Public Resource Page

New Entrant Program

Starter page for New Entrant Safety Assurance preparation.

What Is the New Entrant Program?

The New Entrant Safety Assurance Program, established under 49 CFR Part 385, Subpart D, applies to motor carriers that are newly registering to operate in interstate commerce. New entrants are placed under close FMCSA monitoring for 18 months, including a required safety audit, so the agency can confirm basic safety management controls are in place before a carrier's operating authority becomes permanent.

The 18-Month Monitoring Period

Once a new entrant satisfies its pre-operational requirements and begins operating, FMCSA monitors it closely for 18 months. During this window the carrier is watched more closely at roadside than an established carrier would be, and it must complete a safety audit — generally once it has been operating long enough (typically at least a few months) to have sufficient records for FMCSA to evaluate. FMCSA can also order an expedited, earlier safety audit if certain red flags appear, including:

✓ Using a driver without a valid commercial driver's license
✓ Operating a vehicle previously placed out of service without correcting the defect
✓ A serious hazardous materials incident
✓ A driver testing positive for, or refusing, a drug or alcohol test
✓ Operating without the required level of financial responsibility (insurance)
✓ A vehicle or driver out-of-service rate of 50% or higher across at least three inspections in a 90-day period

What the Safety Audit Covers

The new entrant safety audit is the centerpiece of the program. It reviews driver qualification files, hours-of-service and duty status records, vehicle maintenance records, the accident register, the drug and alcohol testing program, and proof of insurance. For a detailed breakdown of what to have ready, see our Safety Audits page.

Passing, Failing, and Corrective Action

Certain violations — such as using an unlicensed or disqualified driver, lacking a required drug and alcohol testing program, or operating without required insurance — can cause an automatic audit failure from a single occurrence. For other deficiencies, FMCSA issues written notice and generally gives the carrier a set window (commonly around 60 days, shorter for passenger and hazardous materials carriers) to correct the problem. A new entrant that does not correct deficiencies in time can have its new entrant registration revoked and be placed out of service, meaning it must stop interstate operations and, if it wants to operate again, start the registration process over.

49 CFR Part 385, Subpart D — New Entrant Safety Assurance Program (eCFR)

Frequently Asked

How long am I considered a "new entrant"?

The new entrant monitoring period runs 18 months from the date a carrier satisfies its pre-operational requirements and begins interstate operations. Once that period ends without revocation, the new entrant designation is removed.

What's the difference between the new entrant safety audit and a regular compliance review?

The new entrant safety audit is an educational, data-gathering review specific to first-time interstate registrants; it does not itself assign a safety rating. A compliance review is a broader investigation that can happen to any carrier — new or established — and can result in a formal safety rating and enforcement action.

Can I get help getting ready before my safety audit is scheduled?

Yes. Many new entrants bring in a consultant to set up driver qualification files, hours-of-service recordkeeping, a maintenance program, and a drug and alcohol testing program correctly from day one, since fixing gaps before the audit is far easier than responding to a deficiency notice afterward.

Free Resources

The New Entrant Safety Assurance Program FMCSA
Official program overview: monitoring period, triggering incidents, audit timelines, and consequences of non-compliance.
New Entrant Safety Assurance Program Guide Arizona DOT
A state DOT's plain-language guide to the New Entrant program: what triggers monitoring, what the safety audit covers, and how to stay in the program.