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§ New-entrant audit — Utah

The new-entrant safety audit in Utah

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

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

Utah intrastate matters are handled by the Utah DOT Motor Carrier Division — USDOT Numbers & Registering with the FMCSA. These are separate from the federal new-entrant audit.

  • Intrastate reg required: Yes — a USDOT number is required for intrastate operation in Utah; UDOT states carriers hauling cargo/passengers "in intrastate/interstate commerce must be registered with the FMCSA and must have a USDOT Number." Utah does not issue a separate state-only DOT number for general intrastate carriers; the federal USDOT number serves as the state credential.
  • UCR: Not required for intrastate-only carriers. Per UDOT, UCR applies only to carriers who "have indicated, or should have indicated, that they are going to operate in 'Interstate Commerce.'" An intrastate-only Utah carrier does not participate in UCR.
  • State fee: No state fee for the USDOT number: "There is no application fee ever associated with the USDOT number." Registration is completed by filing form MCS-150 (Motor Carrier Identification Report). UCR fees (interstate carriers only) are paid via ucr.gov and scale by fleet size.
  • New entrant / safety audit: For carriers operating in commerce, FMCSA's New Entrant Safety Assurance Program applies: the carrier "is considered a new entrant subject to the new entrant safety monitoring procedures for a period of 18 months," and a safety audit is "conducted, usually within the first 12 months of operation."

Common questions

What does a new motor carrier need to register and operate in Utah?
A new Utah motor carrier must obtain a USDOT number even for intrastate-only operation — Utah's Department of Transportation states that companies hauling cargo or passengers "in intrastate/interstate commerce must be registered with the FMCSA and must have a USDOT Number," and there is "no application fee ever" for the USDOT number; Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) applies only if you operate in interstate commerce, and new interstate carriers are also subject to FMCSA's 18-month new-entra...

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.