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§ New-entrant audit — Kentucky

The new-entrant safety audit in Kentucky

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

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

Kentucky intrastate matters are handled by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet — DRIVE, Inter/Intrastate Carriers & Commercial Motor Vehicle Credentials. These are separate from the federal new-entrant audit.

  • Intrastate reg required: Yes. A KY Intrastate For-Hire License is required to transport cargo/passengers/household goods for hire within Kentucky. A USDOT number is required once vehicles reach 10,001 lbs GVWR (apply at FMCSA); a KIT license applies for certain vehicles at 10,001–26,000 lbs (3+ axles) and above 26,000 lbs. An insurer authorized in Kentucky must file a Form E liability insurance certificate.
  • KYU (Weight Distance license): Required for vehicles with a combined licensed weight of 59,999 lbs (60,000 lbs and above per the credentials page) — the Kentucky Weight Distance Tax license. Tax is $0.0285 (2.85 cents) per mile, filed quarterly.
  • UCR: Purely intrastate carriers (no interstate commerce) are exempt from Unified Carrier Registration. UCR applies to carriers operating in interstate commerce; fees are set per fleet-size bracket and 2026 fees are unchanged from 2025.
  • State fee: NO FEE to obtain a permanent KYU tax license number (quarterly mileage tax still owed). In lieu of KYU, a 10-day vehicle-specific KYU temporary permit costs $40.00. KYU is applied for via TC Form 95-1 / the Motor Carrier Portal at drive.ky.gov.

Common questions

What does a new motor carrier need to register and operate in Kentucky?
A new Kentucky-based intrastate carrier needs a USDOT number once its vehicles hit 10,001 lbs GVWR, a KY Intrastate For-Hire License to haul for hire within Kentucky (with a Form E insurance certificate filed by a Kentucky-authorized insurer), and a KYU (Kentucky Weight Distance Tax) license once combined licensed weight reaches 59,999–60,000 lbs — the KYU number itself is free but requires quarterly weight-distance tax at $0.0285 per mile; purely intrastate carriers are exempt from UCR, and ...

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.