From Roadside to the Courtroom: Highlights from Our Transportation DOT Roundtable
On October 14, Seubert hosted its Transportation DOT Roundtable as part of our 2026 Industry Seminar Series, with motor carriers, fleet managers and safety leaders joining both in person at Seubert U and online. The morning followed a single thread: how what happens at roadside and in your driver files can follow your company all the way to a jury.
Moderated by Tori Evans, Strategic Risk Advisor at Seubert & Associates, Inc., the panel brought the view from both ends of that road:
- Doug Smith, CDS, Transportation Safety & DOT Compliance Consultant with DSmith Consulting, LLC, a NATMI Certified Director of Safety and former Motor Carrier Enforcement Officer whose career spans enforcement, CDL training and fleet safety leadership
- Frank Botta, Esq., Chair of the Labor & Employment, Transportation & Litigation Practice at The Lynch Law Group and past president of the Transportation Lawyers Association
Paul Mueller, President of Loss Prevention Services, Inc., also joined as an additional resource for attendees, bringing more than three decades of experience turning regulatory compliance into measurable risk reduction.
Small violations can point to big risks
Doug opened with a reminder that FMCSA’s mission is safety, not ticket writing. He shared how certain everyday equipment violations can be early warning signs of higher-risk drivers, and why carriers should look closely at which drivers are racking them up.
What triggers an audit, and what auditors find
From CSA thresholds to roadside inspectors, the panel covered what can put a carrier on the audit list and the most common gaps examiners uncover, including drug and alcohol programs, Clearinghouse queries and driver qualification files.
A CDL doesn’t mean a driver knows the rules
One theme came up again and again: the regulations put the training responsibility on the motor carrier. Doug explained why in-house education matters, where common misunderstandings come from, and why carriers shouldn’t be afraid to raise the bar above the minimum standard.
FMCSA changes to have on your radar
The session covered a long list of recent and upcoming changes, from English proficiency enforcement and non-domiciled CDLs to electronic medical certificates, the new registration system and a more independent DataQs review process.
Nuclear verdicts are changing the risk math
Frank shifted the room to the legal side with a sobering look at how truck crash verdicts have grown, what’s driving them, and why brokers are now squarely in the crosshairs. He closed with practical steps carriers can take now to reduce their exposure if a serious crash happens.
Questions about your fleet’s risk?
Whether you’re preparing for an audit, reviewing driver hiring standards or rethinking your coverage limits in light of rising verdicts, Seubert’s Transportation team can help you find the gaps before they become claims.
And if you work in construction, join us for our Construction OSHA Roundtable on November 10.
If you’d like to take a closer look at the strategies Seubert could implement to help your business Minimize Risk. Maximize Potential. Get in touch today!
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