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§ New-entrant audit — Delaware

The new-entrant safety audit in Delaware

The FMCSA new-entrant safety audit works the same way in Delaware as everywhere else: it is a federal program. Every new Delaware interstate motor carrier is monitored for 18 months and undergoes a safety audit of the six factors (General, Driver, Operational, Vehicle, Hazardous Materials, and Accident), generally after at least 3 months of operation. What is specific to Delaware is intrastate registration, handled by the state.

When does the new-entrant audit happen for a Delaware carrier?

After a new entrant satisfies its pre-operational requirements, it is subject to new-entrant safety monitoring for 18 months, and a safety audit is conducted once it has operated long enough to have sufficient records — generally at least 3 months (49 CFR 385.307).

What does the audit check?

The same six factors evaluated in every state: General (Parts 387, 390), Driver (Parts 382, 383, 391), Operational (Parts 392, 395), Vehicle (Parts 393, 396), Hazardous Materials (Parts 171, 177, 180, 397), and Accident (recordable rate per million miles). This grouping is defined in 49 CFR Appendix A to Part 385.

What is specific to Delaware?

Delaware intrastate matters are handled by the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles — Motor Carrier Services. These are separate from the federal new-entrant audit.

  • Intrastate reg required: No separate Delaware state DOT number is issued in the new-carrier checklist. Delaware's DMV Motor Carrier Services Section oversees IRP, IFTA, UCR and Form 2290, and new carriers register using their federal USDOT number ('Federal DOT number notice or pin letter'). FMCSA notes some states require intrastate carriers to hold a USDOT number but FMCSA does not track state requirements — confirm intrastate scope directly with DE Motor Carrier Services (302-744-2702).
  • UCR: Delaware is a UCR participating state. Interstate/international commercial carriers (private, exempt, or for-hire), plus brokers/freight forwarders/leasing companies, must register annually. 2026 filing opened Oct 1, 2025; deadline Dec 31.
  • State fee: UCR 2026 fee schedule by power units: 0-2 = $46.00; 3-5 = $138.00; 6-20 = $276.00; 21-100 = $963.00; 101-1000 = $4,592.00; 1001+ = $44,836.00. Delaware IRP/IFTA-specific dollar fees are quoted at appointment and were not published on the pages reviewed; the separate DE common/public-carrier fee could not be confirmed from a machine-readable primary source (do not assume).
  • New-entrant / safety audit: A carrier that gets a USDOT number is a 'New Entrant' for 18 months. FMCSA conducts a New Entrant safety audit 'usually within the first 12 months of operation'; written pass/fail notice follows within 45 days.

Common questions

What does a new motor carrier need to register and operate in Delaware?
A new Delaware-based motor carrier operates on its federal USDOT number rather than a separate Delaware state DOT number: Delaware's DMV Motor Carrier Services handles IRP, IFTA and Unified Carrier Registration (UCR), and to open an account you must show your USDOT number, a Taxpayer ID (IRS SS-4/CP575B), a physical Delaware address (no virtual offices), a valid Delaware driver's license, Good Standing with the Division of Corporations, and an active Division of Revenue business license. Inte...

Prep your own new-entrant audit

The CarrierReady Audit-Prep Kit gives you fillable templates mapped to all six factors — driver qualification files, a written maintenance program, a drug-and-alcohol testing policy, an accident register, and a document-by-document checklist.

See the kit

Primary sources

CarrierReady is an independent audit-preparation tool — not legal advice, and not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the FMCSA or any government agency; always verify against the official regulations at ecfr.gov.