Transportation Safety

DOT Compliance

DOT Compliance Courses

Transportation Safety

Duration: 0.33 Hrs

Course Level: Intermediate
Languages: English
Capability: Audio, Video, MobileReady

DOT whistleblower protection, as provided in Section 405 of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA) of 1982, as amended, serves to improve commercial motor vehicle (CMV) safety by encouraging the persons best able to detect safety violations – CMV drivers and other motor carrier employees – to report noncompliance with CMV safety regulations. The STAA protects these drivers and employees from retaliation for engaging in, or being perceived to engage in, “protected activities.”

Any employee who believes that they have been retaliated against by their employer in violation of the STAA may file a complaint with OSHA. This course lists the whistleblower activities that are protected under the STAA, identifies retaliatory actions by motor carriers that are prohibited for “protected activities,” and describes the complaint filing procedure and what happens after a complaint is filed.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Describe the purpose of DOT Whistleblower Protection
  • List the whistleblower activities that are protected
  • Identify retaliatory actions for which a commercial motor carrier employee could file a complaint
  • Describe the complaint filing procedure
  • Describe what happens after a complaint is filed

Duration: 0.50 Hrs

Course Level: Intermediate
Languages: English
Capability: Audio, Video

Commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers have stressful jobs. Driving a vehicle that is significantly larger than those around you requires constant attention. Plus, you are under pressure to pick up and deliver cargo on time, regardless of traffic and road conditions and you may be away from your friends and family for significant periods of time. Under these circumstances, it is critical that you take care of yourself, both physically and mentally.

“Wellness” is the act of practicing healthy habits on a daily basis in order to attain physical and mental well-being and live a long, full, healthy life. This course discusses ways that CMV drivers can pursue and maintain wellness in order to pass their DOT physical exam, stay safe on the job, and live a long healthy life. Topics covered include the importance of sleep, key measures of health (blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and weight), alcohol and drug use, and stress management.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Identify who is subject to the U.S. DOT Entry-Level
  • Driver Training (ELDT) requirements
  • Define “wellness”
  • Identify activities that can improve your general wellness
  • Identify signs of fatigue for which you should pull over if you are driving
  • Describe the meanings of blood pressure readings and blood cholesterol test results
  • Describe how your body weight can affect your health
  • Discuss how the use of illegal drugs or misuse of alcohol can impact driver safety
  • Describe the negative effects of excessive stress and methods of managing and reducing stress

Duration: 0.75 Hrs

Course Level: Intermediate
Languages: English
Capability: Audio, Video, MobileReady

The purpose of DOT pre-trip and post-trip inspections is the same – to prevent accidents and injuries and improve safety for everyone on the road. They help identify defects before a CMV hits the road, so repairs can be made before they can cause breakdowns or accidents. They can also help avoid violations and out-of-service orders during DOT roadside inspections. This course describes the parts and accessories that should be examined during pre- and post-trip inspections, how “tug tests” and “roll tests” of the brake systems are performed, and the DOT requirements for pre- and post-trip inspections and Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports (DVIRs).

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • State the definition of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) 
  • Describe the different types of CMV inspections required by the FMCSA 
  • Identify the parts and accessories that should be examined during a DOT pre-trip inspection 
  • Describe the in-cab inspection items and brake check procedures during a pre-trip inspection 
  • Describe the requirements for DOT post-trip inspections and Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports (DVIRs)

Duration: 0.25 Hrs

Course Level: Intermediate
Languages: English
Capability: Audio, Video

Specially trained inspectors use procedures and criteria from the CVSA’s North American Standard Inspection Program to conduct roadside inspections of CMVs and CMV drivers in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. This program identifies the critical inspection items and unsafe conditions that can place vehicles or drivers Out-of-Service, and it ensures a uniform and reciprocal inspection and enforcement process in North America. This course details the roadside inspection process and eight inspection levels, lists the violations that can place a driver or vehicle Out-of-Service, and give some tips on avoiding and surviving inspections.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Describe the purpose of the CVSA North American Standard Inspection Program 
  • Describe how the FMCSA works to improve safety for CMVs and CMV drivers 
  • State the definition of commercial motor vehicle 
  • Describe the documentation and recordkeeping

Duration: 0.75 Hrs

Course Level: Intermediate
Languages: English
Capability: Audio, Video

The goal of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Hours of Service regulations is to improve public safety by keeping fatigued commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers off of public roads. These regulations are commonly referred to as the hours-of-service rules, or HOS rules. They can be found in Part 395 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR in 49 CFR Part 395).

