A written safety program, started for you.

1Driver hiring standards

• Minimum age and experience: ______ years old, with ______ years of verifiable CDL experience.
• Driving record: no major violations (DUI, reckless driving, leaving the scene) in the last ______ years, and no more than ______ moving violations in the last ______ years.
• A driver qualification file for every driver: the application, a motor vehicle record from every state they were licensed in for the past three years, a road test or its equivalent, a current medical examiner's certificate, and safety checks with previous employers.
• Drug and alcohol testing under FMCSA rules: before hire, random, after an accident, and on reasonable suspicion, with Clearinghouse queries.

2Motor vehicle record review

• Pull and review every driver's record at least once a year. FMCSA requires an annual review. Write down the date, who reviewed it, and the result.
• What triggers a conversation: ______
• What takes a driver off the road: ______

3Maintenance logs

• Driver inspection reports: drivers report defects after each trip, and every defect is repaired and signed off before the unit runs again.
• An annual inspection for every power unit and trailer, with the report kept on file.
• A maintenance record for each unit: date, mileage, work done, and who did it.

4Cell phone and distraction policy

• No hand held phone use and no texting while driving a commercial motor vehicle. FMCSA rules prohibit both.
• Hands free calls only, and only when it's safe.
• What happens if the policy is broken: ______

5Put it to work

• Sign and date it, train every driver on it, and keep each driver's signed copy.
• Send it with your renewal submission. A written program shows underwriters you manage risk, not just haul freight.

A starting template, not legal advice. Check current FMCSA rules at fmcsa.dot.gov.