The definitive guide to transportation compliance terminology
This glossary provides authoritative definitions for terms related to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) compliance requirements. Each term is linked to its governing regulation and related training programs.
Reasonable suspicion refers to a supervisor's belief that a CDL driver is using drugs or alcohol, based on specific, contemporaneous, articulable observations as defined by FMCSA regulations under 49 CFR §382.307.
DOT drug and alcohol testing under 49 CFR Part 40 requires testing for safety-sensitive employees in transportation industries. Testing includes pre-employment, random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return-to-duty, and follow-up testing.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is the U.S. agency responsible for regulating and providing safety oversight of commercial motor vehicles. FMCSA is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Hours of Service regulations under 49 CFR Part 395 limit how long commercial motor vehicle drivers may drive and work, and require specific rest periods. HOS rules include the 11-hour driving limit, 14-hour on-duty window, 30-minute break requirement, and 60/70 hour weekly limits.
An Electronic Logging Device is technology that automatically records a driver's Record of Duty Status (RODS). The ELD mandate under 49 CFR Part 395 requires most CMV drivers to use ELDs to track Hours of Service compliance.
Cargo securement refers to the methods and equipment used to prevent cargo from shifting or falling during transportation. FMCSA cargo securement rules under 49 CFR Part 393 specify tie-down requirements, working load limits, and commodity-specific securement standards.
Working Load Limit is the maximum load that may be applied to a tie-down device during normal service. Under 49 CFR Part 393.102, the aggregate WLL of all tie-downs must equal at least 50% of the cargo weight.
Hazmat training under 49 CFR Part 172.704 requires all hazmat employees to receive general awareness, function-specific, safety, and security awareness training. Training must be completed within 90 days of employment and recertified every 3 years.
Forklift Operator Training is required under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.178 for employees who operate powered industrial trucks. Training must include formal instruction, practical training, and operator evaluation. Operators must be re-evaluated every 3 years.
The FSMA Sanitary Transportation Rule under 21 CFR Part 1 Subpart O establishes requirements for shippers, loaders, carriers, and receivers involved in transporting human and animal food. The rule aims to prevent practices that create food safety risks during transportation.
A Commercial Driver's License is required to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) as defined by FMCSA. CDL holders are subject to DOT drug and alcohol testing regulations and must maintain a valid medical certificate.
An Out-of-Service order is a declaration by an authorized enforcement officer that a driver, CMV, or motor carrier operation is prohibited from operating until the identified safety violation(s) are corrected. OOS violations are recorded in the CSA system.
CSA is FMCSA's data-driven safety compliance and enforcement program. CSA scores measure carrier safety performance across seven Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs) including unsafe driving, HOS compliance, and vehicle maintenance.
CDL Schools USA training courses are designed to support regulatory compliance requirements for U.S. transportation and safety regulations. Our programs align with published regulatory standards and are commonly used by employers for compliance documentation.
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