Frequently Asked Questions

As soon as you start to think about starting up your own business, Many small business owners aren’t sure about the difference between bookkeeping vs. accounting. But it’s an important distinction as knowing the difference can help you hire the right professionals to advise you in your business. It can also help you know what to expect from each relationship.

Both bookkeepers and accountants provide strategic advice to their clients. A bookkeeper might tell you how to streamline your accounting processes or help you create a budget for your business while an accountant could suggest ways to minimize your tax liability or help you decide whether to incorporate your business.

Elite Accounting & Compliance, LLC can help you take the next steps. We can discuss your business's organization, tax purposes and operations, along with accounting, bookkeeping and compliance services that best suits your business.  

Depending on the nature and scope of your commercial-vehicle operation, you will need to fill out one of the following three USDOT registration forms.

• MCS-150 — This form applies to the majority of carriers.
• MCS-150B — This form combines USDOT registration and hazmat application.
• MCS-150C — This form combines USDOT registration and the Intermodal Equipment Provider application.

A third-party DOT registration service is an entity that offers FMCSA-compliance assistance to trucking businesses. For fleet operations large and small, it can be difficult to stay on top of matters that pertain to registration and legal compliance as required by the FMCSA.

The state-to-state differences in DOT requirements can also make matters confusing for trucking operations that do business along interstate routes. 

Elite Accounting & Compliance, LLC can handle such issues externally so drivers and fleet operators can focus on what they do best.

When a trucking business hires a third-party DOT registration service, it spares the carrier the burden of researching FMCSA requirements and marking dates on the calendar for re-registration filings. It also prevents the costly mistake of paying the generally steep fines that face companies and drivers who violate DOT requirements.

When you hire a third-party registration service to handle compliance filings for your business, the benefits are as follows:

• Focus on your business — A third-party service will let you focus on day-to-day operations without the need to question whether your DOT papers are up-to-date.
• Avoid penalties — With all requirements fulfilled and all registrations accurate and comprehensive, you won’t risk accidentally violating a DOT or FMCSA policy.