The new-entrant safety audit in District of Columbia

When does the new-entrant audit happen for a District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia?

District of Columbia intrastate matters are handled by the Unified Carrier Registration Plan — FAQ. These are separate from the federal new-entrant audit.

• Intrastate reg required: No separate DC intrastate 'state DOT number' program is published by DC DMV. DC law requires vehicles housed and operated in the District to be registered in DC (commercial registration by weight class; International Registration Plan for vehicles over 26,000 lbs operating in multiple jurisdictions). The carrier itself uses the federal USDOT number.
• UCR: District of Columbia is a NON-participating UCR jurisdiction. Per the official UCR Plan FAQ, non-participating states are 'Arizona, Hawaii, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, Wyoming, and Washington D.C.' A DC-based interstate carrier must still register and pay UCR by selecting a participating base state: CT, DE, MA, ME, NH, NY, PA, RI, VA, or WV. Purely intrastate carriers are generally exempt from UCR.
• State fee: UCR 2026 smallest bracket (0–2 vehicles) = $46.00 (Carrier/Forwarder). DC commercial vehicle registration (Commercial Class B, effective 3/30/26) ranges from $115.00 (≤3,499 lbs) to $800.00 + $100.00 per 1,000 lbs over 8,000 (≥8,000 lbs). DC IRP fees are apportioned and calculated after the application is processed.
• New-entrant / safety audit: No DC-specific state new-entrant safety-audit or state registration program was found on DC DMV/DDOT primary sources beyond the federal FMCSA/USDOT process. DC DMV governs vehicle registration (IRP, trip permits, commercial fee schedule) and intrastate CDLs, not a separate state motor-carrier authority number.