The First 90 Days of a New Authority: Build the Spine Now
APR 2026 · 6 MIN READ
New-entrant carriers fail their safety audit far more often than they fail an inspection. The audit happens within 12 months and inspects the spine: MCS-150, BOC-3, drug & alcohol program, driver files, and maintenance records.
If those exist on day one and are maintained weekly, the audit is a formality. If they are reconstructed in month eleven, it is not.
Treat the first 90 days as a compliance build, not a sales sprint. The runway is short.