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Step-by-step guide

Car-Hauling Safety and Compliance: A Practical Operating Guide

Five focused resources for organizing driver qualification, Clearinghouse reviews, hours-of-service planning, vehicle maintenance records, and automobile securement checks.

5 steps

Published July 31, 2026

Five-step TruckTA route graphic for car-hauling safety and compliance checks.

Ordered learning path

Follow each resource in order

“Step” describes the recommended order. TruckTA does not save visitor progress.

Use this as an ordered learning path, then confirm requirements that depend on your location, equipment, drivers, and operating model with the responsible agency or a qualified adviser. Each chapter keeps its own stable Resources URL.

  1. 1Step 1 of 5Driver Qualification File Checklist for Car-Hauling FleetsUse this driver qualification file checklist to organize required records for CDL and non-CDL drivers, track medical documentation, and manage DQF retention without treating software as a substitute for compliance review.
  2. 2Step 2 of 5FMCSA Clearinghouse Checklist for Car-Hauling EmployersUse this FMCSA Clearinghouse checklist to organize pre-employment full queries, annual queries, driver consent, prohibition-status reviews, and Clearinghouse II follow-up for car-hauling fleets. Verify current requirements directly with FMCSA before relying on this workflow.
  3. 3Step 3 of 5Car Hauler Hours of Service: A Practical Planning Guide for Interstate FleetsA practical guide to car hauler hours of service, including the 10-hour rest period, 14-hour window, 11-hour driving limit, 30-minute break, 60/70-hour limit, 34-hour restart, ELD training, and malfunction readiness.
  4. 4Step 4 of 5Car Hauler Maintenance Records: A Practical 49 CFR 396.3 GuideA compact guide to organizing car hauler maintenance records, documenting defects and repairs, and managing retention under the current 49 CFR 396.3 framework when applicable.
  5. 5Step 5 of 5FMCSA Cargo Securement Checklist for Automobile TransportersUse this practical car hauler cargo securement checklist to organize pre-load reviews, vehicle positioning, securement inspections, driver responsibilities, and en-route rechecks. Confirm current FMCSA requirements before each move.