Total Insight Professional Services

05/21/2026

Heavy truck running through Kentucky? If you're over 60,000 lbs, you owe a mileage tax called KYU, even if you're just passing through.

Learn more about the Kentucky requirement and how TIPS can obtain your KYU number and file the quarterly reports for you.

What is a KYU number? Learn who needs Kentucky's Weight Distance Tax license, what it costs, and how TIPS handles it so you can focus on other things.

05/15/2026

That's how we take care of the busy work... so you can focus on driving 😉

05/13/2026

MOTUS is coming on May 18th. Between now and then, FMCSA systems like the portal, and even new DOT number applications will be offline.

Today is your last chance to make any updates or file for a new DOT number before the system is down for several days.

05/13/2026

If you run a heavy truck through New York, there's a state tax most carriers find out about the hard way.

It's called the New York Highway Use Tax (NY HUT), and it applies to any truck or tractor over 18,000 lbs that touches a New York public highway. That includes trucks just passing through on I-90 with no stops, no pickups, and no deliveries.

Skip it and you're looking at fines, a suspended certificate, and a DMV block on your registration renewals.

We put together a breakdown covering who needs it, how to register, when reports are due. Read it now: https://tiproservices.com/articles/ny-hut-explained

04/29/2026

Missing MVRs are the most cited driver qualification violation in FMCSA audits. More than 6,400 violations have been written in the past 5 years, each carrying a maximum penalty of $1,584 per day.

If you hire commercial drivers, you need to pull a Motor Vehicle Record before they start and every 12 months after. CDL drivers also need a CDLIS report to confirm they only hold one CDL and to find license history in other states.
We pull both. MVR only: $35. MVR + CDLIS: $45. Most records back in 1-2 business days, all 50 states.

Full breakdown of when, why, and what's at stake: https://tiproservices.com/articles/mvr-cdlis-reports-trucking

04/29/2026

TIPS has moved!

Thank you for your patience over the last few weeks - we know you've been missing the regular updates and educational content. We're all settled in and ready to get back into the driver's seat!

If you're in the Treasure Valley, or just passing through the Boise, Idaho area - come by and see us! You can find us at 8382 W Ustick Rd Suite 100, Boise, Idaho 83704.

We're in the office Monday through Friday, 6:00am to 3:00pm MST. We'd love to meet with you, answer your questions, and show you what it's like to work with TIPS.

Thank you, stay tuned for new content coming soon!

04/16/2026

Driving across state lines or dealing with interstate cargo? You need to file your UCR.

UCR (Unified Carrier Registration) is a yearly federal registration for interstate motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies. If you don't have it, you can get fined $100 to $5,000 at a weigh station. Some states will hold your truck until you file on the spot.

Don't wait until you're sitting at a scale. Get it done now.

Learn more or file yours today:

Learn who needs UCR, what it costs, and how to file. See the 2026 fee brackets and avoid fines. TIPS offers the lowest third-party UCR filing available.

04/07/2026

If you drive a truck that needs a CDL, you need a drug and alcohol testing program. It does not matter if you run interstate or local, for-hire or private. All 50 states follow the same rule.

A lot of new carriers think this only applies to big fleets or interstate operations. That is wrong. Even a single owner-operator running local routes needs to be enrolled.

We broke down the six types of required tests, what the DOT screens for, and why most small carriers use a consortium instead of trying to do it themselves.

Read the full guide 👇

Learn who must comply with DOT drug and alcohol testing, the six types of required tests, and how to choose a C/TPA or set up a compliant program for your CDL drivers.

04/01/2026

"I'm not a trucking company, so DOT rules don't apply to me."

We hear this one a lot. And it's wrong almost every time.

If your business runs a vehicle with a GVWR of 10,001 lbs or more, you're a motor carrier in the FMCSA's eyes. It doesn't matter if you're a construction company, a landscaper, or a manufacturer delivering your own product.

The regulations that apply to your business depend on three things:
→ How you operate (for-hire or private)
→ Where you operate (interstate or intrastate)
→ What you operate (vehicle weight and cargo type)

We break it all down in our latest article.

Find out which federal and state trucking regulations apply to your business based on how, where, and what you operate.

03/27/2026

Tired of guessing at compliance requirements and wading through conflicting information online?

For the first time ever, you can now answer a few questions about your operation and get a thorough list of your State & Federal compliance requirements.

Whether you haven't started your company yet, or you just want to ensure you're not missing anything before a safety audit, the Compliance Calculator from TIPS gives you 20+ years of compliance experience in just a few minutes.

The best part? It's 100% free, with no log in or account required.

Check out the Compliance Calculator today and get your results emailed to you for when you need them.

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