Ahern and Associates: Transportation, Trucking and Logistics Consultation Specialists
Each trucking company needs to know what to expect from an audit officer. The on-site compliance review prepares a client to address the critical areas of review.
Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) February 20, 2015
Ahern & Associates, one of the country’s leading trucking and transportation consulting firms, has announced that it is now offering the additional services of going on-site and reviewing trucking companies to make sure they are in compliance with DOT safety regulations. Navigating the various challenges and mandates from the Department of Transportation can prove difficult for many trucking companies, especially those that are small or medium in size. Andy Ahern, founder and CEO of the firm, aims to make it easier than ever before for clients to maintain compliance.
Some of the most common of those challenges include a driver falsifying a log – any company that knowingly allows a driver to falsify a log is subject to mandatory fines and sanctions. When a DOT auditor reviews the log books, he or she also audits time sheets; a driver’s 60 hours is based upon restart to restart, not on a payroll period. In addition, any violations, even those that are minor, should be documented and disciplinary action taken.
Ahern & Associates has an experienced DOT Compliance Auditor visit onsite for clients. He or she will review the hiring practices, the advertising for the drivers, the demographics for the drivers, driver orientation and termination policies, drug and alcohol policies, owner/operator agreements, lease/purchase agreements, driver logs and qualification files, as well as reprimand policies.
In addition, as part of Ahern’s analysis, the team will review a copy of a client’s last DOT audit, if it is available, along with a copy of any and all OSHA inspections, the number of vehicle accidents within the last two years (not only the DOT reportable, but any accident that a driver may have been reprimanded or disciplined for). If the company transports hazardous materials, Ahern & Associates will review the list of hazmat items that have been transported in the last 18 months.
“We review a copy of the HM-232 Security Plan, a copy of the job descriptions, samplings of driver qualification files, sampling of the maintenance files, sampling of the driver logs,” explains Andy Ahern. “A copy of the orientation programs is given to all new hires, a copy of driver reprimand programs, a copy of the last several safety meeting agendas, a copy of the hiring requirements, worker’s compensation loss runs from at least two years, and a copy of the driver handbook manual.”
Ahern works with clients to let them know what a DOT auditor will look for, if in fact they are audited. “It is very important that trucking companies understand the rules and regulations and to understand, specifically, how the Hours of Service regulations can impact a trucking company’s ability to continue to operate,” says Ahern.
With so many trucking company owners being concerned if they are due for a DOT audit, Ahern has been approached by numerous clients asking for reviews of their safety and ratings – it is due to so many requests that Ahern & Associates decided to launch this new service. “Each trucking company needs to know what to expect from an audit officer. The on-site compliance review prepares a client to address the critical areas of review.”
For more information about Ahern & Associates and the new DOT compliance review services that are now being offered by the firm, interested parties can visit http://www.ahern-ltd.com or call 602-242-1030.
About Ahern & Associates, Ltd.
Ahern and Associates is North America’s leading trucking and transportation management consulting firm. The skilled consultants at Ahern and Associates specialize in mergers and acquisitions of trucking and logistics companies as well as the restructuring and evaluation of existing carriers that seek to increase operating efficiency and improve profitability. Since 1987, Ahern and Associates has aided hundreds of buyers in the acquisition of trucking and logistics companies throughout the U.S. and Canada as well as assisting many transportation and logistics companies in reducing their overall operating costs and increasing their profitability.
For more information, please call 602-242-1030 or visit http://www.ahern-ltd.com.