The HOS rules are designed to ensure that CMV drivers have enough time off to get the rest they need on a daily and weekly basis to drive safely. HOS rules are necessary because people are not good at judging their own drowsiness. This course describes the HOS rules for property-carrying and passenger-carrying CMV drivers, the responsibilities of drivers and carriers, the possible duty statuses and recording methods for Records of Duty Statuses (RODs), and who is exempt from and common exceptions to the HOS rules.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • State the goal of the FMCSA’s Hours-of-Service (HOS) regulations

  • State the definition of commercial motor vehicle

  • Identify CMV drivers who are exempt from HOS regulations

  • Describe the four possible duty statuses

  • Identify the responsibilities of CMV drivers and motor carriers

  • Describe the HOS rules for property-carrying and passenger-carrying CMV drivers

  • Describe the four acceptable HOS recording methods

  • Describe the information that is required on Records of Duty Statuses (RODS)

  • Describe common exceptions to the HOS rules

Duration: 0.75 Hrs

Course Level: Intermediate
Languages: English
Capability: Audio, Video

The FMCSA implemented the Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) program to improve the safety of commercial motor vehicles on public roadways. This program uses performance and compliance data from roadside inspections, State-reported CMV crash records, carrier safety investigations, and carrier DOT registrations to focus FMCSA resources on the carriers who pose the greatest safety risk. Through compliance, the CSA program allows carriers and drivers to rectify safety concerns before crashes, injuries, or fatalities occur.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • State the purpose of the FMCSA’s Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) program 
  • State the function of the CSA Safety Measurement System (SMS) 
  • Describe the seven SMS Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs) 
  • Describe how motor carriers are prioritized for CSA Interventions 
  • Describe Pre-employment Screening Program (PSP) records for CMV drivers

Duration: 0.75 Hrs

Course Level: Intermediate
Languages: English
Capability: Audio, Video

Employees of DOT-regulated employers who perform or could perform tasks that have been defined as “safety-sensitive” are subject to drug and alcohol testing. This includes over 12 million workers employed as airline pilots, bus drivers, commercial truck drivers, crew members on cargo ships, train engineers, and many others. Employers are required to implement a Drug and Alcohol Program and provide clear explanations of company policies and DOT testing regulations. They must also employ a Designated Employee Representative (DER) to administer the program, receive test results, remove employees from safety-sensitive duties when required, and answer questions about the program and testing process.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • State the purpose of DOT drug and alcohol testing regulations
  • Describe who is subject to DOT drug and alcohol testing regulations
  • Identify the components of a DOT-compliant Drug and Alcohol Policy
  • Discuss DOT alcohol limits and testing procedures
  • Discuss DOT drug specimen collection and testing procedures
  • Describe the qualifications for and consequences of a “refusal to test”
  • Describe the six different types of DOT-mandated drug and alcohol testing
  • Describe the roles of Designated Employee Representatives, Medical Review Officers, and Substance Abuse Professionals

Duration: 1.00 Hrs

Course Level: Intermediate
Languages: English
Capability: Audio, Video

Transportation employees of DOT-regulated employers who perform tasks that have been defined as “safety-sensitive” are subject to drug and alcohol testing. This includes “reasonable suspicion” testing, which is required when a properly trained supervisor suspects that an employee is under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs based on the employee’s appearance, behavior, speech, or smell. Supervisors and company officials who may need to make a “reasonable suspicion” test determination are required to complete at least 1 hour of training on the signs and symptoms of alcohol misuse. This course describes the purpose of DOT testing regulations, defines “reasonable suspicion,” lists the signs and symptoms of alcohol use, and describes best practices for conducting reasonable suspicion interviews and alcohol testing.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • State the purpose of U.S. DOT drug and alcohol testing regulations
  • Describe who is subject to U.S. DOT drug and alcohol testing regulations
  • Identify the components of a DOT-compliant Drug and Alcohol Policy
  • Describe the six types of DOT-mandated drug and alcohol testing, including reasonable suspicion testing
  • Define “reasonable suspicion” List the signs and symptoms of alcohol use that can be used to make a reasonable suspicion test determination
  • Describe best practices for conducting reasonable suspicion interviews and alcohol testing
  • List the consequences of a positive breath alcohol test result and refusal to test

Duration: 1.00 Hrs

Course Level: Intermediate
Languages: English
Capability: Audio, Video

Transportation employees of DOT-regulated employers who perform tasks that have been defined as “safety-sensitive” are subject to drug and alcohol testing. This includes “reasonable suspicion” testing, which is required when a properly trained supervisor suspects that an employee is under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs based on the employee’s appearance, behavior, speech, or smell. Supervisors and company officials who may need to make a “reasonable suspicion” test determination are required to complete at least 1 hour of training on the signs and symptoms of DOT-prohibited drug use. This course describes the five DOT-regulated drug classes, including their signs and symptoms of use, the types of observations that can be used for reasonable suspicion drug test determinations, and what happens during a reasonable suspicion interview, specimen collection, and drug testing.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Describe the five DOT-regulated drug classes, including their signs and symptoms of use
  • Decide what types of observations can be used for reasonable suspicion drug test determinations
  • Decide what types of observations cannot be used for reasonable suspicion test determinations but do warrant increased observation
  • Describe what happens during a reasonable suspicion interview, specimen collection, and drug testing
  • Describe the consequences of positive, negative, adulterated, and substituted drug test results

Duration: 0.25 Hrs

Course Level: Intermediate
Languages: English
Capability: Audio, Video

The Department of Transportation’s Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) was created to help firefighters, law enforcement officers, medical personnel, and other first responders quickly identify the hazards present at transportation emergencies involving hazardous materials in order to protect themselves and the public. The ERG contains indexed lists of hazardous materials, the general hazards each material presents, and recommended safety precautions for emergency incidents. It is used in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and several South American countries.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Explain the purpose of the U.S. DOT’s Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) 
  • Define the terms “hazardous material” and “initial response period” 
  • Describe the purpose and contents of the six color-coded sections of the ERG