Before a truck gets shut down...

Before the lawsuit...

Before the six-figure insurance renewal...

Before the FMCSA audit...

The warning signs are almost always there.

The problem?

Most carriers don't see them until it's too late.

On this episode of Brake Check, we tackle one of the biggest questions in trucking today:

Why do 93% of carriers fail an FMCSA audit with at least one violation—and what are the safest fleets doing differently?

Joining us are two experts who see trucking safety from completely different angles.

Ann Wasson, Founder of Wasson Consulting Group and Certified Director of Safety, breaks down what FMCSA auditors are really looking for, the HOS and ELD mistakes carriers make every day, the compliance failures that fuel nuclear verdicts, and how to prepare before regulators ever come knocking.

Then Sam Watts, Director of Safety & Loss Control at Ten Four Truck Insurance and founder of Wattsmen Diesel House, explains why safety isn't just about avoiding violations—it's about lowering insurance costs, building a culture drivers actually believe in, coaching instead of punishing, and why too many fleets mistake paperwork for protection.

Inside this episode:

Why only 7% of carriers pass an FMCSA audit clean
The biggest compliance mistakes hiding in plain sight
What FMCSA's data is already saying about your fleet
HOS & ELD mistakes that trigger enforcement
The truth about safety culture vs. compliance theater
What insurance companies really look for before writing coverage
Why some fleets keep paying higher premiums—and don't realize they're causing it
Coaching drivers instead of chasing violations
The maintenance shortcuts that become expensive roadside inspections
How to protect your business before an audit, crash, or lawsuit forces you to

Whether you run one truck or one thousand, this episode could save you from your next audit, your next claim, or your next insurance renewal.

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