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§ New-entrant audit — Hawaii

The new-entrant safety audit in Hawaii

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

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

Hawaii intrastate matters are handled by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission — Motor Carriers FAQ + application pages. These are separate from the federal new-entrant audit.

  • Intrastate reg required: Yes — a Hawaii PUC Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) is required for any carrier transporting people or property for compensation or hire over any public highway in the State (HRS Ch. 271). Hawaii uses a certificate/permit system, not a separate state DOT number.
  • UCR: Not required for intrastate-only operation. Hawaii is a UCR non-participating state; UCR applies only to interstate carriers (a company need not register with UCR if it operates only within the State of Hawaii).
  • State fee: $30 application fee (motor carrier certificate/permit). Annual Financial Report (AFR) Gross Revenue Fee = gross revenue x .0025, with a minimum Fee of $20.00; AFR short form 03-010 + Fee due on/before April 30 each year (long form 03-020 by June 1 if gross revenue over $1,000,000).
  • Notes: Required exhibits include a State of Hawaii Department of Taxation Tax Clearance Certificate and a Vehicle Inventory List (VIL). AFR must be filed and paid every year regardless of revenue (minimum $20). Insurance minimums for passenger carriers: $200,000 (1-7 pax), $500,000 (8-25 pax), $1,000,000 (25+ pax). A federal USDOT number may also apply to certain intrastate vehicles over 26,001 lbs GVWR, but the PUC FAQ does not administer USDOT numbers.

Common questions

What does a new motor carrier need to register and operate in Hawaii?
A new intrastate motor carrier based in Hawaii must obtain a state PUC Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) before hauling people or property for hire on any public highway, pay a $30 application fee plus file the annual Gross Revenue Fee/AFR (gross revenue x .0025, minimum $20.00), and does NOT register for UCR if it operates only within Hawaii (Hawaii is a UCR non-participating state and UCR applies only to interstate carriers).

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.