Compliance Systems, LLC
by
WHETHER THEIR BUSINESS consists of a single owneroperator or employs 5,000 or more drivers, there’s little difference between FMCSA regulatory requirements that trucking companies must follow. But all too often compliance issues slip through the cracks because trucking owners and managers are understandably focused on other priorities: getting loads safely from point A to point B, making a profit and growing their business.
Compliance Systems, LLC helps trucking companies get a better grip on these regulatory issues and fills in any compliance gaps they might have. Although the firm likes to work with trucking company clients on a proactive basis, its first contact is often the result of a problem situation.
“We get a lot of calls from trucking companies saying that their state and CSA scores are going up, and they want to know what they can do to get them down. A lot of motor carriers are paying attention to that because if they have bad safety scores and get CSA alerts, their insurance rates will go up or the DOT might visit them. They want to try to keep that from happening,” said company founder Leslie Prince.
Compliance Systems can’t help trucking companies immediately improve their CSA scores; that takes time. But the firm can help them stop the downward spiral and put the processes in place to help the company avoid problems in the future. “It’s like plugging a hole in the boat, and then helping them bail out the water,” she said. “We’ll assist companies with everything from tags and titles to sitting through a DOT audit with them and helping with their responses,” Prince said.
Compliance Systems often starts a relationship with a client by doing a mock audit or assessment to see where the gaps are, then develops a plan to address them. A smaller company that’s having trouble tracking driver qualification files, for example, may outsource that job to the firm, which can use its proprietary software to handle the task.
“Every Monday morning we send out a report to our client companies that lets them know what kind of documents their drivers might be missing and/or what documents need to be renewed, such as a driver’s license or medical card,” said Prince.
The firm also assists small firms with other activities. “If it’s a small company, the owner may still be driving the truck. So, we help them behind the scenes, making sure that they’ve got their tag and title work done, that they’ve paid their taxes,” she said. Sometimes the firm may have to make those companies aware of the federal safety regulations that they have to comply with.
Larger companies that have the in-house personnel to handle those issues may rely on Compliance Systems for assistance with its drug testing program or keep the firm on retainer so that it can provide advice when an unfamiliar regulatory issue arises.
ADDRESSING GEORGIA TRUCKING CONCERNS
The most frequent request from Georgia trucking companies is for assistance with their CSA scores.
“One of the biggest issues we’ve found is the lack of pre-trip inspection,” Prince said. “If drivers do a pre-trip inspection on their trucks, they are less likely to get stopped on the roadside and then get a violation. But drivers usually want to hit the road when they come in, and that pre-trip inspection takes an extra 15 to 20 minutes.” The key is to get drivers to buy into this requirement by incentivizing them and making them realize that safety and regulatory compliance is just as much their responsibility as it is the company owner’s.
Another problem area is keeping up with the DOT regulations for drug testing and the clearinghouse. “Any time a company hires a CDL driver, they have to do a query of the clearinghouse to make sure that the driver has not had a positive drug or alcohol test reported. So, they may want us to come out and do a quarterly visit to look over the records and make sure that they’re not getting into the ditch,” she added. Compliance Systems is also supporting the Georgia trucking industry through its participation in GMTA. The firm is an annual sponsor and has participated in the Leadership Conference and Annual Conference. Companies that belong to GMTA and are in need of its services should remember to mention the association connection, since Compliance Systems will offer a discount to other GMTA members.
