DOT Drug Testing, Before First Dispatch

A verified negative drug test and a Clearinghouse query must both happen before a new CDL driver's first safety-sensitive work. What that means in practice.

FMCSA Wants You to Prepare for MOTUS. Here's What to Do Now

FMCSA is urging carriers to prepare for MOTUS, the new USDOT Registration System. Here's how to activate your portal account and file your MCS-150 update.

Reasonable Suspicion Training: What FMCSA Requires

Anyone who supervises CDL drivers needs 60 minutes of drug and 60 minutes of alcohol reasonable-suspicion training — once. Who needs it and what it covers.

DOT Random Testing Rates: What 50% and 10% Mean for Your Pool

FMCSA's minimum annual random testing rates are 50% for drugs and 10% for alcohol. What the percentages actually mean, and how a consortium pool meets them.

FMCSA Revokes Phoenix ELD: Another One Bites the Dust

FMCSA revokes Phoenix ELD on October 23, 2025. Motor carriers have 60 days to replace with compliant ELDs.

FMCSA Revokes Five ELDs: What Trucking Companies Must Do Now

FMCSA revokes Premium ELD, True Logbook, Xplore ELD, KAMI ELD, and EVO ELD 1 starting October 17, 2025.

How to Get Your MC Authority Letter Online Instantly - 24/7 Access

Need your MC authority letter fast? Get your FMCSA operating authority certificate online instantly at getmymcletter.com - no waiting, available 24/7.

2026 UCR Registration Now Open for Minnesota & Wisconsin Carriers

2026 UCR registration is now open for Minnesota and Wisconsin truckers. Learn about deadlines, fee brackets, and how Consultran makes UCR registration easy.

Wisconsin IFTA Policy Change: Pay Your Pennies

Wisconsin has eliminated its small balance waiver policy for IFTA filings. Learn what this means for carriers and why every cent now counts.

IFTA Filing Deadlines: Every Quarterly Due Date, Explained

IFTA returns are due four times a year — the last day of the month after each quarter. Current due dates, the weekend rule, and what happens if you miss one.