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§ New-entrant audit — Florida

The new-entrant safety audit in Florida

The FMCSA new-entrant safety audit works the same way in Florida as everywhere else: it is a federal program. Every new Florida 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 Florida is intrastate registration, handled by the state.

When does the new-entrant audit happen for a Florida 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 Florida?

Florida intrastate matters are handled by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV). These are separate from the federal new-entrant audit.

  • Florida commercial motor carriers register commercial vehicles through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV).
  • Interstate carriers domiciled in Florida complete the federal FMCSA new-entrant safety audit.

Common questions

Who regulates motor carriers in Florida?
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles handles commercial vehicle registration in Florida. The new-entrant safety audit itself is a federal FMCSA program. Verify current requirements with the FLHSMV.

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.